Hello all,  I've finally started a long-dormant project to build a
calliope-like instrument.  Unfortunately, I don't have a decent wood
or metal shop, so I'm trying to do something fairly easy.

I've looked over the Dave Kerr's plans, and while the look very good,
they're a bit more involved than would fit my time frame.  Did I
mention that I'd like to have this by the beginning of June 2003?

Building a windchest, keyboard, and air supply seems within reach.
This leaves whistles/pipes, which is where my knowledge fails.  What
voices of flue pipes would work relatively well?  I often see ranks of
used pipes on eBay and at other Internet sites for affordable prices,
although I suspect that they're voiced more quietly that this would
need.  (The Tangley's played on .5-.75 psi or 14-18" wind.  I think
that 7-10" would be adequate.  Maybe less?)

The intended use is to accompany some English dancers in a parade.
The usual band just can't be heard over the amplified music on some
of the floats.

Any advice is appreciated.

Carl Zwanzig
cpz@tuunq.com.geentroep

 [ Fairground organs and large band organs employ many, many ranks
 [ of flue pipes to achieve huge sound volume.  The air calliope
 [ voiced for fairground ballyhoo employs a stopped flue pipe with
 [ a full-circle wind sheet, and wind chest pressure approaching
 [ 3 psi.  Both organ types are easily overpowered by loudspeakers
 [ with multi-kilowatt amplifiers behind them.  If such a noisy
 [ parade float is nearby, I doubt that one rank of ordinary organ
 [ pipes could be heard at all by the dance troupe.  (Maybe a steam
 [ calliope?  ;-)  -- Robbie