Kalamazoo, Michigan
Merrill ‘Sonny’ Dalton

Metal, glass, wire
1988
Height: 6.5 in; Width: 6 in
Other – Sculptures

Engraved on bottom: Sonny Dalton 

Sculptor Sonny Dalton (1933-2011) was known for his unique and often whimsical sculptures created from repurposed metal items. This charming locomotive in the steampunk style is no exception with a welded amalgam of Otto Link saxophone mouthpieces accented with various valves, keys, pipes and leftover and discarded bits from other musical instruments.

Sonny Dalton was a self-taught welder who quit his job at the GM factory to pursue his passion of welding.  Trains and motorcycles became his “signature” pieces.  He most often used pieces from musical instruments, combining them with miscellaneous metal objects, such as ball bearings and findings as seen here.