> The organ was very early in the possession of a funeral director
> (Baehrenfuehrer), who toted it around the countryside on a bier
> (a coffin rack), hence the name "Baehrenfuehrer-organ", the
> Funeral Director's Organ!

Although I am Dutch and not German I think Mr. Brommer meant something
else when he wrote about the "Baerenfuehrer".  I am pretty sure that he
meant (literally) "Bear-leader", which means a man with a dancing bear,
a very popular attraction on fairs in the 19th century.  So much the
better for the organ!

Hans van Oost, Holland

 [ Ho-_ho_ !!  It is my mistake, Hans.  The thought makes me laugh!
 [ It is logical that the organ goes with a dancing bear, but the
 [ funeral director maybe has more money to buy an organ !
 [
 [ Here is the German text as I received it from Wolfgang.  Note:
 [ a-umlaut = ae, etc., because MMD must use only 7-bit ASCII.
 [
 [> Drehorgel Ignaz Blasius Bruder
 [> Datiert :  Simonswald 23.12.1829
 [> bestiftete Holzwalze 10 Melodien
 [> 23 Claves
 [> 107 Pfeifen in 5 Registern
 [> 66/34/55 cm
 [>
 [> Die Orgel war sehr frueh in Besitz eines Baehrenfuehrers, der mit
 [> Baehren ueber Land zog.  Daher der Name "Baehrenfuehrer-Orgel"
 [
 [ "The organ was very early in the possession of a (dancing) bear
 [  leader, who moved over the country with bears.  Thus the
 [  name "Bear-leader Organ."
 [
 [ I apologize to all our readers and friends of the Drehorgel !
 [
 [ ... Bahre, Bahren, Baer, Baeren, bear, bier, Bier ... = Beer !!
 [ I owe a beer to each of you, Hans and Wolfgang !  :)
 [
 [ -- Robbie