The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1855-08-25
wusic nv steam.


We have long thought it about time music
as well almost everything else were receiving
some aid from steam Some Yankee at
Worcester, Mass, has been improving upon
a Western and an Indiana idea, and making
music by the steam whistle. The Philadel-
phia ledger says:
The instrument is of simple construction.
and when once thoroughly put together, will
seldom, if ever get out of repair. 1t consists
of horizontal steam chest or cylinder, some
six feet in length. aud from four TO six feet
in diameter, which is fed with steam from
the large boiler in the establishment where
it is LOCATED. Upon the top Of this cylinder
is series of valve chambers placed at equal
distance from each other. Into which the
steam is admitted without obstruction. Each
valve chamber contains a double metallic
valve, with no packing, yet it fits so closely
upon its seat as to low no steam to escape
To each of these valves is connected very
small piston-rod or stem which passes through
the chamber. andis operated upon by machi-
merry without, Were it no. for this stem,
the valve would be simply a double balance
valve and would remain stationary wherever
placed, the pressure of steam being equal on
both sides; but. a part of one end OF the valve
being carried outside of the chamber, gives it
the sel'closing power, which, is the incest
part OF the wholeainvention. and perhaps the
best patentabIe feature With a slight pres
sure against these rods, the valve is opened
and when the valve is removed it Gloss s as
quick as steam can act, which is not much
behind electricity, .sr a-s ,.e.r-
Directly over each of these valves is placed
common alarm whistle, constructed similar
to these used upon locomotives, except that
it admits OF being raised o. lowered. to fauen
or sharpen the tone. These whistles are
made.of different Sizes SO as TO produce the
desired tone corresponding, with each note,
&c. This completes the machine with the
/ exception of cylinder similar to those used
in common hand-organ or music box, con-
tanning cogs, which when properly arranged
will, when turned by hand or otherwise, ope-
rate upon the valves in such manner as to
play any tune desired, by simply changing
The position of the cogs, which are intended
to be movable.
| One of these instruments can be heard
| from ten to twenty-five miles on the wafer
and every note will be perfect and full. We
heard the inventor play "Rosale" on it, and
it looked like "gelting off tall notes" mechan-
icaly. This invention is SO completely
under the control of the operator that, were
| it arranged with key board similar to .
piano, it would obey the slightest touch, ant
child could play slow or quick tunes, every
note of >. hich might be heard several miles
1t is the design OF the inventor to place
these instruments upon locomotives and
steamboats,. 1t would appear rather NOV e
to John Bull to hear" Doodle" from
| one of our ocean steamers as she was about
Ito enter British bort (say twenty mles) anC
it would remind Yankee of his jack-kniie
TO hear "Sweet Home" from the same vessel
on its return to New York or Boston. This
invention, if it meets the expectations 81
most who have seen it, will alter the tone oil
dubifc demonstrations on important occasions
very essentially: