Tape Recording Magazine - AmericanRadioHistory.Com

Mrs. Esther Skerrit Sanders, organist, and one of the owners of the Deansboro Musical Museum, plays her Calliope on the new bandwagon
recently constructed for parades. The Calliope, which can be heard for two miles on a clear day, originally came from Sylvan Beach, where,
operated by steam, it played musk for a merry -go- round. It is no powered by a five -horse gasoline motor.
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many others. The sound is that of a small German Band
with the umpah -umpah very much in evidence. It is so
loud, it is easy to record from almost every part of the
museum.
Working on the same principle are three other unique
street pianos, seldom seen in this country. One is from
Naples, Italy, circa 1890, and is one of the last almost full -
size street pianos still in operation in this country. Similar
in size, but much more ornate is the French street piano
with a full roster of distinct French music. This is operated
by dropping a centime, hand -winding a spring, and
then pushing the starter button. Undoubtedly the most
unique in appearance and sound is the street piano from
Constaninople, Turkey, circa 1895. About the size and
shape of a small coin -operated cigarette machine, it was
made to be carried on one's back. The music that can
be cranked out of it is exotic and has Oriental rhythm
with the ringing of bells. To the Occidental ear it
sounds like several children playing on toy instruments.
They were all recorded by placing the mike at a level with
the center of the instruments and about four feet away.
The Deagan Una -Fon was used in medicine shows and
to attract crowds for advertising purposes about the time
of the first World War. An early photograph in the Museum
shows it being transported by an old Model T Ford.
The instrument, powered by a storage battery, has the
appearance of small bells on a square framework. It is
played manually on a small 32 note keyboard. It sounds
somewhat similar to a marimba. There is seldom a person
visiting the museum who can resist running his fingers
across the keyboard. During the Christmas holiday season
the Sanders sometimes load the Una -Fon onto a truck
along with Mrs. Sanders, who is an excellent organist and
pianist. They take along a few students who can sing
Christmas carols. Travelling to the various small villages in
the Deansboro area, the inhabitants are treated to caroling.
The Sanders also own a compressed air Calliophone,
more popularly known as a "Calliope". Loaded onto the
back of the Sanders truck along with a five horse -power
motor and compressed air tank, it is used often in street
parades with Mrs. Sanders playing. This is one instrument
we have not yet recorded. The sound carries for two miles
and one must be a considerable distance away to pick up
the tones without the motor noise.
There are practically all types of melodians, organs, and
rare antique pianos, as well as music boxes that are
waiting to be recorded providing someone is around who
can play them. I am still waiting for the Sanders to
have their 16th century Italian harpsichord tuned so it can
be taped. There is also an exceptionally fine dulcimer in
the museum waiting for someone to play, as well as
several other antique and odd instruments. When someone
eventually turns up who can caress the music from
them -I want to be there with my tape recorder.
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