 He also turned his attention to inventing, and on October 9, 1855, patented () the steam calliope, used on Mississippi steamerboats.It was originally known as a "steam piano", with Stoddard forming the American Steam Piano Company [sometimes referred to as the American Steam Music Company] in Worcester, Massachusetts.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 .