Glockenspiel

In Essen's pedestrian zone, at Kettwiger Straße 22, a historic carillon holds court; it has been a protected landmark since 2017. The installation sits in an oriel window with a glass-mosaic facade modeled stylistically on the clock tower of St. Mark's Square in Venice, and it stands out for its contrast with the building's modern grid facade. Originally installed in 1928 at the old headquarters of the Deiter jewelers, the instrument survived World War II because its bronze bells were hidden in the Sauerland region. After the old building was destroyed, the carillon was reassembled at its new location in 1949 and integrated into the newly built oriel in 1955.

The structure consists of a bell level with 26 bronze bells cast between 1926 and 1929, along with a copper miner figure by the sculptor Adolf Wamper. This figure strikes the full hours with a mallet. Below it are four tiers of moving figures from the city's history. After the Westminster chime and a performance of well-known folk songs or Christmas carols, two citizens in medieval dress appear first, followed by Bishop Altfrid, Emperor Henry III, and Abbess Theophanu. In the next tier, fanfare trumpeters appear along with Heinrich Barenbroch, Duke William of Cleves, and a mayor. The finale is an animated goldsmith's workshop and the figure of the Watchful Rooster, a medieval symbol of the city.

Technically, the mechanism is controlled electromagnetically from a console, with the melodies stored on punched tape. Unlike classic carillons, the hammers are triggered electrically rather than by mechanical pull wires. The glass-mosaic facade was designed by Hermann Schardt, the historic figures were made by the metal sculptor Hermann Diesener, and the workshop figures come from a local art forge. Following a technical overhaul in 2016, the carillon is once again in reliable operation and gives visitors a lively glimpse into Essen's history.