Flying angels revolve inside the manger while Magi and shepherds worship the new born child.
The flying wheel apparatus revolves around a spike set on top of the pine tree inside the manger. (Click above image to see a larger photo.)
A candle provided the necessary draft to set this creche in motion. It was meant to be set behind the manger, inside a hood (missing in the above photo). How the owners of these creches kept from burning down their homes is not known.


The folded Flying Angels Creche, a superb example of the genre.
A flying angel show against the revolving wheel.

The Flying Angels Creche
A masterpiece of the German creche tradition, this grand creche (19" high, 15" wide and 20") is a pulls all the stops

What good fortune to have not one, not two, but three Creche Guild Members enjoy this magnificent creche in their collection.

What sets this creche apart is its flying-wheel which revolves on top of the pine tree inside the manger. A candle is supposed to provide the motive power by creating an updraft which drives a wheel on which six little angels are attached.

It's not unusual for creche and angel whell to have been forever separated. Also, the star that adorns the top has also been known to disappear.

Still, even with a few missing pieces, this is a museum-quality creche. How I would love to know its provenance...

"Well, we can start with the fact that at least two of the sets are stamped, "printed in Germany" indicating they were made for export," says "Happy," one of our Creche Guild's sleuths. "The American distributors were more likely department stores than 5 & 10's. (Speculation, speculation) 
 
"Do any of the mail order houses mention it?"
 
"Doesn't Fr. Powell's creche read 'Christmas 1927'   (The person who wrote that deserves a special place in the Creche History Hall of Fame.) 
 
"Ours came with a card (No, I can't find it, but it is here somewhere,) that read to the effect, 'To a brave and gallant Godchild.'" 
 
A lucky Godchild that would have been, indeed, "Happy." Say, anybody wanna adopt me?