Fun.

 [ Editor's Note:
 [
 [ The message which follows was forwarded  to me personally by Karl
 [ Peterson, but seemed interesting to the group.  Its from the
 [ Pipe Organ List Server.  Those wishing to subscribe to the Pipe
 [ Organ List Server should write to me at rollreq@foxtail.com for
 [ instructions.  Unlike our group, subscriptions to the Pipe Organ
 [ group are handled by a "robot" and there's a special command
 [ syntax.
 [
 [ Jody

 ---------- Forwarded message ----------

 Date: Wed, 26 Nov 1997 10:36:58 -0700
 From: HAL L HANEY <hal-haney@juno.com>
 To: PIPORG-L@CNSIBM.ALBANY.EDU
 Subject: Re: ATOS and river boats

Dear Cris Anderson,
        I doubt that you will find many river boats with real pipe
organs, but I will be interested in your responses.
        On September 8th, 1965 I was certified as a Calliopist by Captain
Ernest E. Wagner, Master of the steamer Delta Queen. The entire
instrument, both pipes and keyboard, was located out in the open on the
top deck of this ancient ship where it was subjected to sun, rain, sleet,
and I assume hail.  This calliope which, I was told, could be heard for
about 10 miles in any direction, was not operated by air, but by steam as
I believe most early calliopes were.  While the pipes (or tuned steam
whistles) were located about 10 feet or so above the keyboard, I was
showered with the residue of hot steam that condensed above the pipes and
fell down on my head.  Attesting to this discomfiture a part of my
certificate reads:
        ". . . and has demonstrated tolerable ability and technique at
the keyboard, hot or cold, exhibiting the required stamina and fortitude
to withstand deluges of boiling water, blasts of live steam,
precipitations of soot, cinders and blazing embers, and has been known to
remain reasonably sober for limited periods while performing without
benefit of goggles or asbestos gloves."
        The steam produced by this machine was copious.   In fact, the
keyboard was wired to a series of powerful, colored spot lights which
were installed behind the pipes and focused on the top of the pipe where
the steam was expelled.  At night each key would trigger a different
colored light which would change in position as various keys were
pressed.  They called this the AURORA EFFECT.
        Hint.  Never try to play the calliope like a pipe organ.  You
will rapidly use up your reservoir of steam and the resultant sound will
be muddied and distorted.  If you play it more like a carillon, ie. a
little slower and only one or two notes at a time, the results will be
appreciated by all those people living within a 10-mile radius. (Well,
maybe not ALL.)
        Cordially,
        Hal Haney

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Note:  opinions  expressed on PIPORG-L are those of the  individual con-
tributors and not necessarily  those of the list owners  nor of the Uni-
versity at Albany.
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