Fact #114723
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Inventor Joshua C. Stoddard dies in Springfield, Massachusetts, USA. He was the inventor of the steam calliope or steam piano, used on Mississippi steamerboats. He also founded The American Steam Piano Company. His first instrument, consisting of a steam boiler, a set of valves, and fifteen graded steam whistles played from a pinned cylinder, reportedly could be heard for a range of five miles. Worcester City Council banned him from playing it within the city limits because it was so loud.