To keep everyone updated with my my previous post/s, here’s some links regarding the official launch of the Aquitarian Guild of Inventors & Engineers or AGIE for short.

(Note: This name is still not set in stone and subject to change depending on the communities’ reaction however, this name will now be officially used until enough surveys and mailing list subscriptions have been completed.)

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Official Website

TBD (Awaiting vote on Guild name)

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Twitter Feed

Used for future AGIE updates rather than spamming Brass Goggles with posts.

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Mailing List

The core AGIE mailing list.

We urgently need as many people as possible to join the mailing list but more importantly, take part in the survey! Anybody from any walk of life within the Steampunk community is welcome to join this list regardless of location. Please note we have a large opening for skilled artists to work with members of the guild in exchange for each other’s services as well. One of the guilds aims is to become the ultimate one stop repository of skilled proffesionals from the Steampunk community for both personal and corporate client bases. However the guild itself will always remain strictly none-profit. The exchange of money will be solely controlled by the parties involved. Authorisation most be sought from the guild prior to this so as not to bring the guild into disrepute for its other members. Providing previous examples of your work will satisfy this so that we hold a strong quality base.

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Discussion Thread

Temporary base of guild discussions until a proper structure has been put in place and the name of the guild voted on. After which, the website shall have its own dedicated forums.

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p style=”text-align: left;”>A NOTE FROM YOUR BLOG ADMIN – please take all discussion of this over to the forum.  Comment fields are NOT the place for lengthy discussion or debate. Thanks, Harold

The League of Steam have released their Holiday Webisode.

Adventures of The League of Steam – ” The Fright Before Christmas”

Penny Dreadful productions is an Atlanta based company specializing in props, sets, costumes, and more for film, television, conventions, and private commissions.

Matt Silva head of PDP

Matt Silva head of PDP

The company includes artists from all walks of life including metal working, leather working, sewing, special effects, make up and more to create unique and one of a kind pieces available professionally and for the public.

Penny Dreadful productions Has made this very cute and well done short film in under 15 hours from filming to it going live.

SteamPunk\’d!

A Big Hello to the Brass Goggles Community

Posted by on December 18th,2009

Hi everybody,

Let me start by introducing myself. My name’s Leonardo Wolfe but feel free to call me Leo. I’ve long been the occasional visitor to the Brass Goggles website and once had a stint at writing for the blog however unfortunately, I think only a couple of my posts came to fruitrition. Long story short, I got myself into a commitment I couldn’t fulfil due to my terrible time management skills which leads me onto the irony that I’m a student with the British Horological Institute where I’m training to be a clock/watch maker.

So, why am I here darkening your doorstep? I have a proposition for all the amateur and professional engineers and inventors out there and I need your help however big or small to spread the word and join in.

I currently live in Cambridgeshire, England. The famous home of 84 Nobel Prizes and 8 Field Medals. The plan is to start in Cambridge and then to branch out nationally and potentially internationally. I’m hoping it really could become that big but I’m only testing the water here and it could go in the complete opposite direction. But what on earth am I talking about?

The idea is to start a guild (easy there MMORPG fans) of people that are mathematically and mechanically minded in the pursuit of creating devices and inventions from a period  now long gone but which we’re all here to enjoy, admire and relive. A rebellion against the torrent of cheap, mass produced capitalist junk that rolls out of the worlds factories to end up in the garbage day after day. Melted down to create the next fad and stale function. However we’d be by no means political and this is something that would have to remain key to the guild. Discrimination and snobbery also wouldn’t be tolerated.

So, due to the high level of talented students and professionals within the area, this seems like the ideal place to start such a project. Before we talk about drafting manifestos and creating secret handshakes (I joke), I need to gauge everybody’s initial interest. Now, the plan is we hold regular meetings within the Cambridge area however this will be determined by the average availability of those interested. A good idea if this takes off is to actually take minutes from our meetings so that we can publish them here or on a separate dedicated site so that others not so local and abroad can join in and contribute. As some of you may know, there’s regular lectures open to the public here in Cambridge and I don’t see why we can’t work our way up to some accredited recognition. However, this is a long way off. The plan is also to support each other in our inventions, that would be the heart of the guild be it swapping skills or maybe even applying for patents.

So, I need your thoughts and ideas. This isn’t my guild, it’s our guild! (As a note, the title “guild” is currently a working title)

Thank you for your time and I look forward to your ideas and suggestions. Also, a big thank you to Harold for allowing me start this project and post on Brass Goggles!

Lets get the steam ball rolling!

Direct E-mail: theagie@me.com.

Steampunk New Year’s Revel

Posted by on December 17th,2009

Seductive Alchemy is holding a New Year’s Revel:

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p style=”text-align: left;”>This New Year’s Eve, we present Happy Noir Eve – a night of dancing, play, performance and costume set in a dark Victorian apocalyptic universe. Masked revellers, fire, DJs, puppets, fortunetellers, soothsayers, human lab rats, Victorian servants and strange contraptions on a night of Steampunk, hedonism and live interactive performance. Find the Alchemist, and all shall be revealed

The story: Queen Victoria is eighty-one; and not long for this world. Her Majesty’s Royal Empire stretches to Mars, with first contact now established with the terrifying Venusians. Silver zeppelins glide gracefully across the sky like birds of prey. Brass computers work side-by-side with horse-drawn carts and steam engines, goggles are de rigueur and people augment themselves with shiny brass contraptions.

The backbone of the Diamond Age sits below London’s smog filled streets waiting for a sign – “Salvation is Coming” placards hang from the bare brick walls like an alchemists prescription. Backstreet soothsayers predict it is coming too – they say patience is a virtue; that the hardship of steam, sweat and tears will soon come to an end; but below the smog-line, there is no time to dream.

Join us, then, in the middle of things, at the finest party that Victorian London has ever seen. Bring your most elaborate gowns, your top hats and tails, your finest masks and accessories. Bring a role. Bring a character. Just be yourself – or for this one night, be someone else.

Bring your dancing shoes and bring your wildest dreams.

No costumes, goggles or mask – NO ENTRY!

T’is the Season – Steampunk Style – Day 6

Posted by on December 16th,2009

No, not six  Geese a-laying, but rather, by way of Jaclyn Vesik, via email,  The 12 Days of Steampunk Christmas, to be sung merrily, and with gusto!

On the 1st day of Christmas, my true love gave to me – an intro to steampunkery!

On the 2nd day of Christmas, my true love gave to me – two Nautili

On the 3rd day of Christmas, my true love gave to me – three corsets

On the 4th day of Christmas, my true love gave to me – four time machines

On the 5th day of Christmas, my true love gave to me – five brassy rings

On the 6th day of Christmas, my true love gave to me – six dirigibles

On the 7th day of Christmas, my true love gave to me – seven pocket watches

On the 8th day of Christmas, my true love gave to me – eight pairs of goggles

On the 9th day of Christmas, my true love gave to me – nine Bunsen burners

On the 10th day of Christmas, my true love gave to me  – ten Tesla turbines

On the 11th day of Christmas, my true love gave to me  –  eleven gears a turning

On the 12th day of Christmas, my true love gave to me  –  twelve woolen waistcoasts

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and an intro to steampunkery!

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T’is the Season – Steampunk Style – Day 5

Posted by on December 15th,2009

So, for day 5,  how about what to give your favourite Steampunk? A few suggestions from our readers:

Steampunk Calendar, perhaps?

Perhaps an Antique Microscope?

Some Steampunk jewelry then, as a stocking stuffer?

Or,  if that special Steampunk has been very, very good, how about a real steam powered gadget?

Babbage’s Revenge!

Posted by on December 14th,2009

Or – the Difference Engine revisited!

Mr. Babbage died in ignominy, and his uncompleted machine was scrapped, all because his contemporaries could not comprehend his vision.

Fortunately, modern scientists and artisans have constructed his machine using his 150-year-old plans and materials of the Victorian period.  The Difference Engine not only performs accurately and magnificently, it is a stunning work of art that operates without a power supply.  Although it weighs in at a stately and elegant five tons, it is hand-cranked without undue difficulty.  Had it been completed when designed it would have been the world’s first computer.

“The Difference Engine fills half a gallery and stands taller than most men. It’s 5 tons of cast iron, steel and bronze woven together from 8,000 distinct parts. Though it looks like it could be a sculpture, the machine is essentially a giant calculator. Tim Robinson, a docent at the museum, says it’s “the first automatic calculating machine.”

Read all about it on NPR

Some Sunday Art.

Posted by on December 13th,2009

Courtesy of  girlgeniuscomic:

Some other nice work there as well.

The “Gaslight Legion of Doom” minatures.

Posted by on December 12th,2009

Mr Sillof, who has been featured here before due to his magnificent Gaslight Justice League custom figures, has come up with a sequel . Therefore, without further ado,  we present to you,  the Gaslight Legion of Doom !