Datamancer's Steampunk Laptop - a sneak-pique

[Alderman Simeon]

Splendidly done, old chap! And excellent to see all our other fine tinkerers represented in that article.

I can't wait to see the mouse!

I have plans for a mouse in the form of a double-paddle Morse telegraph key...

[Smaggers]

A hit sir, a palpable hit.


but...

a printer!  You'd have to see all the bits whizzing and turning...

Oh yes.   

[The Professor]

If it wasn't for the stiff upper lip I'd cry. It is exquisite! You should guard it with your life, there are far too many jealous people out there.

[clockdug]

A mouse from a double paddled Morse key?

As in a semi-automatic bug or a modern iambic key for an electronic keyer?  Those are the 2 that I can think of that I would call double paddled.  Other than those people who used to attach two j-38's back to back to roll their own iambic, or earlier to do a weird, overly complicated side-swiper.

I'm just trying to picture what you're mouse is going to look like, and I guess I've looked at too many keys trying to find one I like.  I keep meaning to make myself a side-swiper since (like the old-timers) I suffer from glass arm.  That's carpal-tunnel to you modern people.  I'll go back in the other direction in time now and return to soldering up some computer controlled keying circuits so we can let the computators handle the Morse code on the radios this weekend for Field Day.

clockdug.

[Alderman Simeon]

No, no; I just meant a mouse tricked up to look like a Telegraph key.

[clockdug]

OK.  I was thinking about it and something like a modern iambic would look the part and could give enough buttons to do the job, once you add the mouse guts to it.  The Traditional Key at  http://www.amateurradioproducts.com/ gets a fairly steamy look, and gives 2 buttons to work with.  BTW, look closely.  It's made from a spring clip from an office supply store!

http://www.vibroplex.com/IAMBIC.html and http://www.bencher.com/hex-paddle.htm gives some higher end examples to drool over.

[Alderman Simeon]

I was  thinking along the lines of two of these on the same base plate, with a wheel between them.

(Incidentally, there are a lot of steam / valve-punky bits on that page, and here.)

[clockdug]

That's a nice straight key and I love that site.

I did a quick concept render of what I had in mind:

http://home.alltel.net/clockdug/images/iambic-keyer-mouse.jpg

[Alderman Simeon]

That's a nice straight key and I love that site.

The museum itself is a wonder to behold (although my wife trailed around after me muttering "Oh look, more boxes").

I did a quick concept render of what I had in mind:

http://home.alltel.net/clockdug/images/iambic-keyer-mouse.jpg

Very nice, just not what I had in mind.

[Datamancer]

Splendidly done, old chap! And excellent to see all our other fine tinkerers represented in that article.

I can't wait to see the mouse!

I have plans for a mouse in the form of a double-paddle Morse telegraph key...

That should be awesome! Definitely keep me posted.

[Alderman Simeon]

Definitely keep me posted.

I'm in the middle of another project which I'll have to finish first.

[Doctor When]

This is a thing of beauty indeed, my dear Datamancer.

I'm currently working on my own humble desktop Babbage modifications. I already have in place much of the brasswork, guages, and glowing ether-tubes, but I've been waiting for an awfully long time to procure sufficient recycled mahogany. The wood is proving most trying to obtain. I may have to compromise and settle for the inferior pine variety and use a suitable rich stain.



As for a mouse, I'm thinking about some sort of laboratory glassware mounted upon a mahogany base, which conceals one of those curious optical registration systems:



All I need now is the time, and some additional finances... and a better workshop!

[Smaggers]

Why not use a pine carcass with a mahogany veneer? 

[Doctor When]

I am unfamiliar with the methods of veneering. Is it straight-forward enough to do in a small, under-equipped laboratory such as mine?

[Alderman Simeon]

You could probably get small quantities (as opposed to industrial cabinet-making quantities) from hobbyist shops - it's used for marquetry. Simply cut it to size with a craft knife and glue it onto your base wood. I'd use PVA glue (Uni-Bond), but then I use PVA for virtually everything.

[clockdug]

Veneering to a flat surface is a fairly straight forward process.  There are a lot of tutorials you can find thru google.

Curved or textured surfaces are trickier.  There are even vacuum based thingies to  handle uniform clamping across odd surfaces.  I'd stick to the flat ideas if you want to keep it simple, or maybe do a faux finish.  Those are surprisingly period for Victorian items.  Lots of people wanted richer looks than they could afford.  Antebellum mansions in the old south often had pine woodwork that had a faux finish to look mahogony and lots of antique clocks are painted to look fancier than they were.

[RivetHead]

No, no; I just meant a mouse tricked up to look like a Telegraph key.

I've made one, if you'd like to know where to get the materials and planse to make one.

http://www.deviantart.com/deviation/55965751/

And datamancer, I'd be happy to trade you my Morse Key Mouse for any coggy goody you'd have laying around any day.

[Alderman Simeon]

No, no; I just meant a mouse tricked up to look like a Telegraph key.

I've made one, if you'd like to know where to get the materials and planse to make one.

Hey, that's pretty neat.

[Dr Cepalopoda]

 
It is one of the most beautiful works of art I have ever seen.

[Hikaro Takayama]

I've made one, if you'd like to know where to get the materials and planse to make one.

I, for one would be most pleased if you were to do just that! Thanks for offering to share your plans and supplier info.

[Datamancer]

This is a thing of beauty indeed, my dear Datamancer.

I'm currently working on my own humble desktop Babbage modifications. I already have in place much of the brasswork, guages, and glowing ether-tubes, but I've been waiting for an awfully long time to procure sufficient recycled mahogany. The wood is proving most trying to obtain. I may have to compromise and settle for the inferior pine variety and use a suitable rich stain.



As for a mouse, I'm thinking about some sort of laboratory glassware mounted upon a mahogany base, which conceals one of those curious optical registration systems:



All I need now is the time, and some additional finances... and a better workshop!

Oh, now that is sexy! Might I recommend for the "tubes" on the sides getting one of those small $10 aquarium bubblers/pumps and piping a bubbling liquid through them? I liek the "railing" across the top too. You should definitely try to camouflage the modern innards with some clockworks, thin copper tubing or looms, so as not to contrast too much with the ornate exterior.

For the mouse, I'd definitely recommend plastic over glass due to the potential of dropping something on it or laying your hand on it too forcefully, by accident. For the little bits inside the glass, some vacuum tube innards might look cool. They have a wealth of small dealy-bobs, plates and coils that would look cool from nearly every angle.

Looking forward to seeing it come together!
-~D~-

[SomewhatSavvy]

I am new to the world of Steampunk and this is my first post. I was reading the content contained within this forum and could not resist the urge to speak up on this particularly fine piece of work. Datamancer, I have combed your website extensively, and have been much impressed with your work (as well as drooled all over myself at all of your magnificent gadgetry). As a matter of fact, before ever having seen your site, I had intentions of making a cover for my laptop that looked like an ornate book (having come up with that idea as well)and was shocked and delighted to see that you had begun one! The reason I broke down and registered, however, is because I had an idea to help you with the mouse. I hope it's not too late for my input to be relevant. What if you used either printable Transparency paper, Window-cling paper, or Sticker paper to give it the look of copper? I've never used any of them so I don't know how it would work out. I've used stained glass paint quite a bit, and I don't know if it wouldn't work to just brush some copper colored paint over it or something. Just thought I'd try to help out!

[ironwood]

I'm new to the forums, as a matter of fact I just discovered that I like Steampunk a few months ago.  I just want to say your projects are fantastic.  You guys have inspired me to give it a try myself.  I shoud be able to get an older Laptop from company when we replace them around Jan.

I hope to create a laptop similar to yours Datamancer. Thanks for sharing what you've done and how.

[Yuri]

My guess is that your customized search engine is of course, Goggle.com..? 

Your art is amazing, sir.

In a fit of pique, I shall now go toss my Dell into the space between buildings.  :\

v/r Yuri

[Datamancer]

I am new to the world of Steampunk and this is my first post. I was reading the content contained within this forum and could not resist the urge to speak up on this particularly fine piece of work. Datamancer, I have combed your website extensively, and have been much impressed with your work (as well as drooled all over myself at all of your magnificent gadgetry). As a matter of fact, before ever having seen your site, I had intentions of making a cover for my laptop that looked like an ornate book (having come up with that idea as well)and was shocked and delighted to see that you had begun one! The reason I broke down and registered, however, is because I had an idea to help you with the mouse. I hope it's not too late for my input to be relevant. What if you used either printable Transparency paper, Window-cling paper, or Sticker paper to give it the look of copper? I've never used any of them so I don't know how it would work out. I've used stained glass paint quite a bit, and I don't know if it wouldn't work to just brush some copper colored paint over it or something. Just thought I'd try to help out!

Thank you so much, everyone!

SomewhatSavvy: Yeah I "began" that one about 4 years ago, I think.  Sadly, the "finishing it" part never happened because the laptop died due to some H.P. design flaws (they have been acknowledged by H.P. but they refuse to offer a repair voucher of any kind!) so I tore the whole thing apart. It was eventually devoured by the laboratory and wound up as bits and pieces of other projects. In fact...the leather wrist rests on my laptop are made out of the faux leather from the Teknogrimoire cover and I eventually bit the bullet, fixed that same laptop and used it in the Steampunk laptop mod.

Anywho, that's a good suggestion with the copper stickers. That's more or less what I was going to do with it. If you check earlier in the thread there was a discussion about that and an informative little lesson from Jake Hildebrandt about how they actually function.

-~D~-