FRIDAY FUNNY: German Recycling Gets Creative

The follow images were sent to me by two different people this week. They illustrate the creative adaptation of objects once they’ve reached the end of their original useful life. In the first instance, the objects have been transformed into an interesting art exhibit. In the second instance, well, see for yourself. Coincidentally, both examples come from Germany.

Every one of these sheep is made from telephones and cords…check out their feet! (Source: Museum of Communications in Frankfurt)

From the London “Metro” paper…
The unusual urinals at a pub in Freiburg (apparently, an “eco-city”), south Germany, were put in by landlord Martin Hartmann.

“Most people see the funny side. But, we’ve had a few complaints from musicians. They are called ‘tenor horns,’ and will hopefully never again be used for their original purpose,” according to Hartmann.


2 COMMENTS

  1. This probably is genuine recycling:

    It’s unlikely they’d be used for the purpose illustrated if they were in good playing condition, as they can cost thousands of dollars (although they look nice and shiny in the photo – they may have been relacquered or just polished – the valves might be worn out, rendering them unplayable).

    A large hole has been cut into the bell throat of each instrument to accommodate the waste pipe; not much scope for donating them to any musical ensemble.

    Actually they’re called baritones in the English-speaking world (they’re called tenor horns in Germany, where they call the smaller “tenor” horns “altos”). In either case no “orchestra” would have any use for them; they are band instruments.

    Brass instruments that are not worth repairing are often repurposed because they look interesting: I’ve seen a trumpet as a lamp stand and a baritone as a flower pot.

    Anyway, what about all that precious copper wire in those sheep???

  2. The problem with using the tenor horns is that they were not “recycled.” Clearly they were in great condition when they were installed and there are at least three orchestras who would love to have instruments in that condition. The pub-owner should donate three horns to deserving musical groups.

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