Hello All,  I just was informed that Franz Oehrlein has passed away
in the night from Dec. 18th to Dec. 19th.  Franz was well known for
his grind-organs and especially his automata.  He constructed not only
the figure scenes for his grind-organs, but also life-size trumpeter
and drummer figures.

Also well known are his automata "Grind-organ-player with Drums" and
"Fluteplayer".  His last automaton work was a girl playing a Cembalo
[harpsichord] in which the girl really moved the Cembalo keys.

We lost a wonderful person, full of ideas 'til the end.

Jens Wendel
Rüdesheim am Rhein, Germany

 [ The grind-organ-player with drums is shown in action
 [ at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XkUVCNza2go  and
 [ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SXVSPgOULhk 
 [
 [ This description of the flute player was found at
 [ http://www.icollector.com/Flute-Player-Querfl-tenspieler_i14447252 
 [
 [   Flute Player / Querfloetenspieler - Fantastic automaton by
 [   Franz Oehrlein. The Harlequin moves his head from left to right
 [   and up and down; eyes left and right; eyelids up and down; the
 [   arms bring the flute to his mouth and the fingers move at the
 [   right time with the music. The bird on the balustrade has four
 [   movements. 13 pipes in the body of the Harlequin for the flute
 [   and 13 pipes for the singing bird within the balustrade. Museum
 [   quality, 68 x 62 x 170 cm. Franz Oehrlein, Hechtsheim, Germany,
 [   circa 1990.
 [
 [ -- Robbie