Steam organ

[Leighton]

Hi All,
Does anyone know how to calculate the amount of steam used to play,
say, a 3 minute tune on a 43 pipe steam organ?
I don't think I can use Bretts formula {or should I?}
Would compressed air be the same volume amount as steam?
Any ideas any one?

Leighton

[Christian]

Leighton,

I happen to be a musician and of course I am a fan of the now very rare
calliope (=steam organ) best known from circus parades and the Mississippi
show boats from the early 1900s. As far as I know calliopes have been both
played mechanically (similar to the piano rolls) and/or by hand.

Of course compressed air would yield a different, more harsh sound than
steam - we know that from steam whistles in museums that are demonstrated
sometimes with compressed air - and I almost bet that one needs to re-tune
an organ when changing from steam to air or vice versa, if that is at all
possible. So one must take into account that higher steam (or air) pressure
will affect the musical pitch. It must be the exact steam (air) flow, the
same applies to air driven pipe organs as found in churches or as part of
the Wurlitzer cinema organs.

Here are some URL to web sites dedicated to the rare calliopes:

http://www.wdm.ca/nov29cal.htm

http://www.neworleansonline.com/neworleans/music/calliope.html

I sincerely hope this helps, even if I didn't answer your question directly.
If I remember correctly, Mr. Scott Andrews from the TMRA (Titanicmodel.com)
restores and maintains pipe organs. He might be able to help further.

Regards

Christian (passionate Great Eastern amateur modeler and researcher)

[Joe E Brown]

Madison Coal in Charleston, West Virginia USA has a barge with a
compressor they use at regattas and Tall Stacks in Cincinatti, Ohio
for whistle blows. They also have a caliope on board that is played.
It's really loud. The difference in using air pressure compared to
steam is the pitch. The steam keeps heating the pipes causing
expansion and the more it is played the more out of pitch it gets
causing the unique sound. Caliopes were played with gloves cause the
keys would get so hot they would burn the fingers. I believe the
organs in churches are pipe organs run from air cause steam would
cause it to be out of tune all the time and you can't tune a steam
organ except for letting the pipes cool down. If you want to call
madison coal their phone number is 1-304-926-1140. Maybe they can
put you in touch with someone who can give you the answer you're
seeking.

[dragoncity]

Now !, that's a very interesting problem, Leighton. ( I dont know by the way, and I dont think my formula
will give the correct answer, but I could make another useless formula up for you ! :-) .
However I would suggest you try to get in contact with 'pipe organ'
builders/restorers and they should know how much AIR is needed to run a organ pipe.

Are you intending to blow stream or air through your pipes ? or use a steam powered air compressor ?
Presumably both the volume( of the pipe) and the pressure ( of the air/steam) will be important factors
in the creation of a tune. I think those old foot pumped church organs relied upon a (more of less) constant
pressure bellows system to maintain a tune, ie: pumping harder did not change the notes scale.

cheers,





Brett S Hallett

[KC6OLD]

Is there a difference between a steam organ and a calliope?



Dave, Chief Engineer & Sump Cleaner
Foggy Bottom's Boatyard

[Derek Warner]

Brett - in the video "From the Source to the Sea" - Captain Rolly Bartlett -
the builder & owner of the latest steam driven PS William Randell
[circa1995>1997]
plays a steam powered musical device with the steam naturally from the
boiler - he is
also shown playing a violin and appears to be a competent musician

A search in GOOGLE for PS William Randell brings up Captain Rolly's site,
but this evening
is off line - so if any one is seriously interested they may wish to contact
the site owner - Derek