The Museum was founded to house two private collections which are are on permanent loan there. Since then the museum has acquired pieces of its own to round out the collection.
Most of the exhibits are in running order, most of the clocks are running, and the mechanical music (music boxes, organs etc.) produce sound if activated.
The only practical way of seeing the museum is to take a tour offered on demand (1 to 2 hours duration depending on your level of interest) with your guide operating the music boxes.
The timepiece collection of Hans-Peter Hertig, who also is the conservator and chief guide of the museum, contains 2000 items (clocks, watches, tools, books) and is particularly rich in early rustic clocks (wooden movements) of Switzerland, including several wooden movement clocks from the 18th and 19th century made by Mr. Hertig's direct ancestors.
The Kurt Matter collection of mechanical music is made up of over 100 instruments, and is rich in beggars organs, carrousel organs, music boxes, orchestrions, musical automata etc.
The exhibits are housed in eight large, eautyfully renovated rooms in the Wichterheer gut, the former summer residence of a noble family, dating to the 13th century.
