A Mechanical Wood Model that You can Play!
Ugears keeps expanding the creative world of hobbies and opening an assembly process as an exciting game. Inspired by the art of Celtic and Scandinavian medieval craftsmen and enriched by smart engineering of the XXI century Ugears is introducing — Hurdy-Gurdy – the world’s first mechanical musical model and the genuine gem of the collection. It is the most extraordinary mechanical model kit which is all-in-one: model for self-assembly, toy and fully fledged musical instrument. The Hurdy-Gurdy plays dancing melodies, from folk to modern, being the bridge between the medieval times and the present day. The unique blend of the joy of creation, playing music, and engineering and design. Just build it together with your own hands and feel like Stradivari or a popular Hurdy-Gurdy star!
About the Hurdy-Gurdy: History
The hurdy-gurdy is a string instrument that produces a sound resembling one of a bagpipe by a hand-turned wheel rubbing against the strings working similarly to a violin and a fiddle bow. The history of this instrument begins in the 15th century. One of the earliest forms of the hurdy-gurdy was the organistrum (a portable organ) in Medieval Europe. After some modifications it became a common instrument among travelling musicians in England and went through its renaissance period in the later 17th-18th centuries as more of the noble class musical instrument for the amusement of the rich. Those instruments were decorated by craftsmen with inlays and carving and had the built-in hurdy-gurdy mechanism into the guitar or lute body. Some call the Hurdy-Gurdy music "a medieval rock’n’roll", which we find pretty cool. It captured us and we decided to create the Ugears' version of the Hurdy-Gurdy.
Idea
Based on the 15th Century organistrum, Ugears has created an intricately detailed, fully functional mechanical version of this medieval instrument. The finished model looks remarkably akin to the original 16th century hurdy gurdy, giving it a wonderfully medieval aesthetic. This wooden attractive and educational model has a highly detailed exquisite décor of the body crafted in romantic style and turns the assembly and playing process into an exciting game and brings you hours of pleasure and fun.
Specs:
UGEARS is a 2014 Ukrainian startup with a growing worldwide reputation for producing unique, self-propelled, wooden mechanical DIY models, puzzle boxes and educational toys. Each UGEARS model has its own mechanical action that will amaze and delight.
UGEARS model kits come with everything you need for assembly. All parts are laser pre-cut into a high-quality plywood board for easy removal and assembly. Motion is accomplished using rubber bands, gears and gravity. Detailed color diagrams and step-by-step instructions are provided in 11 languages to guide you through the assembly process. No glue, special expertise, tools or equipment are required
