In the 01-13-02 MMD, Damon Atchison wrote about the Powerhouse
Museum in Sidney Australia.  It is not necessary to go that far to
see operational steam equipment.  There are hundreds of locations
in the US that have them.

One I am very familiar with is the Southeastern Old Thrashers Reunion,
held each Fourth of July week for five days.  It is located about 70
Miles northeast of Charlotte, NC, on Hwy 49 in Denton, NC.  There is a
working steam plant and various pieces of machinery operating on steam.
They are in the long-term process of rebuilding a turn-of-the-century
town, complete with a working steam train.  It is located on the site
of a former airfield.  On that weekend there will be upwards of 5,000
tractors shown.  There you will find hundreds of old steam engines,
"Hit & Miss" engines, etc.

When I first attended I went to sell Amish children's wagons.  My wife
got mad because I was always out looking and not assembling or selling
the wagons.  I remember seeing a number of music boxes, large and
small.  At that time I did not have my calliope and was not in a
position to purchase anything.

This 5 five-day show is also a flea market at which just about anything
old can be found.  I have seen several pieces of reproducing mechanisms
there in the past.  My health has prohibited my attendance there for a
few years, but I have played a calliope in their "Power Parade" about
five years ago.  I hope to be there for part of the show this year.

This is possibly not of interest to all but I know that a lot will be.

Sincerely,
Dean T. Smith