Ergonomics for hand cranking

Ergonomics for hand cranking
Is there any published ergonometric data regarding the placement of the crankshaft for hand cranking? I was guessing that it should be low enough that the arms need not be completely extended at the bottom of the wheel, nor should the operator have to stoop. How about how high? I kind of thought the crankshaft axis shouldn't be any higher than the shoulder, preferably lower? Failing that, does anybody have any practical experience with this?

Speaking from experience and observations, for smaller diameter throw hand turned organs (typically anything up to 2 foot diameter) a good rule of thumb I’ve found useful is to have the crank centred at elbow height (when arms are by your sides) for best comfort when grinding. The really large Dutch street organs for example need much more effort for their bigger bellows and hence have a bigger diameter wheel, so are usually a little higher for better ergonomics since the grinders arm is centring around the shoulder joint rather than the elbow. :org: Hope this helps! Any other ideas or experiences on this topic?

Hi folks, My John Smith 26 crank is about 14" diameter. I followed the advice given by Craig Smith on Melvyn Wright's site: http://www.melright.com/busker/ckheight.htm I've cranked for hours at a time (with a few breaks) with no problems. Bob

Hello everyone, Yes I quite agree, certainly where the smaller organs are concerned the crank shaft centre should be at elbow height to reduce wear on ones' shoulder & back. As Nick mentioned, the larger organs need a flywheel to help keep up momentum & smooth out the bumps, but the smaller instruments simply have a crank handle so that the operator can alter the speed of the music easily, creating their own dynamic performance with a quick flick of the wrist! This needs a bit of practice but pay off in the end. I learnt that from the late Kurt Neimuth. Ted Bowman also did a talk on cranking technique a few years ago. Hope this helps, Rob.

Have a look at this topic for discussion on cranking technique... forumer.com/viewtopic.php?t=486" target="_blank">http://organ.10.forumer.com/viewtopic.php?t=486

crank height
Hi there, just to say there is a link to this topic on the homepage of Melvyn Wrights website. Its very descriptive and is written by a professional ergonomist. I'm not sure how to add a link so I'll type it: http://www.melright.com/busker/ckheight.htm or the website in general is www.buskerorgan.com (click on: Is your crank at the right height?) best wishes Heather :)

View Full Version: Ergonomics for hand cranking