Sisters of Mercy Mystery Instrument

[KIWIWIK]

Hello,
In the song "Sisters of Mercy", starting at the second verse, an instrument joins the mix, and stays there everafter.
It sounds at first like a dulcimer, or xylophone, but if you listen closely, you can hear a cranking sound....as if the player of the instrument has to continually wind it up. Does anyone know what this instrument is?
Thanks!
"Don't turn on the lights you can read their address by the moon"

[seadove]

I myself have often wondered what these insruments are but then they have invented synthesizers that can make all sorts of mixes even 50 years ago.

[Patyou]

A few years ago I asked a question about the mysterious sound of the guitar in "dress rehearsal rag". Still no answer yet... Maybe Leonard himself could help... Patyou

[tomsakic]

Maybe it's xylophone. The (uncredited) band who played on the first album was interviewed in Anthony Reynolds' 2010 book "Leonard Cohen: A remarkable Life" so maybe you can trace it there.

[IMM]

Not sure why, but a Glockenspiel rings a bell?

[KIWIWIK]

Thank you all for your suggestions, although both the glockenspiel and xylophone are possibilities, neither would explain the cranking sound heard with each chord change.
Although synthesizers were around then, as well as multiple mixing techniques, this instrument has a genuine tone, and I'm lead to believe it is an actual instrument.
I'll definitely do some looking into the "Leonard Cohen: A remarkable Life" book, maybe someone will mention it?
I recently rented the movie "Hugo", and in one of the songs in the background, the same instrument sound was there.
I may look into that song as a possible answer as well.
If any of you have ever seen an automaton before, I imagine one of the band members cradling a wooden box with a turning key on top of it just cranking away with a giant smile on his face!!
Thanks again for all of your suggestions, please keep them coming!
I know we can figure this out!!
"When you're not feeling holy, your loneliness says that you've sinned"

[holydove]

I think the "cranking" sound is a separate instrument - not part of the bell-like (glockenspiel or xylphone) instrument; it does sound kind of like the winding of a wind-up toy, or a zipper opening & closing; I have wondered if it could be those wooden sticks with ridges which, when rubbed together, & with the help of sound-studio technology, can possibly make the type of sound we are hearing (I don't remember what those sticks are called - I think they are considered a percussion instrument). It might not be those wooden sticks, but my perception is that what we are hearing are two different instruments.

Editing: I think it's a Cuban instrument called the Guiro. It's not two sticks, but a stick & a notched gourd. Check out the "scraped sound" of the guiro in this link (to me, it sounds very much like the sound in Sisters of Mercy):

http://www.compositiontoday.com/sound_b ... /guiro.asp

[lazariuk]

Are the sisters of Mercy: grace and beauty?

[lazariuk]

Are the sisters of Mercy: grace and beauty

[lazariuk]

Are the sisters of Mercy: grace and beauty