glockenspiel
n.
5Ger < glocke, a bell (see CLOCK1) + spiel, play6 a percussion instrument with chromatically tuned, flat metal bars set in a frame, that produce bell-like tones when struck with small hammers

I believe the original glockenspiel refers to those old city-center clocks in medieval European towns that feature (usually) human figures that come out on the hour, dance around and often beat on bells or something and then recede behind closed doors until the chiming of the next hour.

Very cool, AnnaS! Hope what you wrote is true. Great story to tell my bambinos.

It's true, WW. Here are a bunch of sites featuring them from different cities:

http://www.google.com/search?q=glockenspiel+clock&btnG=Google+Search

In Munich, in the Marienplatz is a chuch clock with glockenspiel Here is a picture and info.
http://glockenspiel-usa.com/gworld13.htm

I kinda like this one, in Kentucky, of all places :

http://glockenspiel-usa.com/gworld4.htm

Well, my stars! Learn somethin' new every day, and this is a delightful thing to know.

I remember a Carol Burnett skit in which the glockenspiel characters beat up on each other. Ha!