Markt- und Schaustellermuseum, Fair and showmen museum in Essen, Germany.
The Markt- und Schaustellermuseum was a museum in Essen dedicated to the history of fairgrounds and showman culture. The collection featured historical rides, gaming machines, vendor stalls, and various entertainment equipment spanning different time periods.
The museum was built from showman Erich Knocke's private collection, which was first displayed at Berliner Platz near Essen's wholesale market. After relocating, it operated until closure in 2020, when the exhibits were progressively sold and auctioned off.
The exhibits present the development of fairground trades through restored originals, wooden figures, porcelain pieces, and traditional market equipment.
The museum closed its doors in 2020 and is no longer accessible to visitors. Since its closure, the exhibits have been progressively sold through auctions, making it impossible to visit the collection today.
The collection was notable for its extensive range of fairground musical instruments, including barrel organs, player pianos, harmoniums, and orchestrions. These rare instruments demonstrated the musical accompaniment that traditionally defined the fairground experience.
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