Re: Jimmy on the Calliope

[ratfarts100]

Blinded By The Light

[movie627]

how did i get here from madness XD

[scada4321]

@cumesoftware ....

Yeah they are. It's just that I haven't gotten around to tune it yet.

[predoje]

LOLSZTSZ!!! xD

[isomolle]

Cheerful music on a great instrument!

[whoisthisguy724]

@cumesoftware I actually like hearing these instruments a bit out of tune. It gives me a feeling that they aren't just playing in the background.

[aelitadelarobia]

this is waiting on the robert e lee i presume?

[whoisthisguy724]

@cumesoftware Can't tune it perfectly...

[whoisthisguy724]

@cumesoftware I'm not sure... The G# whistle seems to sound a little on the high side..

[AburameFifox]

Songs that make you happy!

[ThereminWeirdo]

You're very talented, but circus music scares the crap outta me!!!!

[Squarerig]

Calliope was the Goddess of what? I find this really a joy!Keep it up-the steam pressure,of course!

[Takabou6511]

いい音！

いい演奏！

いい笑顔！

Good sound!

Good music!

Good smile!

[TheShadhedge]

That's funny...I've heard a simailer tune at Disneyland...

[Taojac]

@TheShadhedge its a tune called wooden soldiers on parade, im guessing when you visited was sat christmas time?

[Jenny1954]

That was fantastic! Brought me back to my child hood and the good old days and the simple life. Oh how I miss those days!!!!!

[SmallGrayBox]

I LOVE THIS haha wow nice sound, clear and so chirpy, played this a fair few times.

[grodhagen]

Well played!

[amourdutigre]

Was this instrument meant to be played with compressed air or steam? The neat thing with a steam calliope is that the tone and pitch of the pipe changes slightly as the air is displacec by the steam when a note is played, giving it a sound all of its own. Neat video!

ADT

[mewhite1528]

Fantastic...didn't know they still had any of those old calliopes let. Thanks for sharing that was really fun.....

[thewomandirector]

Getting to see things like this is what I like best about YouTube. The world is full of artists.

[MariahnFulminate]

What a charming instrument. I did note that the tune improved as you played it. I wonder why that would be? Perhaps it has to do with the pressure? I wonder if there are plans available to build one from scratch or to convert an old organ...wouldn't that be fun!

[inventorlewis]

where did u get that organ ? its amazing !

[Steveway32]

What a fantastic instrument. And you can tell by your face just how much you enjoyed bringing it back to life. You also brought back a lot of memories.

Great! Just really Great!

Steve C.

[Steveway32]

What a really neat little instrument......and it is so great to see someone who appreciates it and can bring it back to life.

Just great! Really great!

Steve C.

[vikingdude98]

Mate i was high and fucking loved it

[vikingdude98]

Mate i was high and i laughed my balls off :D

[dannypantsgm]

Bad ass!

[eastrockaway11518]

nice job jimmy

[BigDuckKetterer]

OMG Totally awesome !!! If those idiots didn't like your music, then why did they watch it??? I don't they had thier arms twisted!!!!!!!! TenStarsplus !!!!!!! Now what you need to post is "Toccatta and Fugue in Dminor by J.S. Bach"!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! TenStarsplus!!!!!!!!!! :) :) :D :D I guess some people don't understand there are many musical genres !!!!!!!! Thank you for posting this !!!!!!!

[anglerfly]

Tangley calloiphone

[scada4321]

Nope....the Tangley Calliope is one key smaller. Joseph Ori's Calliope was never known as a Calliophone. That was a Tangley moniker.

This unit, built in 1920 and patented in 1916, utilized a different keying system.

The Tangleys are still being built to this day. There's only thirteen known original examples of this Calliope in the world.

[scada4321]

Thanks to everyone for the nice comments....

[ARoyalLyon]

Nice playing, and cool little calliope.

"Waiting for the Robert E. Lee" is one of those quintessential calliope songs!

[baronoberlangen]

Amazing!

[beatlesque2]

I wanna see smoke rings coming out of the pipes as he plays.....Now Thats Entertainment!

[SoapClawtooth]

Amen to that. Possibly some dwarves or dancing teasets.

[dudesons441]

@beatlesque2 oh my god that's brilliant

[darklordaiden]

sounds like it needs to be tuned.

[allcontakt]

it's a calliope. if it was tuned it would cease to be a calliope....

[dudesons441]

@darklordaiden the out of tuneness adds to the coolness

[heftycat]

Hell yes!! :)

[iHaveAJackson]

Great Music, or Greatest Music

[muskymedinaa]

LOVE IT<3

but i wonder why they call him 'SLIM jim'

hmm... ? LMFAO JK I LOVE YOU JIMMY!

[DCSBOY01]

cool

[Angryrnmedic]

Absolutely GREAT Jimmy. I enjoy this every time I go through my favorites. Lots of great sounds out of that thing with a lot of practic from Jimmy. Thank You!!

[Iddybud]

I enjoyed it! Thanks!! :)

[demonicairman]

This video has changed my life.

[TMNT208]

My lord... MAKE IT STOP

[drgreenthumb0293]

rad dude

[Mrjcomerford]

Excellent job Jimmy you are the best, I have watched a lot of Calliope players on the net you beat them all, keep up the excellent work.

J Comerford Cambridge Massachusetts

[TheUDonald]

Wow, thats amazing, I wish I had a Calliope.

[sousapwn1108]

Ok. You people are insane. This is HORRIBLE. It sounds like a bag of wet kittens being repetitively smashed with a 40 pound mallet. Come on. Really? What the fuck is this some kind of joke? 70% of the notes were flat. TUNE YOUR NOISE MAKER. This is not a musical instrument. It is an instrument of torture to the ears. Please stop.

[scada4321]

hmmmm....

You've witnessed a bag of kittens being mauled by a 40 lb. mallet ??

...and you call me insane & horrible?

Oh, and thank you for the condition report. I guess I don't have the talent to realize that it's out of tune. It's "barn fresh", you moron.

However, I'm still wondering how you knew how to compare a bag of kitties, of course, being mauled, to a Calliope.

To everyone else, thanks very much for the comments...

...Jim

[shield2160]

HEY DUDE. I would like to hear what you sound like at 90 years old. An instrument like this was always on the move, being taken apart and reassembled. If you want to hear a calliope that is maintained daily and never taken apart search for the "Delta Queen Calliope Music" video on You Tube. WOW Listen to that. it still sounds out of tune. That's the nature of the beast, and also it's charm. So next time, know what you're shoveling before piling it on.

[jomo1225]

Yes,the "out of tune sound" is called harmonic dissonance, this is what gives the calliope its interesting sound.

[steamcalliope1]

@shield2160 AAAmmmmen

[seabeaner]

beautiful we enjoyed the vid

[owmyanus]

HA! What a great video! What a great sound! LOL

I love it. Reminds me of the good ol' times at the circus.

[Angryrnmedic]

I listen to this every week and enjoy it so very much every time. Thanks for putting it here for others like me who enjoy it so.

[1HEINZ007]

einfach crass :D:D:D

[LazlosPlane]

Who's the chick with the really nice rack in the tight blue polo??? Hubba!

Love these old songs.  Wish we could hear them more often. Robert E. Lee! Etc.

[scorekeepn]

The rack looked more "natural", which is indeed nice

[liapaman]

Great job Jim!!! Always a pleasure hearing you play.

[watcher818]

Great video Jim. I always enjoyed hearing the calliopes. I especially remember hearing live, an actual steam operated model back in the 70's. Thanks.

Gary Rabbitt.........

[radioman56]

Jim Thats awsome I think I have that edison Cylinder whats it called

Sincerely Antiqueradiobuff

[Asburys]

Very cool, Jim!

Thanks for sharing.

[Sally1803]

Was ist dass denn?

[scorekeepn]

I wonder how well it would play on our truck repair shop air 150 psi

[mortson978]

it's more of a low pressure, high volume system

[irishbois]

LOL

[dhutch2000]

Cracking!

[LaaaDeeeDaaahh]

Doesn't it kinda sound like the song during the mad tea party in Alice in Wonderland?

[portlandlad123]

the dolls are in their best arade

theres going to be a wonderful parade

hark to the drum

oh here they come

cried everyone

[portlandlad123]

is that song called the toy soldiers parade

[Dale13152]

Nice job Jimmy. I rebuilt a 53 note national /with an A roll playerand a roots blower back in the 70's here in up state Ny. What is your machine ? I'm tuning and maintaining a TPO and play a VTPO Miditzer.

Thanks DA

[scada4321]

This Calliope is a 44 key unit and was manufactured by The Pneumatic Calliope Co. of Newark, NJ in 1920. It is a patented design that was developed by Joseph E. Ori in 1916. If you look thru the videos, you'll see on of me at West Hampton Beach St. Patrick's Day parade...after it's restoration phase.

Next job is to redesign the tuning plugs and cut the old ones out. They're frozen in place and will not budge. I don't want to run the risk of ruining the whistles by damaging the tubes.

[mountfields]

smiling music,, lovely, thanks..

[scada4321]

Again, thanx fer all the comments....

I'm gonna post a video soon on what has gone on since this video...stay tuned!

to peterko...

There's no sort of pedal expression to an instrument like this. All literal expression is done at the fingertips. Staccato and Legarto are assumed this way. Short of lifting the weights off the regulator, a feel must be developed to get that "sound".

Not too hard to do if you're a lover of Calliopes in the first place...but also play the piano as well!

[edward1960hotmail]

Two thumbs up.... My family spent sunday at Circus World Museum in Baraboo Wisconsin. They would love to talk to you

[nathanielscott]

If I saw the video right you have what could be considered a 4 stroke gas powered organ. Man that is supper cool!

BTW, great job on playing that lovely old device.

[scada4321]

ya know....

I thought this would be like playing a piano...

it ain't. Since this video was taken, I've learned a lot about playing a calliope.

But what you hear here is the raw deal...

My heart going into to what I know, into something completely new....

Enjoy...

[peterko10ko]

so how exactly is it different than playing piano?

[towboaterron]

Great job Jimmie, from an ole river rat who grew up to the sounds of the calliope on the showboat Majestic, Avalon and Delta Queen. Having worked towboats many years, had the opportunity to work the Belle of Louisville one summer and the guys on the Delta Queen play tunes when passing Brandenburg, KY - Ohio River mile marker 646. Keep up the good work.

[mortson978]

If i had one i would hook it up to a steam boiler, you know, make it original and dangerous.

[scada4321]

Thanks for all the nice comments! I've had a lot of fun restoring this old girl. As for the tonality, it's 86 years old...don't knock it's sound too much, for you too may be old and weak someday!

[emixcube]

official instrument of the retard

[milofire]

Lovely! Makes me smile. =D PeacexXx!!!1111

[scada4321]

Tried that...the brass on brass is so tight that I cuddn't break it free. Then I ALMOST deformed the tube!...not good. Back to square one....

I think the best way is to cut out the old plug and create something that will always be adjustable. Read my other posts on the subject and you will get an idea of what I'm talking about.

Thanx fer the input....

Ruminations are always welcome!...

...Jim

[J2OLDS]

How about electrolytic corrosion removal? Just like they do with the bores of old rifles. It's non destructive. Mild acid solution (potato water) anode, a cathode and an adjustable battery charger. Just make the cathode (?) out of the metal that you are trying to remove the corrosion from and the oxide for that metal will go to the cathode.

[scada4321]

Usually in a boiler...

This is a Pneumatic calliope and it runs on lo-preesure,hi-volume air. It's safer and cheaper to operate than it's larger steam cousin. Circus's liked the idea because it took less manpower to operate it. And that meant more money in the owner's pocketbook. The player of a pneumatic calliope wore many different hats...he was a musician,plumber,electrician,c­arpenter...just to name a few. And that was just to keep the Calliope in good operating order!

I know.I do that now!

[DickLiebert]

IF this is a REAL Calliope, where's the steam?

[lin2k4]

Wonderful!

[marvzel]

Hi:

I have a 1922 Tangley. What tool do you use to raise & lower the pipe stoppers for tuning. They are probably quite tight & do not want to damage the pipes to tune them.

Thank you

marvzel

[scada4321]

I have the same problem with this unit as well.(That's me playing...) I'm in the process of designing a new type of slug which will make it very easy to tune the pipes. But it will also mean the permanent removal of the old plugs. The old plugs are corroded in place and by the looks of it, will have to be cut out of the tube. Trying to heat and force the plug out of the tube will only result in possible damage to the walls...

[J2OLDS]

What an awsome video.

Ever thought of some diesel oil to unstick the plugs? works charms, that stuff.

[spotterjarvin]

vals geluid

[B3Fish]

Wow Jim,

What a surprise and thrill to hear this instrument being played again. I played one very very similar, if not the same model or brand, on a hayride wagon at a summer resort ranch in Rothbury, Michigan back in the late sixties. Looks and sounds exactly the same. Thanks for the memory!

Steve

[scada4321]

Oh.....

He's just sayin' that!

(Now...if I only knew how to play dat thing!)

[shield2160]

Just to let you know this video was taken with a little Canon powershot 460. So if the audio sucks remember how close I'm standing to an instrument that can be heard for more then a 1/4 mile.  So as we say in the calliope biz "stuff that in your pipe and blow it out!" keep smiling.

Mitch

[HebrewRage]

i love it!

[TamanoRyu]

Ha ha ha, cute!

[A2thaBVideos]

whats the name of this piece being played?

assuming its not improvised

[Bandicoot803]

I recognize this piece from Walt Disney's "Sing Along Songs" December '92. It's called "Wooden Soldiers On Parade".

Anyway, great work, guys.

[bradhorn14]

thats so out of tune, but its not irritating because of its cuteness lol

[TremcladClock]

That's how a calliope is supposed to sound.

[bradhorn14]

yes i know

[stubuddy]

Here's a man that really enjoys what he does, and it shows!!! Its really cool ,but will his wife let him bring it in the house???

[twgrimes463]

That is waaay cool!  I had never heard of the Calliope instrument until seeing this video!

Awesome!

[populous66]

Nice! I want to find or build one of these!

[maxazi]

braaaaavooooooo!

[scada4321]

That's me playing this beast. The Calliope was manufactured by Joseph Ori in 1920. His company was the Pneumatic Calliope Co. of Newark,N.J. It's a 44 key version of the "Tangley" style and is powered by a Roots-Connerville 1500 CFM blower at 2 lbs of air pressure.

Presently, there are 13 known examples of this Calliope in the world...

Thank you for all the nice comments!!!

...Jim

[jpeanrkode]

I think the pitiful intonation is part of the beauty of this instrument. Very nice!

[dramaticplastic2010]

THAT'S SO AWESOME!

[Phantomsbreath]

Where does one go to get one of these?

[shield2160]

where you get everything else "EBAY"

[Phantomsbreath]

So how's it work? You plug it into the wall and start playing? Or do you need to plug it into your tap too?

[shield2160]

The Calliope is hooked up to a air-pump and runs on about 3 PSI

[Phantomsbreath]

Hmm. Rather spoils my plans. I don't know where I'd find an Air pump.

[shield2160]

When you buy them they come complete and ready to go. But wait till you see the price. W O W !

[HarborGuy]

Reminds me of when I was little at the Circus......

[tugboatannie]

Keep her going.. this is the happiest music on earth... thnx

[rabidrancor]

WAY TO GO JIM

[chobicus]

SLIM JIM WAS HERE

[spaceboudn]

history must die

[melonbred]

kill all histories

[TOMHGO1]

awesome!!! don't let these awesome pieces of history die!!!

[kdragt]

smile jim, smile!