Photos of spool frames, etc., from various nickelodeons.
Text & photos by Don Teach & Robbie Rhodes
Fig. 5-1. Tangley calliope spool frame. The bevel gears are unique
to the Tangley design.
At lower left is an air motor mounted horizontally, which powers the
A-roll spool frame.
The calliope is about the only 10-tune roll-playing instrument that
is powered entirely by air --
no electricity is needed!
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designs, this one also uses a worm and worm gear speed reducer, but there is no sump for lubrication.
Extremely unique are the helical gears visible to the right of the worm gear, and the (rubber?) coupling
assembly by the sprocket gear. These photos are of a spool frame in a calliope in Florida, now under
restoration. Only one other spool frame like this one has been reported; it was seen in the Chicago area
many years ago.
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7 January 2003, 8 January 2003