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History -- The Getz's steam calliope is a totally unique, one-of-a-kind
musical instrument.  It is, we believe, the largest steam calliope in
the world.  It consists of forty whistles of graduated sizes.  These
whistles are tuned by the amount of steam pressure let into each
whistle.  Under each key on the brass keyboard and at each whistle is
a Honeywell solenoid valve.  In the 'sixties, these solenoids were used
on space vehicles.  The steam boiler is fired by an oil burner.

The steam calliope was a joint effort of three brothers, Noah, William
and Robert Getz, who were all steam engine experts.  They and their
father before them steam-sterilized tobacco beds and greenhouse soil,
from the turn of the century.  From an early age, "the boys" learned
pretty much all there was to know about steam.

In the late 1950's the Cristiani Bros. Circus came to town and the
whole family trouped in to see the 32-whistle steam calliope that
traveled with that show.  By coincidence, one of the truck drivers
employed by the circus quit without notice and they did not have any
way to haul the calliope with them.  The Getz family said they would
store the calliope and insure it for free if they would let us [the
Getz family] play it once in a while and take measurements of it.
We had that calliope (pronounced "call-EE-op" by the circus people)
for over 10 years and became lifelong friends of the Cristiani family.

Around 1960, Noah Getz, a mechanical engineer, financed by his brother
Robert Getz, machined the whistles and built our calliope making it
bigger and better than the original.  It was mounted on a 32-foot
trailer with an oil fired burner and an Erie upright boiler, rebuilt
in 2003 by Herr & Sacco.  William Getz ran the calliope for many years
until his death in 1993.

William leased the calliope to parades, festivals, steam shows, picnics
and was used in advertising.  It became well known all over the Mid
Atlantic and never failed to draw a crowd.  After William's death, the
calliope sat in storage until several years ago when Robert Getz put
it back on the parade circuit.  Clair Kauffman and his family operated
this instrument for the last 15 years.  If the wind is right the
calliope can be heard up to two miles away.

(Note: The information above was provided by the estate executrix,
Alison Getz Kauffman.)

The new owners --  On November 1, 2003, Robert Z. Getz, the last
remaining Getz brother, passed away from a long illness.  That put
the calliope in limbo of being put up for sale or sold at the estate
auction.  Witman Auctioneers, Inc., was contracted to sell the estate
of Mister Getz and the calliope was listed to be put on the auction
block on July 17, 2004 at 12:30 p.m.

There was interest from all over the country for the calliope.  Being
built in Lancaster, PA, many locals did not want to see the calliope
leave the area, as did Claire Kauffman, his wife Shirley and son
Raymond.  So, the week before the sale, the Kaufmanns made a decision
to buy the calliope and keep it in the area, showing and performing
with it as they always did.  The Kaufmanns purchased the calliope at
the sale and are very proud to keep the calliope in the area and to
operate it the way the late Robert Z. Getz would of liked.

The Kaufmanns would like to thank the following: Gerald & Nancy Cox,
and David C. Brightbill, the proud players and supporters of the
calliope.

The calliope is available for many functions.  Please call us at
1-717-872-2687 or 1-717-468-4760 or email us: <getzcalliope@aol.com>

Thank you,
R. Clair Kauffman, Shirley and Raymond and family

 [ See photo at http://mmd.foxtail.com/Calliope/getz_calliope.html
 [ -- Robbie