Browsing category: Technology

Are Zeppelins the Future of Air Travel?

Posted by on March 22nd,2012

An article over at Treehugger may not be exactly Steampunk, but it will warm the heart of any Steampunk.

Zeppelins – Air Travel of the Future?

As reader Matt Summers puts it:

“….the concept designs are decidedly lacking in copper and it’s lovely alloys as well as wood. There are lightweight bamboo based composites which are exceptionally strong and with a proper veneer of woods which have more of a soul they are aesthetically pleasing as well. The copper and brass need not be the great heavy masses which would challenge the lighter than air concept. Their presence though is needed. The technology of today might please the eye or the tip of the finger for a moment, but the the design which does not leave you feeling empty comes from another age:

  • Wood with a soul which can resonate with your own.
  • Metal with an inner fire that makes it glow even when cool to the touch.
  • Buttons which are buttons and not pads or pictures to occupy the fingers as well as the mind.
  • Machines which even without power or an operator to run them have an identity and occupy sight, touch and thought.
  • Airships that want to fly and if released would climb skyward and explore the skies and the winds on their own.

Yoshi AKAI

Posted by on May 8th,2010

Yoshi AKAI makes beautiful, functional music and audio equipment with a definitely Steamy touch! The photo gallery at his site makes for some beautiful viewing.

Steampunk on the BBC

Posted by on December 1st,2009

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The BBC News website’s Technology section has presented us with a very nice article and video on Steampunk, featuring Mr. James Richardson-Brown, Miss Amanda Scrivener, and an inventor and contraptionist whose name escapes me for the moment…

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/8376028.stm

A very  well produced piece, that shows our little world in a very positive light; I for one think this reason enough for the licence fee!

Horological Machine No.3, by MB&F

Posted by on December 1st,2009

In keeping with yesterday’s horological goodness, I though I’d share one more example of  “haute horlogerie”, this time by the consortium of MB&F (Maximillian Busser & Friends), which is “based around one very simple and fundamental ideal: to assemble dedicated Collectives of talented horological artisans, artists and professionals – all friends – to design and craft each year a radical and original horological masterpiece.”

So, without delay, I offer the Horological Machine #3:

HM3-2

HM3-1

HM3-3

Prices? Let’s just say $100,000 plus!

A Jules Verne Inspired Wristwatch

Posted by on November 29th,2009

Louis Moinet Swiss watchmakers since 1806, have released tow limited edition watches, inspired by Jules Verne’s ‘From Earth to the Moon” Verne refers to chronometers several times in the novel: ““Barbicane had set his chronometer to within a tenth of a second of engineer Murchison’s”, and it was those references that inspired Louis Moinet’s designers to come uip with the Jules Verne Instrument No. 1 and No. 2, Both watches feature a “porthole” on the case side, that displays a piece of lunar rock, taken from the Dhofar 459 lunar meteorite. JV No.1 has an 25 Jewel automatic chronograph movement with a second time zone subdial. The chronograph is operated by a unique set of fold out levers. The case is made of of components in Grade 5 titanium, stainless steel, and rose gold.

jv_3

JV No.2 is similar, but features a rattrapante split second chronograph.

jv_4

jv_2

jv_1

Both watches are limited edition works, with 120 of each being produced,60 having a white dial, and 60 a black dial.  The JV No. 2 is the current model.  Price? The JV No.2 has a list price of $20,000

Steampunk Slot Machine?

Posted by on November 19th,2009
This is the top showing the pot and a swirly color wheel.

This is the top showing the pot and a swirly color wheel.

Although without question a slot machine can be a VERY steampunk object this one tries really hard but for a purist like myself just misses the mark. (although sweet Clementine, did you see that pot?! 700,000 USD!)

Out of Order!! Curses!

Out of Order!! Curses!

As you can see on the left. The poor thing was in need of an engineer.  Sadly Bally’s of Las Vegas, NV looks down upon guest engineers and prefers them to be of the In-House variety.  Needless to say I could not play it.  Also frustrating was that  it was the only one of it’s kind on the floor.  After going to about 6 casinos that night I discovered (unless I just missed it which is possible) that it’s the only one on the strip!

Summary: I think it was a cheap grab at the aesthetic which is sad because they could have really made a legendary slot machine had they made one more mechanical.  At least give the one-armed bandit it’s one arm!!  sigh This is Shaunathan Sprocket, going back to the Roulette table to win actual money at a game played in the 19th century.  (now where was that European Wheel….)

In keeping with the Raygun theme started yesterday, we’d like to bring to your attention the latest rayguns from Weta, our long-time favourite producer of rayguns for distinguished gentlefolk adventurers.

New from Weta, is the Righteous Bison Indivisible Particle Smasher, touted as: “no ordinary raygun. Far from it….The Righteous Bison can take a fair amount of man-handling. And even more woman-handling! The result, ladies and gentlemen, as I’m sure you agree, is nothing short of pretty good. The gun is about the same weight as a small brown trout (or two pints of Pale Ale) and can be fired continuously without exhausting the sportsman. Much like a good man-servant.”

Also new from Weta, is the Victorious Mongoose – Miniature Edition, which according to Weta is: “Based on the full size Victorious Mongoose, it measures a mere couple-of-thumbs-and-a-bit and is absolutely exquisitely detailed by Minisculisation Virtuoso, Dr Tremont. Made from confoundingly weighty metal, it has some rather uncomfortable-looking protrusions, so we recommend not swallowing. If swallowed, we can only recommend something really strong follows it.”

These two new additions to the Dr. Grordbort line are built with the typical attention to detail and craftsmanship, that are the hallmarks of Weta’s work. Well worth checking out.

“Damnation” Timberclad PS3

Posted by on June 21st,2009
maduncle writes from the Antipodes:
 
A long time ago in a basement far, far away…
  
Mr. Jake of All Trades faces the daunting task of building the ultimate gaming PC for the launch of the new Steampunk themed game ‘Damnation’ and also knock up a modified PS3 in the same genre.
 
Both items were to be prizes for the launch of the game – with budding steampunkers invited to dress steampunk to win the PC, or draw their own version of a mooded PS3 to win one.
 
In order to give the PC his full attention, Jake kindly offered me the work modding the PS3 – which I accepted with honor.
 
So – a Sony Playstation PS3 arrives on my doorstep from the US, all sleek and black an minimalist – time to change that.
 
I went with a wood veneer finish trimmed with brass, as this was something I could fit to the curved outside of the PS3 without too much trouble. One thing about modding the PS3, it all had to be done from the outside with no internal access – otherwise all warrantees are voided!
 
So, the wood veneer went on and I fitted it with locating pins for the items to be fitted on to the wood. These include an old radio valve, a pipe valve, a pressure gauge, assorted brass plumbing parts and some trim. The wood veneer was then aged with a few coats of varnish.
 
Once all parts were fitted, I needed to change the look of the remaining plastic, so I applied some Porters ‘Liquid Iron’ and then treated this with Porters ‘Instant Rust’. This applies well to plastic as long as there is a good etch primer under it first.
 
Final addition was a hand cut 3D Damnation logo – supplied loose so the customer could place it where he thought it looked best.

 Pheobsky writes:

 

The Science museum (London) is running a poll to decide which out of “10 scientific objects that changed the world” is most favoured in the world- All of the things have a little spiel on them, and inventions include items such as Stevenson’s Rocket, the model T ford and the electric telegraph. It also includes some more recent inventions/discoveries such as penicillin, but compared to the steamy goodness of a clanking engine belching fire and steam, what chance do a couple of microbes have ? See the poll here: http://www.sciencemuseum.org.uk/Centenary/Home/Icons.aspx

Courtesy of Mr. Marrock on the forum, this marvellous piece of field equipment has been brought to our attention, more information from earlytech.com:

“The Swiss Mikiphone, circa 1930, is probably the best of all the miniature gramophones produced in the first half of the twentieth century. The folding pocket gramophone when closed resembles a large pocket watch. All the parts apart from the winding handle are stored inside the case which when closed has a diameter of just 4.5″ (11.5 cm) by under 2″ thick (4.7 cm). The turntable is only just over 4″ in diameter (10.4 cm) and the records are held in place with a push on clamp. The celluloid ‘horn’ is in two parts and is also stored within the case.”