Steel Drum (blue)- This instrument is typical of some of the islands of the Caribbean and is used as the basic instrument to accompany dancers and singers. It is the sound of the Calypso in the islands of Trinidad, Jamaica, Barbados and a number of other islands. The drums are made from all sizes of steel (oil) drums and are usually carried around the neck. The full-sized one are carried on a platform with wheels when they are used in parades and put on a similar platform when used to play at other functions where they don’t have to be carried. The top of the drum is "punched up" to create the notes (tones) the musicians desire. The oil drums are cut to different heights to create higher or lower tones. They also use oil drums s that are smaller in circumference to get the higher sounds and where more notes can be "punched up". The sound is made by striking the "puffed" areas on the drum surface with two wooden mallets. It has a very unique sound, sort of like a xylophone, but much more hollow and mellow - quite pleasing and different from other sounds you’d hear on instruments that are in the same family. I bought this first steel drum when I spent several days in the island of Trinidad during their famous Carnival - held just before Lent. I was living in Venezuela at the time. Thoroughly enjoyed doing the calypso, during those days, to the music of Steel Drums. It was purchased in February 1957.