WIP: Steampunk monitor build- UPDATED- with speakers

[maduncle]

Greetings all - I would like to share my latest work...



This is the almost completed monitor for my communicator PC. I have tried to keep it as steamy as possible with black paint, copper and brass - and pipes everywhere. The speaker horns were a bonus find on a market treasure hunt (not sure what they were originally).



Here it is in situ (although not mounted) with the PC. I need to get a monitor mount that will sleeve into the pole behind it. then I just need to finish the brass control unit for the monitor and mount it below.

Then onto the keyboard... (work, work, work - steampunk builds are never dull!)

...maduncle...

[Rowan of Rin]

Looking damned spiffing already! I think it needs more pipes though, there can never be enough pipes!

[Tallest]

Very very nice, and I believe those speaker horns served as light fixtures in a past life.
Will you be adding a brass grill over the speakers themselves when you mount them in?
I bet it would look awesome.

-Tallest

[maduncle]

Will you be adding a brass grill over the speakers themselves when you mount them in?

Yes - I plan to cover the speaker horns with brass flywire mesh, just need to work out a suitable rim fixture. Might end up using rubber 'U Channel' panel beading if nothing else presents itself.

Cheers,

[Herr Döktor]

Exquisite, old chap, simply exquisite!

[Jemima Annabelle Clough]

Now that's a different take on it - and a very good one

[Prof. Erwin Lindemann]

it looks great! And it is a new design for a steampunk monitor, not just a a common monitor with some brass and wood. Very good! 

[DrTom]

Very nicely done.  I especially like the black-brass-and-copper look to it.  Gives me a few ideas to file away as well!

[Gazongola]

That is one of the nicest pieces I have seen in a while.

[maduncle]

Update -

I had a wee bit of spare tinker time today so I thought - why purchase a monitor arm when I can build one (out of brass)...



I used an old cast metal plumbing size reducer that sleeved into the top of the old jackhammer (with a bit of filing and a tap or two) then got some brass elbows and threaded rod from the local hardware.

Tricky bit was coming up with a way to allow the monitor to tilt up and down, so I tapped a 5/8" hole through the brass elbow and inserted a thread with a knob. This way you can tighten the knob to hold the monitor in place at the desired tilt. I will see how this goes, might need to replace the shiny knob with a knurled one for extra grip.

The cast metal plate fixed to the back of the monitor is a standard plumbing component, tapped and fitted with four bolts through the casing to another plate on the inside for reinforcement.

The whole thing moves smoothly and allows the monitor to be pushed aside to get to the rest of the machine if needed.

The monitor has been hanging off this home made rig for a few hours now and I have not heard a crash from the spare room - so far so good.

(fingers crossed).

[DrTom]

Very clever.  I like your use of the elbows and thread.  Is there any problem with the weight of the monitor "tipping" the setup when you extend the arm, or does the weight of the rest of the unit sufficiently anchor it?

[Wisconsin Platt]

Nice.  Coming along very well.

[Miss Melvin]

Bally marvellous rig you have there I'm impressed!

[Hikaro Takayama]

Very nice!

I was wondering where you got the Led lamp holder thingies that you're using for indicators on your monitor base?  The reason I'm asking is I could use something like that for my own Steampunk portable PC build (the Takayama Telephone and Electric Co. Crypto-Computational Device).....

[Bracer]

Those ...work as speakers? They'd be cool just there to look cool, but functioning speakers!
Surely there is a lack in the quality of soun though?

[maduncle]

Thanks for the feedback fellow tinkerers.

In answer to your questions:

1/.  Dr. Tom - This build uses and old steel plough disc as a base plate and part of an old jackhammer as the 'spine' or core. The C of G is very low and I have tested the tilt at 45 degrees. the monitor is quite light and won't tilt the unit, in fact it probably balances it as most of the weight has been at the rear up until now. Of course - it is now a challenge to carry anywhere!

2/. Hikaro - The lamp holders come from an electronics store here in Melbourne. A good mate of mine (Dr. Garrett - who started me on this crazy build) put me onto these. They are actually incandescent bulb holders, you remove the guts, polish the nickel plate off the brass bezel and then you can insert LEDs. They come in a range of colours and if someone needed some I would be happy to purchase them and ship them over - just PM me.

3/. Bracer - The speaker horns will actually have small speakers mounted in the bell with brass mesh covering. So acoustically I won't be relying on the horn to carry sound, just to carry the wires to the speakers.

Mind you I have just picked up an old gramophone horn base and mount for my next PC build. I am now looking for an old upright gramophone case to put the PC case into, and then I am going to try to project the video onto the inside of a hemispherical glass dome (using mirrors of course) but I fear this project will need to wait until I have more space to work in.

A reader has commented on my blog that the circular frame looks like part of a gyroscope - now there is an idea for a monitor mount!

cheers

[Herr Döktor]

Gyroscopic monitor? The monitor is still while the gyro rotates around it?

MADNESS!

Carry on!

[maduncle]

Gyroscopic monitor? The monitor is still while the gyro rotates around it?

MADNESS!

I believe sir that I just tasted your glove

- therefore at some stage I shall rise to the challenge and build a battery powered (charged by steam naturally) bluetoothed monitor (I could use an old laptop monitor) housed in a spinning gyroscope (of course I shall need a good sized workshop first - rather than my cupboard of steampunk love)

If it is considered madness then I must attempt it!

For the sake of my honour and the glory of steampunkdom!!

(Besides which - could be fun)

[Angus McCarthy]

I have been particularly eager to follow the progress on this project. Well done, sir!

[David Godfrey Esq.]

I looks fabuluous and compliments the PC case very nicely.

I do like what you have done with the supports. I don't have the right sized drills for plan A, so I'm very interested in what you've done to support the unit, as I may have to make my own from scratch.

[stockton_joans]

i must say my curiosity has been grabbed by the mention of your "steampunk cupboard of love" care to elaborate

[Dr. Strontium]

A truly inspiring thread, please do keep us updated.

Dr S

[Prof. Albrecht Von Taggërt]

As i said on SG, amazing work. I look forward to more developments!
If you ever need PC advice feel free to PM me =D

[maduncle]

As i said on SG, amazing work. I look forward to more developments!
If you ever need PC advice feel free to PM me =D

Thanks Taggert - good chatting to you last night on the end of the spare site, sorry had to bale early. Exciting news - this build will be in the February issue of the UK magazine 'PC Plus' - I did an email interview and sent photos over last night. Hope to start the 'scribe' keyboard very soon...

[Prof. Albrecht Von Taggërt]

As i said on SG, amazing work. I look forward to more developments!
If you ever need PC advice feel free to PM me =D

Thanks Taggert - good chatting to you last night on the end of the spare site, sorry had to bale early. Exciting news - this build will be in the February issue of the UK magazine 'PC Plus' - I did an email interview and sent photos over last night. Hope to start the 'scribe' keyboard very soon...

Most excellent!
I will of course require a autographed copy for my wall =D