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Over at the forum, the talented Mr Smaggers (you should see his Death of Rats) posted about this short video on YouTube at the moment – showing a “What might have been” if the internet had arrived somewhat earlier than it actually did.  Marvel as people make a fool of themselves on YouKinetoscope, chuckle cruelly at the antics of a Valiant Knight of the Aether as he waves his light-stick around, and other, strangely familiar events.  You may get a little bored during the first few moment, as unless you have a pipe-interest bordering on the unhealthy, the initial series of tubes does drag on.

Quite amusing, very silly, but harmless fun and well done by the creator!

Mr Quentin Regnier, deeply inspired by the Von Slatt and Datamancer keyboards was determined to make one for himself, but sought his own unique take on the concept.  The result, which he describes as a ‘totaly absurd artifact‘ is a lovely creation – with parts of a Remington typewriter, buttons for keys and hand-dyed leather.  There’s absolutely no mistaking this keyboard for the oceans of beige and black standard issue ones out there!

Félicitations, Mr Quentin, on your gloriously absurd, Steampunk artifact!

I weep for the bank accounts of the discerning Steampunk and Esoterica collectors of the world, because if ever there were an object worthy of covetous bidding, it would be this.  Above, from Alex CF that most prolific and gifted of Steampunk ephemera creator known for vampire kits, werewolf research collections and of course, Cthulhu’s in a jar, is the Necropathic Spectregraph (Ebay UK).

It was created, according to the description, to allow Steampunk metaphysists to attempt to establish communication with non-corporeal entities of various descriptions.  It is, of course, just a prop, but it’s one of the most beautiful I’ve ever laid eyes on, and indeed would put many ‘real’ film props to terrible shame.  Furnished with viewing lenses, morse key, electrostimulation switch, photographs of previous encounters and the utterly essential goggles for safety, it’s just stunning, and he has outdone himself again.  It makes my heart hurt to know it exists at all, because before I’d have only hoped to see things in dreams.  Stunning, Alex.

Mr Keppel points out some stunning kits offered by the German company, Sun Watch (translated) – one of which is the above Magic Lantern kit!  Constructed from stiff cardboard, and arriving with lenses, electric lights and a series of slides, all that is left to do is assemble and glue the contraption together.  It looks marvellous for a cardboard kit, and the company also does microscopes, telescopes, Stirling engines(!), sextants and sundials – it’s all I can do not to convince myself I need one of each!  I’ve not found a specifically UK or US supplier for these yet, but this company seems to ship internationally (it is battery powered, not mains).
Of course, if you were feeling slightly more adventurous (or less wealthy) you could attempt to make your own by following the instructional video on a slide projector recently posted on Make (thank you, Lucky).  I’m sure with the correct Steampunk styled casing it’d be a delight to behold.

Simply stunning what the cunning application of custom stickers can do for a previously plain laptop! Above is the Kowal Portable Typewriter and Adding Machine, a laptop modification very much inspired by very early 20th Century typewriters from Royal, Remington and Smith-Corona.

Using custom stickers from Schtickers, Ms Kowal (a very creative lady) initially applied stickers to the exterior of the laptop to get a feel for the quality, and then carefully photographing the keyboard of the laptop, arranged for another sticker printing for cutting out for the panels and keys. The keys have been cut out, stuck onto the existing keys and then both key and sticker edged with black permanent marker. You’d never know it to look at it *chuckles*

Very well done, and shows that if you have ingenuity and a way with image design, there’s no need for a spanner to make something wonderful! Thank you Mr Kreidler, Mr Burger, Mr Owensby, David H. and Daemon for letting me know, and Ms Kowal herself for permission.

Mr Matthews has written a five part primer on a selection of things Steampunk – from looking at it as a literary genre, to an evolving musical feel or style, to the wonderful applied arts creations that fire the imagination so.

The articles seem well researched, and give an interesting not-quite outsider viewpoint on everything that Steampunk has come to mean in music, fashion, art and literature as well as lifestyle. Mr Matthews doesn’t however, seem to be quite as partial to goggles as I am (perhaps they are as cliche’d as mirrorshades are to cyberpunk), but I do admit to being a little predictable in that respect. *chuckles* I do enjoy a happy ending too – and the conclusion is pleasantly optomistic! Nicely done, Mr Matthews.
(Above image from timetrax23 on Flickr – lovely books.)

Mr Wayne D. wrote to point out a rather lovely sounding game called Worlds Of Ultima: Martian Dreams.  Though not set in the Brittania universe, this was part of an alternative Ultima series.  This one saw you travel back in time to 1893 to the Chicago World Fair, where you are unexpectedly launched into space and to Mars on a rocket packed with some of the most famous people of the era (including our favourite, Mr Tesla).  What follows is a Steampunk adventure of excellent pedigree with mysteries, challenges, and a character creation system that has you psychoanalysed by Freud.

Lots more information at Moby Games (and did you know they have a Steampunk games category at Moby?  I didn’t until today) and apparently the game is now so old it appears on abandonware sites.  I’ve not tried to get it to run myself yet, but I intend to try.  Thank you so much, Mr D!

Reader Desanera has opened my eyes to a magnificience source of information about things that bring science and beauty together. The Institute and Museum of the History of Science is a wealth of information, both visual and textual, on some of the steps forward (and occasionally sideways) on the path of science. There’s brass mechanisms aplenty, such as the theodolite above, but I have a definite soft spot in my heart for the video on ‘Electric Snakes‘ – though I could not find a photograph of one that I could use. Wonderfully Steampunk, but I have only yet managed to scratch the surface – there’s sundials and nocturnals, astrolabes and eudiometers, and so very much more.

A wealth of Steampunk inspiration and historical science beauty.

Relatively new reader Sengkelat wrote to tell me of a tradition that s/he and a group of friends participate every Easter – they build something around a theme that involves marshmallow bunnies – and then burn it all!  This year, the theme was robots.  Sengkelat was struck by the Steampunk bug and created the above, magnificient, cardboard crab vehicle!  Piloted by marshmallow bunnies (as well as grasping one in its claw), it’s an amazing piece of Steampunk creation – especially since it was always destined to burn.

More impressively, Sengkelat thoroughly documented construction, resulting form and the eventual burning on Flickr.  While the construction set is not quite tutorial in detail – it’s very close to one, detailing each step even down to what boxes gave their life so that the crab robot may live.  It is really rather an impressive piece of cardboard engineering (with small wooden axles, occasionally).  Very well done indeed, Sengkelat!

Oh dashing Mr Brownlee of Table of Malcontents – you have brought to my attention a real Steampunk modern hero, Mr Taiji Kozaki, Motion Picture Engineer. PingMag has a simply stunning interview with this most interesting of individuals – Mr Kozaki is Japan’s last Motion Picture Engineer – a job that has him running the projectors, playing the gramaphones and personally narrating the old silent movies. He has a deep abiding love for the older, analogue technology – Steampunk technology. In his own (albeit translated) words:

“For example, in the old days, everything used to be sturdy and long-lasting. But nowadays, the same things are made out of inexpensive materials such as plastic and all the articles are being mass-produced. You can certainly buy those products cheaply and easily, but they will break in no time. Then, because things are so cheap, people’s attitude towards them would become superficial: if things break, just buy another one. Such a way of thinking is so common in our contemporary society, and I have the feeling that our emotional attachment towards things is starting to wear off. It is as if the feeling of wanting to treasure something has a lot to do with being considerate to others too.”

Now this alone, his chosen path in life so far, would be enough to endear him to me as a Steampunk icon, but he part times as a “Steam Deliverer” – he will deliver hot tea to any location you should require it. The presentation of his tea delivery service is just fantastic, and that he made it himself is even better! Indeed, to top it all off, Mr Kozaki creates a great many lovely items – from custom cases for his projectors, to cog-embellished hourglasses.

My admiration knows no bounds, this gentleman is just marvelous, and certainly in my shortlist of Steampunk heroes. How nice it would be, however, to bring silent movie projection back as a hobby and performance art.