In reply to the recent queries regarding the "record for hand-cranking
an instrument", while I know of no "official" Guinness record, I do
know that Guinness has many closely-monitored criteria for those
attempting to make "official" record-setting status.

Official guidelines would need to be established to determine what
constitutes continuous-playing of a hand-cranked instrument.  Music
media would need to be changed periodically, whether it be music books,
music rolls, or MIDI files, obviously the cranking would have to stop
long enough to change the music.

Would short breaks be allowed as they are for other endurance events?
Would the record be for continuous-playing of an instrument by multiple
"crankers," or would it be for one individual's endurance at an
instrument?  (Perhaps there are two record categories right there!)
There are innumerable variables to consider in establishing an official
"record for hand-cranking an instrument."

I have not seen anyone suggest just how long such a (currently
undocumented) record may be.  With that in mind, I would like to stake
my claim for the "World Record For Continuous Hand-Cranking of a Street
Organ" with the total time of 5 hours, from 11:00 AM to 4:00 PM, when
I played my Pell "Harmonette" 20-note busker's organ without stopping
(except for extremely brief pauses to change music media) on Sunday,
September 16, 2012.  This was at the Almelund (Minnesota) Apple
Festival, a local annual event I have been entertaining at for the last
15 years.  The 2014 event is set for September 21 -- I may attempt to
break my own record by starting a little early and continuing a little
late!

This is totally on the honor system until the good folks at Guinness
establish a category for us buskers.  Until then, keep on cranking!

Tracy M. Tolzmann