History of the Hurdy Gurdy

Who invented the hurdy gurdy and why? No one knows for sure, and they are likely to never know.
We discuss the progression of the instrument, its styles through history, and how they differ from one region to the next.
This is not comprehensive and some of my information may be out of date so enjoy but don't get wrapped up in it.
I am not a researcher I'm an enthusiast hoping to answer some basic questions.
T-shirt art by Brian Sago

[@lightningspirit2166]

Very informative about hurdy shapes.

[@lightningspirit2166]

Have you come across chien that have 2, vertical ,grooves in the chien housing ,so that you can reposition the chien,into a ,nearer the wheel or furter away from the wheel position,in order to vary chien response or sensitivity ,other than adjusting the tyrant,, and does it work?

[@lightningspirit2166]

I think your wrong about north African roots for hurdy gurdy ,its probably invented from the pythagorean monochord by the catholic church ie a clever monk,one reason being the organistrum was probably a diatonic instrument ,as were many of its early developments ie symphony, hurdy gurdy, the second row of keys ,which were added later to make it a chromatic instrument apparently were a idea borrowed by the crusaders after they had encountered the Arab music of sharps, flats ,hidden grace notes etc.. and imported that idea of musical scale into European instruments including the hurdy gurdy,in fact the Arabs borrowed a lot of their musical ideas from the romans who borrowed them from tne Greeks,but these ideas were lost to Europe after the romans pulled out of Europe, due to barbarian domination whereas the Arabs, preserved them,!