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Save the Delta Queen! 
Support our campaign to save the historic steamboat Delta Queen. YOUR action is needed. Please read about the details at the Save the Delta Queen Campaign's website and sign our > online petition. |
|
Save the Delta Queen!
Support our campaign to save the historic steamboat Delta Queen. YOUR action is needed. Please read about the details at the Save the Delta Queen Campaign's website and sign our > online petition. |
Note:
(Above photo) the original letter came with an attached drawing made by
“EJQ” dated 5 April 1958 with notes included “Steam calliope From
SHOWBOAT WATER QUEEN. Salvaged by L. Ray Choissier 1938. MFD. By
Thomas J. Nichols, Evansville, Ohio. Rebuilt by J. M. Van Splunter.
Waterbury Conn. Ellsworth W Somers (“Slim”)”.
Detailed on
this drawing are a Van Splunter manifold (in an “H” pattern to
accommodate small location mountings like circus wagons), a Hammond
Organ key set (Plastic with metal shanks) and the sizes of plumbing
along with a detailed drawing of a balanced valve (with the date 1902
written on it prominently) for said calliope.
This
is where the calliope came from for the DELTA QUEEN. However, the
mentioning of the calliope being that of the Showboat WATER QUEEN has
faced some scrutiny in recent years. The calliope can be traced
accurately to “Slim” Sommers however; this WATER QUEEN business is very
suspect. In a photograph (below) supplied by Capt. Clarke Campbell
“Doc” Hawley of New Orleans, LA. the WATER QUEEN showboat calliope is
definitely a 28-note instrument. The DELTA QUEEN calliope is a 32-note
instrument. The WATER QUEEN calliope is of construction dating before
1914 as the threaded rods supporting the whistles are of a pointed top
nature, something Nichol only did before 1914. The DELTA QUEEN
calliope in contrast has rounded tops on her threaded rods. This would
indicate construction after 1914. 
The WATER QUEEN Calliope. From the Capt. Clarke Campbell "Doc" Hawley collection.
So we are now faces with the question where did the DELTA QUEEN calliope come from. Due to the fact Thomas J. Nichol never dated or placed serial numbers on his instruments, we may never know the true derivation of this instrument. Most likely one could conclude, it has origins from a circus show. If this is true, which one we will never know.
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