Halp! What is the name of this instrument?
 

I just bought it and have no idea what it's called.

And just so this thread isn't a waste... what are your top ten recordings made on whatever instrument this is in the last two years. Go!

Sidenote: I attached a handheld fan above the exposed part of the strings with a kite string wrapped around it so as to gently strum the strings in rapid succession. Makes a right fine automatic hurdy-gurdy, it does.

It looks a lot like a hurdy gurdy - is there nowhere for a handle to fit?

I've seen those referred to as "keyboard sitars" by the places that sell them online and they are street musician instruments. Looks like you got the kind with typewriter keys, perhaps?
My personal favorite recordings with that instrument are the ones my old bandmate did on his "Satyrswitch" CD released by Camera Obscura.

Nah, no room for a handle, and the body is much too thin to fit a proper hurdy gurdy wheel. It is really similar tough. It has two drone strings and three strings that are played by the keys. I think that's the same as a hurdy gurdy, no? Anyhow, I've made a pretty decent auto-gurdy out of it. I may post a video later.

oooh thanks. Yeah, it has the typewriter keys... plays about as well as a typewriter too.

I didn't think anybody could actually name a recording with one of these. You never cease to amaze.

'Keyboard Sitar' ? Haven't seen one of those before. I bet it sounds great. 3 sympathetic strings sounds like not enough though, I would have thought it would have at least 6.

What the fuck.

That looks awesome!

Hah, tell me about it! I want one!