Steam Calliope News

Calliope article

That article certainly covers the waterfront regarding the AQ's calliope and gives deserved credit to Dave for his planning and creating. Isn't it refreshing to read these blog articles that aren't written with all the Don Deming type baloney we've suffered through over the years? Speaking of suffering, I'll bet Dave is absolutely miserable down there in warm Louisiana having to work aboard a steamboat and dealing with a calliope!

Congratulations Dave on some excellent coverage! I can't wait to not only see but HEAR the results of a properly refurbished and maintained Morecraft instrument! Excitedly awaiting her UMR trips in Fall 2012...

As for the article, there are a few points that I haven't come across in my research (that I can remember). I would love if someone could substantiate the claims! They are:

1) "It was actually Mr. Stoddard’s brother who first paired the calliope with a moving steamboat in 1856 on the Hudson River." I wasn't aware that Joshua had a brother, let alone one involved in the "family business." Was this brother a beekeeper as well?

2) "Builders sprang up overnight with names like Kratz, Denny and many others." Who is this Denny fellow? I feel like I'm forgetting something and this will make me feel quite silly.

3) "He [P. T. Barnum] picked the name Calliope." I've never come across solid evidence for this, especially since it seems the name was in use prior to 1870, when Barnum supposedly became interested in bringing the instrument to his show.

4) "His first instrument was completed in 1984 and is currently in a private collection in West Virginia." Dave, as far as I can recall, you never told me about this one! What's the story?

5) I've never asked Dave or Travis about this, but what effect (if any) does the gold electroplating have on the tone of the instrument?

Great article! And a well deserved whistle salute to Dave for all he's doing to get the AQ calliope ready to "sing" on the rivers again!

Travis came by the museum for lunch today and we enjoyed catching up on "sternline telegraph" news. It's a beautiful, sunny autumn day, and we had fun exploring the new pilothouse replica in the back yard. The authentic steamboat pilotwheel is being refurbished and will soon be installed, along with a lazy bench, etc. Also to be added are a whistle, nameboards and lighting, excursion boat style!

Keep up steam!
"Curator Keith"

Jon,

The name Denny is probably referring to Arthur S. Denny, former employee of Mr. Stoddard (as seen in this article http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Calliope_(music )) who marketed instruments in Europe (or reportedly did).

When researching the calliope, I am sure you come up with many things that make no sense or lead to dead ends, as have I. One such instance that comes to mine is the published work of Steven Espenschied, "A History of the American Steam Calliope". I have attempted several times to find existence of the quoted documents in this manuscript. Each attempt comes up with the same result...it doesn't seem to exist.

Interestingly enough, I find the name Henry A. Denny in association with calliopes in the Espenschied book. This one is a new one to me.

I understand your frustration here, as I have been there many times myself! My opinion is that, unless you can find documented proof to disprove a fact set out in print, it is best to leave it be.

The 1984 instrument was Daves no#1 and is in the collection of Capt. Oscar Nelson Jones in Amherst, WV. It is affectionately known as "Grandpa". I will let Dave explain that one!

The gold plating seems to dull the tone of the whistle to my ear. Thickening the resonant chamber seems to curtail the amount and sharpness of the ringing of the whistle to me. My reasoning for feeling this is the case is that to electroplate the whistle you first have to attach a layer of nickel plate to the surface so the second metallic coat of the gold will adhear to the surface. That said, there are now two coatings on the whistle, which hardens the structure by thickening it. Early recordings of the DELTA QUEEN calliope (before the plating) have the instrument sounding much clearer and sharper to my ear. Later recordings of it have mellowed out the tone to my hardened ear drum!

I will be very interested to hear what Dave has to say about these concerns as well!

Travis

Travis, thanks for that response. I had forgotten all about Arthur Denny. He's the one who kicked Stoddard out of the operation, took the designs to Europe and tried marketing it as Denny's Improved Steam Piano, or some such buffoonery.

Thanks also for the leads on "Grandpa" and the electroplating. I take it Grandpa is the instrument on the steam barge. I think I've heard Zach refer to that instrument that way before, I just never made the connection, thinking it was built in 1988 - of course, I'm thinking of the BELLE's calliope.

Travis Vasconcelos;27926 wrote: ...... I have attempted several times to find existence of the quoted documents in this manuscript. Each attempt comes up with the same result...it doesn't seem to exist.

You mean, they didn't run Stoddard out of town on a rail after he blew up the church?? :O)

Greetings from. The STR. AMERICAN QUEEN..
Jon: GRANDPA is the Sparks.. and the gold plating is coming off..
Judy: it's GREAT.. LoL
Internet is Very Poor here and on my phone..
Travis: Thanks so much for finding that, I had no idea..

The Gold plating is shot, it looks like cheap gold paint now after baking in the Sunshine all these years.. word is, Going back to the natural Brass & Copper finish and keeping them polished. 🙂
A few shots
1 She dose kinda dominate the landscape.
2 Striped off for valve cleaning
3 Yesterday

More good news. The Blue paint is rapidly disappearing ! yay

Dave told me and my family that he had a major project in the works on the Belle of Louisville at Madison. Congratulations Dave on the nice article!