Office of Steam Logo_1

« previous next »
Pages: [1]

Author Topic: Calliope  (Read 287 times)

Hero

  • Sr. Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 1008
  • Location: Ontario, Canada
Calliope
« on: April 10, 2019, 03:39:15 pm »
Found this locally last summer.

Strictly speaking it's not an engine, but what the heck; it does run on steam, and it's a real screamer. It'll play any tune written in the key of "C".

I also have a bladder (an air reservoir, kind of like a bagpipe bag) and foot-operated air pump for it, so kids can play with it.

[ Guests cannot view attachments ]

[ Guests cannot view attachments ]
Logged
Bob

Nick

  • Administrator
  • Engineer
  • *****
  • Posts: 8194
  • Location: Minnesota, USA
Re: Calliope
« Reply #1 on: April 10, 2019, 03:57:20 pm »
Nice Find!  8)
Logged
Nick

Dr.Rev.DelmarMacReady

  • Full Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 603
  • Location: Birmingham, AL U.S.A
Re: Calliope
« Reply #2 on: April 18, 2019, 12:37:58 am »
I love a calliope. I've been looking for one myself to try to run on steam. Let me know if you decide to convert it, I'd be interested to see that.
Logged
Bennydaheeb

jkbixby

  • Sr. Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 1003
  • Location: Gahanna, Ohio
Re: Calliope
« Reply #3 on: April 18, 2019, 06:09:35 am »
That's a pretty nice find Bob - it would be great to convert it over to steam.
Logged
Regards,
Larry

txlabman

  • Global Moderator
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 3661
  • Location: Plano, Texas
Re: Calliope
« Reply #4 on: April 18, 2019, 06:17:55 am »
Very cool Bob.

Looking forward to seeing a video of it running.

Do you know the history of it?
Logged

Hero

  • Sr. Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 1008
  • Location: Ontario, Canada
Re: Calliope
« Reply #5 on: April 18, 2019, 02:40:33 pm »
It doesn't need conversion; it was designed and built to operate on live steam.

The only problem is that it needs quite a voume of steam to work right (pressure is not the trick here; I need only about 50PSI for that). I'm going to see if I can find a steam show and borrow some steam from a portable or traction engine.

As for its history, it was made by a fellow in Pembroke, Ontario following the plans in the June, 1977 issue of Live Steam. It then went to an engineering professor at Queen's University in Kingston, Ontario, who used to take it to the public days at Kingston's Pump House Museum (former waterworks, with two huge engines and pumps preserved there) and let kids play with it. I got it from the professor last summer and intend to let the kids have at it this fall at the Battersea Pumpkin Festival.

One valve leaks a bit, but that's the only thing needing fixing.

Interestingly enough, the 1977 issue of the magazine offered the valve castings for $7.00 each. Good price....

[ Guests cannot view attachments ]

[ Guests cannot view attachments ]

Logged
Bob

txlabman

  • Global Moderator
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 3661
  • Location: Plano, Texas
Re: Calliope
« Reply #6 on: April 18, 2019, 03:01:31 pm »
Thank you for the reply Bob. 

I would love to see a video of it operating.
Logged

Dr.Rev.DelmarMacReady

  • Full Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 603
  • Location: Birmingham, AL U.S.A
Re: Calliope
« Reply #7 on: April 18, 2019, 04:17:20 pm »
I'm sorry, I misread your initial post. I'd love to see it on steam.

I wonder could you, just for kicks, hook up an air comp with a separate air tank in line, to run it? Would that produce enough volume? That's how I had to hook up my Kahlenbergs- they kind of sputtered without the extra tank.
Logged
Bennydaheeb

Hero

  • Sr. Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 1008
  • Location: Ontario, Canada
Re: Calliope
« Reply #8 on: April 18, 2019, 05:12:35 pm »
I have made an adapter to play it with air from my 60-gallon compressor. Works fairly well. I'll try to make a video soon.
Logged
Bob

Stoker

  • Global Moderator
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 3719
  • Wherever you go ......... there you are!
  • Location: Eastern Sierra
Re: Calliope
« Reply #9 on: April 18, 2019, 05:42:55 pm »
Better not let Clinton get wind of this.

Mighty interesting find that I look forward to "hearing" more from soon!
Logged
"Information is not knowledge, Knowledge is not wisdom, Wisdom is not truth, Truth is not beauty, Beauty is not love, Love is not music: Music is THE BEST...   
Wisdom is the domain of the Wis (which is extinct). Beauty is a French phonetic corruption of a short cloth neck ornament currently in resurgence..."
F. Zappa ... by way of Mary, the girl from the bus.

Jim

  • Administrator
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 4331
  • Aussie Steamer always on the boil :)
  • Location: South Coast of New South Wales Australia
Re: Calliope
« Reply #10 on: April 18, 2019, 06:29:31 pm »
Nice find!
Logged
_______________________________________________
Cheers.
Jim

My YouTube Channel https://www.youtube.com/user/Blue123Heeler/videos

Hero

  • Sr. Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 1008
  • Location: Ontario, Canada
Re: Calliope
« Reply #11 on: January 25, 2021, 03:54:41 pm »
Hey, finally got around to playing my calliope!

This is my YouTube description:

I acquired this 10-note calliope a couple of years ago, and have just now got around to refurbishing it. It didn't need much, mostly cleaning of the valves. but I did have to give it a minor valve job by re-seating some leakers.

It'll play just about anything, as long as it's in the key of C, so I cast about for something suitable, and here it is, not on steam but on air.

I'm not a piano player (obviously), but I tried. Tuning is about as good as a calliope gets. I have taken liberties with the tempo because I was afraid of running out of air from my small compressor.

Anyway, here it is. Enjoy.

And here's the long-awaited video:


Logged
Bob
Pages: [1]
« previous next »