Welcome one and all to the first instalment of Rowan’s eBay Treasure Hunt, where I trawl the Æther Bay (commonly know as eBay) for the steamiest items it has to offer!

Below every item, you can find out more info, see more photographs, or even put in your own bid if you feel like it by clicking on the picture!

Steam-boiler Automaton Clock

Well, it seems the 19th Century had Steampunks as well! This retrofitted clock/barometer combo lends some of the mainspring power to run the steam-governor on the top of the boiler. Steam, clockwork, brass, copper and rivets. How much more Steampunk can you get?

Steampunk Webcam

This lab lamp (most probably for use with a dissecting microscope) looks like a ready made webcam! The pop up chimney is a nice touch.

Antique Brass Adjustable Dental Lamp

This is possibly my favourite of the lot, a variable hight dental lamp that would look perfect in any workshop! The high can angle can be adjusted via a set of pulleys and a swinging arm, and each of the four bulbs can be individually switched on or off.

 Well, that is it for this week, check back next week! If you happen to find anything particularly good on eBay, send me a PM on the forums or post it in the comments below, and I shall include it!

Your friendly site admin here, with an advisory note.

There are several security and performance-related patches that have been tested against the various bits under the bonnet of the BrassGoggles blog and forum, and we’ll be installing these starting tonight, and extending through the weekend.

We’re also taking this opportunity to perform a little maintenance and retooling so that things continue to run efficiently.

At various times over the next several days, you may notice some intermittent down time as various components are taken down for maintenance. We don’t anticipate any particular instance of downtime to be more than about 15 minutes.

I have set up a status page on a separate server; check there for updates if you’re curious. If you have questions about this project, ask them in the comments here: I will do my best to answer them as I have time.

Update 2009-05-07 09:52:06 CT: Intermittent issues with database corruption have prompted a rebuild of the database. A few recent comments on the blog and forum may have been lost, but this damage should be minimal. Database config changes have been made in an attempt to correct this issue; unfortunately, all we can do at this point is watch and hope.

Joseph Priestley's Static Electricity Machine 1769 (Reproduction)

 My we direct your attention to Mr. John Jenkins marvellous collection of vintage radio and scientific apparatus, also known as The Spark Museum.

To quote from the introduction to the site:

 “Welcome to my “virtual” radio and scientific instruments museum where I display the radios and other items I have collected over the past 35+ years. I hope you enjoy them as much as I do.”

With thanks to Rowan of Rin

House of Secrets Incorporated is the independent designers identity of a Miss Hilde Heyvaert from Belgium, who specializes in original and custom-made steampunk outfits that should agree to any type of steampunk enthusiast!

The lovely photograph above show several items from her “Steampunk Adventurer” wardrobe. Besides the goggles (”Girl Genius”), aviator hat (”‘t Amerikaantje”), belts (”Moda Stoffen”) and boots (”Schuh”), all clothes depicted are custom made, combined to produce an attractive outfit that breaths both steampunk and adventure.

Read the rest of this entry »

On November 5th, the Daily Mail reported that, “Students in ‘Weird Science’ Halloween party [were] arrested under anti-terror laws.”

A group of students had their ‘Mad Scientist’ party brought to an abrupt end when police mistook them for terrorists.

The private party, held in Hackney, north London, was organised by a group of friends dressed in white laboratory coats and wigs, who put on a display of theatrical ‘experiments’ to entertain guests.

But when police entered the building for a routine check in the early hours of Sunday morning, they discovered scientific debris and plastic skeletons and mistook it for terrorist paraphernalia or drug-making equipment.

You can read the Full Article online. Thanks to a Mr Kevin DiVico for bringing this to our attention!

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.”

We presume that “Nautica” is the name of the mysterious lady depicted here against the backdrop of a dirigible inspired by the airship from the 2005 animated short film, The Mysterious Geographic Explorations of Japser Morello. While the dirigible is positively steampunk, the lady herself appears like she would be better in place in some noir jazz bar or nightclub; indeed, the whole picture evokes the promise of some astounding pulp-inspired dieselpunk story!

This fine depiction was created by a German artist who goes by the handle of “Sulphar-Fire,” and she maintains a collection of further artwork on display at her Profile.

The New York Public Library has very kindly allowed we Intra-web users to view their collection of over 300 illustrations and photogravures of a Scientific nature. Above are shown just two of their most steamy examples!

More information about this resource may be found here.

While a direct ‘link’ to the Scientifc Drawing gallery may be found here.

 -o0O0o-

Also, the renowned computational engine company, the International Business Machines Corporation (IBM), are having an exhibition of historic ‘machines’, such as this:

The Hahn Calculator of 1774- many other images are of interest, please follow the link here.

With grateful thanks to Renquist Von Reik and Jingle Joe, for bringing these exhibitions to my notice.

Mr. Gazongola Writes:

Yes, I have another device to report upon from the aether! On my travels among the inter-computational highways, I have come across an anachronaut of amazing armature. I give you The Hawkman:

http://brucethelesser.deviantart.com/art/Steampunk-Hawkman-profile-114571944 

From the workshops of Bruce The Lesser, comes this astounding creation. One can just picture such a fellow sailing across the skies, battling with the foes of the air.

The crown of feathers are done in such a way so that they look like shards of glass. The beak, made from thermo form plastic, painted brass, a formidable yet wise looking mask. And of course, the goggles to top it all off.

Take a look at Bruce’s gallery, and marvel at his other creations.

Source: www.deviantart.com
http://brucethelesser.deviantart.com/

Over on The Web Urbanist, there is a rather fine selection of twenty Steampunk LEGO creations: 

 Please follow the below link for a plethora of Steamed LEGO and related links:

Brass and Bricks