Circus Calliope

Calliope at the July 10, 2009 circus held in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Taken with an iPhone 3GS. The circus was held on the grounds at Lake Michigan. Two days later the 2009 Great Circus Parade occurred in downtown Milwaukee. The last one was in 2003.

Category:

Entertainment

Tags:

• circus
• calliope
• milwaukee
• great
• parade

[inn22]

This instrument needs tuned very badly!

[Xangman1302]

Some expert needs to tune this calliope - I suspect there are not many calliope tuners around anymore.

[kerry5101971]

@inn22 I agree but the chances of finding someone with the knowledge & skill are probably slim. I also imagine the cost being exorbitant. It's still cool to see an original calliope being played.

[LouisvilleTorn8o]

@KMacKellerann Pressure is definitely the problem here. I think that that's the reason the player has to play so fast. I'm thinking it's probably a regulator issue, like a busted baffle plate.

[KMacKellerann]

I doubt it is so much out of tune as it is low on pressure; Calliopes run on steam rather than air or vacuum, and low steam pressure (due perhaps to leaks or safety requirements) makes them sound just like this.

[bigskip2121]

Can't a pipe organ tuner tune this? expensive I know.

[Chivalryaintdead]

really out of tune.

[cannabudsguru]

accidental satire

[GuerinBarry]

On this day, in 1855, James Stoddard first patented the Steam Calliope. Circus would never be the same.

[Tevlek]

The sound depends on the temperature of the steam so it's really hard for anyone to tune a steam calliope.

[randommagnum]

A little sour, but cool...well, kind of sad actually. LOL