Calliope Band Organ in 1919 Chevrolet

I built this calliope in 1995 with parts sourced from a music shop and a player piano/band organ company. It's become a regular fixture, playing at many local shows and displays ever since.
Operating with the 'O' roll nickelodeon format, the music arrangements work quite well for this application.

The auto is a 1919 Chevrolet 490 ("Four-Ninety") Light Delivery,
a seven year restoration project done with much help from my pop, who taught me how to 'wrench'.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• VCCA
• AMICA
• Antique
• Vintage
• Chevrolet
• Circus
• Fair
• Calliope
• Carousel
• Street
• Mechanical
• Nickelodeon
• Roll
• Player
• Band
• Organ

[er10b]

what exactly is an 'o' roll nickelodeon? does it have the shutoff mechanism?

[organfandan]

@er10b

There are different formats of player piano rolls, this one has holes to control percussion effects and automatic rewind, as used in the Coinola coin operated pianos.

dan

[gfporretta]

Is that "Go You Northwestern" I hear?

[organfandan]

@gfporretta

It could be.......it's from Play Rite roll # O-34/84, a composite roll of "pep marches from untitled rolls"

dan

[anglerfly]

r those caliola rolls?

[organfandan]

The rolls are nickelodeon "O" format punched by Playrite.

[LaughClub]

God bless you for preserving the happiest music on earth!

[pixo99pixo]

Considering that the music is read from the holes in the paper roll and then played after this holes this is nothing less than a digital music player!

[kerry5101971]

absolutely beautiful, both the truck & the calliope. you're gifted with a great dad & great talent.

[dasy2k1]

@pixo99pixo It has more in common with MIDI music than digital sampled music but yes it effectively is.

[therandomexample]

Hah, that's funny because when you see the gauges, it shows "vacuum" at the top of its range. That means this is basically the reverse of what you'd think of as a vacuum. You know how you can whistle while inhaling? It's the exact same concept.

[iraqtv]

TECHNOLOGY

[er10b]

@organfandan thanks for the heads up.

[gfporretta]

Is that "Go You Northwestern" I hear?