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Gloggomobil

Musical Instrument
ca. 1983 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

The Gloggomobil is a multi-function musical instrument designed to encourage musical awareness and creativity in children of different ages. It consists of a glockenspiel, music box, beaters, and a wooden frame which can also be used like a piano. Inspired by traditional Swiss music boxes, small wooden pegs that are missing from this example, could be inserted into the barrel so that when it was turned using the handle, they hit the keys and in turn made the beaters strike the glockenspiel. The pegs could be placed in numerous variations to create different melodies.

The Gloggomobil was designed by Herbert Bächli in 1983 for Naef Toys. Each one is handmade by Swiss craftsmen which makes it a very expensive toy to buy. The simple design, natural materials, and well-made construction reflect the philosophy of Naef Toys - quality, durability, design and creativity. Naef is a famous Swiss toy manufacturer founded in 1954 by Kurt Naef, a trained carpenter and architect. The company, originally based in Basel, started out producing furniture and interior fittings, but in 1956 the focus shifted towards toys and games. Naef also had close links with the Bauhaus Museum and in the 1970s it was granted a licence to manufacture reproductions of toys and games designed by important figures in the Bauhaus movement such as Alma Siedhoff-Buscher, Margaretha Reichard, and Josef Hartwig.


Object details

Categories
Object type
Parts
This object consists of 12 parts.

  • Box Lid
  • Box Base
  • Musical Instrument
  • Barrel
  • Glockenspiel
  • Beater
  • Beater
  • Instructions
  • Instructions
  • Instructions
  • Instructions
  • Instructions
TitleGloggomobil (manufacturer's title)
Brief description
Musical instrument, Gloggomobil, designed by Herbert Bächli, made in Switzerland, around 1983.
Production typeLimited edition
Credit line
Given by Charlotte and Robin Cooke
Production
Attribution note: 100 made around every two years
Summary
The Gloggomobil is a multi-function musical instrument designed to encourage musical awareness and creativity in children of different ages. It consists of a glockenspiel, music box, beaters, and a wooden frame which can also be used like a piano. Inspired by traditional Swiss music boxes, small wooden pegs that are missing from this example, could be inserted into the barrel so that when it was turned using the handle, they hit the keys and in turn made the beaters strike the glockenspiel. The pegs could be placed in numerous variations to create different melodies.

The Gloggomobil was designed by Herbert Bächli in 1983 for Naef Toys. Each one is handmade by Swiss craftsmen which makes it a very expensive toy to buy. The simple design, natural materials, and well-made construction reflect the philosophy of Naef Toys - quality, durability, design and creativity. Naef is a famous Swiss toy manufacturer founded in 1954 by Kurt Naef, a trained carpenter and architect. The company, originally based in Basel, started out producing furniture and interior fittings, but in 1956 the focus shifted towards toys and games. Naef also had close links with the Bauhaus Museum and in the 1970s it was granted a licence to manufacture reproductions of toys and games designed by important figures in the Bauhaus movement such as Alma Siedhoff-Buscher, Margaretha Reichard, and Josef Hartwig.
Collection
Accession number
B.325:1 to 12-2010

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Record createdDecember 7, 2010
Record URL
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