Antipodean Steampunk Adventures

An Unexpected Journey

2012-01-27T15:21:00.002+11:00

Due to the rapidly deteriorating state of my 96 year old grandmothers mind, I will be taking a quick trip to the UK, leaving Saturday and returning in two weeks.

Only found out yesterday so things have been a bit hectic getting organised to travel - but - here's hoping that I find a day or two to get some UK steampunk exposure in.

2012 - here we come

2012-01-02T14:45:00.004+11:00

Well that was quick.

I had a meeting with a fellow tinkerer today to plan modifications to a superb old dentists chair that will be part of a steampunk exhibition in March here in Melbourne. We are looking at using the chair as part of an installation that asks 'what does steampunk sound like?'

And I had a bit of a tinker when I got home, decided to see how I could install a spare glass dome on some old lamp parts to make something out of them.

It will either be a lamp with an old Edison style globe inside, or some sort of 'xeno-biology specimen display' - I am leaning towards the latter as then I get to make a little alien insect type creature to go inside.

Last post for 2011

2011-12-29T20:36:00.002+11:00

I hade better get a quick post in for December or it will be over before I know it.

Okay - plans for 2012 include:

- collaborate with a few other artists on some work for an exhibition in Melbourne in March (I will be building a space exploration helmet and working on a modified dentists chair mounted computer).

- complete the CB450 Black Bomber, sell the CB750, buy a VFR750 and start a Honda hard tail steampunk motorbike (that is not a lot to get done is it?).

- continue to source old unusual items for our shop 'the manufactory' which has had a great start in 2011 and will continue to grow.

- and finally, make sure I get one post per month up here on what is going on in the Antipodes, with photos of any works in progress.

Have a safe and fun New Year folks - see you all in 2012.

Change of tack

2011-11-04T15:44:00.002+11:00

A month has flown by since my last (sad) post, and I don't know where it went.

Well, I do - but I won't bore you with lifes mundane trivialities.

Tell you what though, I am thinking of changing the mane of this blog to Antipodean Motorcycle Adventures, as most of my creative time is pouried into one of the two bikes I am doing up. The 'High Tea Racer' Honda CB750 does have a touch of steampunk about it, but the new project has a steampunk name only 'Runcible Racer' as it will be a close to faithfull replica of a 70's era Honda CB450 race bike (or as close as I can afford). The third motorcycle project I have in mind will be a lot more steampunk in overall design and finish, all copper and brass and rust and dents ... and dirty.

Sad Sunday

2011-10-05T13:50:00.001+11:00

I have not posted for a while, blogging is one of those 'nice to do's' for me and when I have so many 'have to do's' the blogging gets left behind. Hey - at least I put life before blog I suppose.

But I owe it to our cat Sebastian to write a blog in his honour. Sebastian was 13 years old in October, and last Sunday he did not wake up too well. All wobbly on his feet, unable to sit, unable to eat and looking very sad (and whilst not being able to say 'ouch' it was still pretty clear he was in a lot of pain). I had a bad feeling about all this and unfortunately when we took Sebastian to the vet that morning my worst fears were confirmed. Sebastian had started to shut down and there was nothing we could do except see that he was treated with kindness and respect allowed to pass on with a little dignity and a lot less pain.

Standing in the vets with Sebastian lying on the table and Tanya sitting at the table end stroking his head whilst the vet administered the needle, I lay my palm over his heart and felt him go. That was one of the toughest things I have had to do in a long time, and it was even tougher for Tanya, as Sebastian had been with her for 13 years since he was a kitten.

R.I.P. Sebastian.

(from Cliff).

If it were only up to me...

2011-09-06T19:25:00.004+10:00

This would be my pick for competition winner from the many entries in the Replica Prop Forum and Weta Workshop modify the Righteous Bison competition. It is by a forum poster titled 'Mr. Nagata', who has in my humble opinion, made a custom ray gun that I would buy from Weta before considering any of their other weapons. If only I could do work this good.

Once were Bison's

2011-09-05T15:58:00.005+10:00

The Replica Prop Forum, in partnership with Weta Workshop have been running a 'modify a Righteous Bison ray gun' competition on thier forum. Here is the linky thing...
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http://www.therpf.com/f9/weta-dr-grordborts-custom-raygun-contest-show-off-your-concepts-designs-111355/

Now the Righteous Bison is a very fine prop ray gun from the workshops of Weta, but wait until you scroll through the insane modifications committed on the poor defenceless nude black plastic Bison's (I would scroll backwards from the last post in the thread if I were you...) we received in the mail from Weta.

Such unfettered weapons based creativity has not been seen since I let Madge loose on the rabbits in the back paddock with pop's old Enfield...

Back from Kenya

2011-08-22T13:23:00.002+10:00

I have been back from Kenya for a week now, shaken off the jet lag, sorted through the clothes, re-packed the travel kit and most importently, caught up with Tanya (who I missed dearly).

So now it is time to tinker. I have been inspired by some of the amazing works in the recently relaeased books on steampunk art - such as '1000 Steampunk Creations' and 'The Steampunk Bible'. Both publications feature some excellent work and I feel the need to create very soon.

Plus our little shop 'the manufactory' is selling out of steampunk stock, both bought items and those I have made. So I need to replenish the modded goggles, headphones and other trinkets.

To the shed...

Off to Kenya

2011-07-29T13:13:00.002+10:00

Yes that is correct.

I am flying out of Melbourne this weekend into Nairobi, Kenya where i will meet up with two other fellows and the ntravle by truck convoy to the Dadaab refugee camp, where we will be delivering around 300 'Family Survival Kits' supplied by Disaster Aid International.

I will be in Dadaab for around two weeks delivering aid, so if I get a chance I will blog from Dadaab, I think we are doing a video diary on You Tube whilst we are there too - so I will link to it here.

I am a lazy steampunk blogger

2011-07-06T21:24:00.004+10:00

Yes - I am.

It has been too long, I know I have been busy with the shop, but that is no excuse for not posting.

Well, I have finished my motorcycle, the 'High Tea Racer' and that has been consuming a fair bit of time.

And I am now customising a Weta raygun as part of a competition running on the Replica Prop Forum.

And then there is the constant stock hunt on weekends (and we are now getting people coming into the shop and offering their sheds of old stuff to us for sale!)

So I have been busy.

But I haven't forgotten you.

The Manufactory is open for business

2011-06-16T12:00:00.006+10:00

Our shop is now open!
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Tanya swung open the big rusty door at 10 this morning and soon after that, Marco from Umberto's (three doors up and fantastic coffee!) wandered in and became the shops first customer.
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I need to get my self busy making more interesting steampunk devices as we have already had several people call in looking for such wares, so more goggles, ray guns, books on steampunk and general doo-dads will be in the steampunk section very soon.
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It is a great feeling to finally be open after the time we have spent renovating, decorating, moving house, sourcing stock, displaying stock, etc...
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Oh - and keep an eye out in The Age this weekend, there is an article on steampunk with some photos of our wares (on the models).

A book on steampunk art!

2011-06-09T20:18:00.003+10:00

And it is authored by Art too!

Art Donovan in fact, the talented maker, curator and author behind the Oxford Steampunk exhibition.

As well as featuring some amazing artwork from steampunk artists around the world, it explains what steampunk is, and rather nicely too.

Amazon have the book listed as not available just yet - http://www.amazon.com/Art-Steampunk-Extraordinary-Ingenious-Contraptions/dp/1565235738 - but I have my copy, because I am in it!

A long time between drinks

2011-05-19T21:43:00.003+10:00

Yes it has been a while I know, and so much has happened in the time between posts. The Melbourne 'Steampumped' event has come and gone, and it was a rather smashing event. My voice was quite hoarse after an evening of MC-ing and drawing peoples attention to the many acts performed. There were plenty of beautifully dressed folk there with some very cool steampunk props. If you check out Face Book you will find a few 'Steampump 2' photo galleries floating about.

And we have now moved into our new digs above the shop in Thornbury. We will still be opening in June, just not entirely sure of the date yet so keep an eye on our 'sister' blog for our store www.themanufactorythornbury.blogspot.com

I am taking a short break from tinker projects until I get my new workshop set up here in Thornbury. I have gone from 40 square meters of workshop down to 7 inside a tin shed, so I have a fair bit of rationalising to do first.

More soon (with pictures).

Now in poster form

2011-05-03T22:06:00.002+10:00

We now have poster art for a series of postcards to promote the manufactory opening with, courtesy of 'Smaggers' from the Brass Goggles forum. Here is yours truly as the steampunk version of the digger, not sure who the deadly beastie is supposed to be - we have decided it is a particularly nasty bunyip.

The first two postcards in the series will be handed out at the Steampump event in Melbourne this weekend, with more to come.

Distractions

2011-04-13T13:21:00.004+10:00

If you were to have a look at themanufactorythornbury.blogspot.com (in fact if you look to your left you will see a link) then you might realise where I have been the last couple of weeks.

We don't muck about when it comes to life changes, one moment my wife and I are talking about maybe her opening a little homewares store that sells reclaimed industria, kitchenalia, botanica, scientific apparatus and steampunk devices - and the next moment I am knee deep in demolition duties and interior fit out tasks in a shop in High Street , Thorbury that we leased last Friday.

So, with the rocket pack completed (I wore it to an event and it was well received) any future steampunk items to be built for the store, and a store to fit out - I may be a little lax in posting to this blog.

But I won't abandon you - I will be posting here and at the store blog between swings of the hammer and strokes of the paint brush.

The Rocket Pack Collective - build progress

2011-03-30T22:23:00.002+11:00

So I have managed to assemble most of the parts for the rocket pack, and it is ready to mount to the knapsack frame sometime on the weekend. I am happy with the initially brave choice of bright red for the tank, (my wife's' idea) and it sits well with my 'rocket pack racer' theme.

The Rocket Pack Collective

2011-03-26T15:22:00.004+11:00

Several fine steampunk prop builders have recently built some rather splendid rocket packs and posted photos of their works over on the amazing Brass Goggles forum. I have been so inspired by their works that I have decided that I need to make my own rocket pack.

I rather like the idea of a steampunk world where rocket pack racers gather on misty english moors to race each other to the distant dirigible flying the flag. I can see tents set up on the moors as rocket pack team workshops, I can hear pops, whooshes and bangs as the rocketeers test their machines, and I want to be there to race them.

So I begin my build, the photo below is of the first lot of components from my parts collection, gathered to form the basic rocket pack. I shall post a part assembled photo soon.

Steam Iron

2011-03-26T15:16:00.002+11:00

Pete from Ironfest has kindly passed on some exciting information about this years event that I thought you should all know about...

Announcing: The 12th annual Lithgow District Ironfest 2011, will be held at the Lithgow Showground over the weekend of May 14 & 15, hours: Sat. 10.00am – 6.00pm & Sun. 10.00am – 4.00pm. (Please note that this is a significant change of date for us – because Easter & Anzac day will occur at the same time this year, we have decided to move back into the dark cold winter period of “Steampunk!” (Bring your coats!)

For those people new to Ironfest, it is a cool arts festival with a metal edge, featuring art exhibitions, stalls, live music, street performance, historical re-enactments, (including St George’s Day Jousting and a Napoleonic battle re-enactment entitled ‘The Battle of Lithgow’ featuring infantry, cannons and cavalry!), blacksmithing demonstrations, workshops, busking competitions, automotive displays, educational, historical and technological displays and lots more of a particularly ‘steamy’ nature this Ironfest!

Keep tuned to our program page which will start to announce events as they evolve.

Tickets: See following for ticket prices.

Purchases available: www.ironfest.com.au/TICKETS

Program Information: www.ironfest.com.au/PROGRAM

Participant information contact 02 63 531 638 or Email (preferred): ironfest@lisp.com.au or visit: www.ironfest.com.au/PARTICIPANTS for online applications (coming soon).

I would love to attend this event myself, but I think I am going to be quite busy every weekend in April and May helping my wife to set up our new retail store...

Headphone frenzy

2011-03-14T21:55:00.004+11:00

Whilst the motorcycle project is away at the mechanics, I am trying to catch up on a few projects, one of which is converting a batch of old headphones over to new usable headphones you can plug into your digital music source. I have converted five sets so far - mind you, one of the sets I have only changed the plug and left the original speakers and cords on them so people can hear how sounds were transmitted 70 years ago.

Given enough time, I will find some more of these to convert and get some stock ready for Steampum(ed) in Melbourne on the 7th of May. I would like to make a display panel with hooks to hang them from.

Late breaking news

2011-03-04T13:24:00.003+11:00

FINALLY!

I now have a legitimate reason to run away and join the circus.

www.circusoz.com/

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Circus Oz said...

We're having a dedicated Steampunk Dress Up night on July 2. A Reserve tickets are $40.50 to this performance (normally $54) if you book with code word GADGET before April 21. Come dressed as the Aviator, the Mechanic, the Inventor, the Mad Musician, Victoriana's Strongest Woman or a little of all of them mixed together. Bring along your bright shiny gadgets and get ready to let off some STEAM!

Maduncle said...

Don't leave it too late to book your tickets for the most amazing steampunk event of the year. I know that the attention this is drawing across the Melbourne steampunk community will fill the big top.

A literary list

2011-03-04T09:11:00.004+11:00

I am compiling a list of steampunk related literature for a journalist doing an article on steampunk in Melbourne, and I thought - why not post it here too? I am sure that many of you have read many of these, but in case you have not, then enjoy.

Books:

Novels:

‘The Difference Engine’ – William Gibson and Bruce Stirling (the first steampunk novel, often credited with starting the subculture).

‘Leviathan’ and ‘Behemoth’ – Scott Westerfeld (young adult fiction – follows early 20th Century European history and adds a twist).

‘Soulless’ ‘Blameless’ ‘Changeless’ – series by Gail Carriger (steampunk paranormal romance with wit, set in 19th Century London).

‘The Strange Affairs of Spring Heeled Jack’ – Mark Hodder (steampunk detective set in 19th Century London).

‘The Court of the Air’ – Stephen Hunt (fantasy with steampunk themes).

‘The Affinity Bridge’ – George Mann (steampunk detective set in 19th Century London).

‘Boneshaker’ – Cherie Priest (set in 19th Century America)

And my favourite…

‘Perdido Street Station’ – China Mieville. (Whilst this is fantasy, it has many steampunk themes and is a rich read, I keep going back to it to read it again when I am between new releases).

I have found all of these novels by following the ‘What are you reading’ thread on the Brass Goggles forum.

http://brassgoggles.co.uk/forum/index.php/topic,2911.0.html

Books with pictures of steampunk inventions:

‘The Art of Steampunk: Extraordinary Devices and Ingenious Contraptions from the Leading Artists of the Steampunk Movement’ – Art Donovan.

‘1000 Steampunk Creations: Neo-victorian Fashion, Gear & Art’ – Dr. Grymm

Both of these books are due out in a couple of months, I have work in the Art Donovan book and I think I have work featured in the Dr.Grymm book also.

Introducing... 'Gunneracam'

2011-02-27T21:13:00.005+11:00

Folks, I finally have a Gunnera in my garden. I have always wanted one of these monstrous plants, they look quite Victorian era and particularly alien in origin - which makes them very steampunk in my book.

My sensible horticulturally qualified wife has restricted my Gunnera's movements by capturing it in a large pot. The theory being that if it were left to roam in the boggy corner of our back yard, we would come home one day to find the house and garden buried under a three storey tall writhing tentacled mass of hungry Gunnera (or so I have been told).

Therefore 'gunny' as he is known, will remain pot bound in the corner of the yard. I will be documenting his development, today is gunnercam photo one - the day of the planting.

That's my baby in the corner, looking all small and innocent...

... for now.

Opportunity to create

2011-02-21T22:14:00.003+11:00

I have been asked on a number of occasions what I could do to assist with 'dressing up' a venue for a steampunk event. Given the fine detail in the items I produce, my wares are not as suitable for props as one would hope, and I don't really have any good large lightweight but robust steampunk prop items. There is certainly a market here for such things.

What I was thinking of, is a series of advertising posters for steampunk devices, graphically designed and scripted with wit to convey the steampunk theme. These posters would be easy to reproduce in a variety of sizes, could be used to dress a steampunk event, and be sold as reproductions (even postcard size).

Is there anyone interested in producing a series of advertising posters for steampunk wares in the Victorian style? I would happily provide ideas for content, but I have no graphic arts tools at hand to produce such items.

Opportunity knocks...

Fun with flowers

2011-02-13T21:46:00.006+11:00

I am very lucky that my wonderful wife Tanya also enjoys being creative by recycling old wares in new ways. Just today I returned from a jumble sale armed with many useful brass parts for steampunk creations, some motorcycle parts I may use, and a milk bottle carrier complete with milk bottles for Tanya. And this is what Tanya did with them.

Looks great huh? Just a little bit different but also very practical, a set of vases with a carry handle. I do love my wife.

Happy Valentine's Day Tanya.

In case you are wondering...

2011-02-11T11:30:00.003+11:00

Yes I did self-edit and delete my last post. I went slightly madder this week, partially due to the impact the anniverasry of black Saturday (7th February) continues to have on me, and partially because I am half mad anyway. To those who read it I apologise for deleting it, and in particular to those who commented I do apologise for deleting your work as a result.

I will remain 30% less attractive.

Two steps forward...

2011-01-31T21:35:00.005+11:00

Well, those of you who work on bikes will know it is not always 'progress'. My first error was purchasing a new set of spanners and finding out how well they work when you want to take a bike apart. At least I am learning something about bikes.

The first photo shows progress (of a sort) with the first of the two leather saddle bags test fitted into position. They do make good alternatives to the standard plastic side covers and I think I am the first to try this option.

The second photo demonstrates the effectiveness of my new set of spanners (I just can't stop myself). Oh well - at least the garage will have a 'blank canvas' to work from...

First bike mod

2011-01-23T20:12:00.004+11:00

It may not look like much, but the shiny triangular panel on the side of the bike took a bit of doing. First - I had to remount the regulator and the rectifier so they did not stick out past the frame, then make up two brackets to bolt up where the old plastic lug mounts were for the original panel, then drill and tap holes in the new brackets for the plate, then cover the rear of the plate in adhesive felt to insulate it in case it touched any of the electrical components and grounded them, and finally drill the three holes in the plate and bolt it on.

I like the end result. I still may put a leather pannier over the plate, using some old brown leather left over from the New Years Eve costume. It will look much better when the tank is stripped back and matches the plate.

During the meanwhile...

2011-01-12T21:47:00.002+11:00

Whilst you all wait for the bike to change shape, here is a great website I found at work today whilst Googling for a photo of a robot fire fighter (yes - I get paid to do this sort of stuff).

http://blog.modernmechanix.com/

I could spend hours there...

It begins

2011-01-08T18:48:00.007+11:00

Well my friends, itdid not take me long to clear space in the workshop, purchase an appropriate classic motorbike, research the type of bike I want to create and start to source parts.

Here is the donor bike, a 1977 Honda CB750F, sourced from eBay. A good solid start for what I hope will be an amazing finish.

And above is my current favourite cafe racer build, using a CB750 as the base. This one is by Wrenchmonkees, and you can see more of this bike at www.wrenchmonkees.com/monkee11.html

I consider the Wrenchmonkees bike to be slightly steampunk in its general feel and in its detailed use of copper tubing to house wiring. I already plan to try something similar. Now if I could do a custom copper exhaust as well...

After the ball is over...

2011-01-03T16:07:00.004+11:00

Well, the dust from New Years Eve is settling and I am preparing for another year. The MonoGoggleBracer costume was well received, although - I have calculated that the cost of materials, specialist sewing skills and my own time meant that is was costing me around $150 an hour for the short time I wore it on New Years Eve. Oh well - we do it for the love don't we?

Here is Stirling Gill Chambers (on the left) and myself (on the right I suppose) in costume on the evening. I had to wear the costume in shifts, as if I wore it for more than 90 minutes my arm would go to sleep and start to drop off.

So the plans for 2011, well - I want to build just one thing this year, my own cafe racer motorcycle with a bit of a steampunk twist. I plan on calling it the 'high tea racer' and doing a custom fuel tank and seat in a polished wood finish, similar to those lovely old timber speedboats you sometimes see.

The blog might get a bit 'bikish' over the next few months, but I will intersperse bike posts with other more general reflections and musings on the steampunk world along the way.

Welcome to 2011 folks, I hope you enjoy the ride.

The MonoGoggleBracer - part five

2010-12-22T16:02:00.007+11:00

The MonoGoggleBracer costume is complete. Alex finished sewing up the base for the leather half garment yesterday, and today I added the buckles, belts, rivets and parts to the 'rig'.

It fits well, but it hurts! I need to pad my shoulder if I am going to wear it for any longer than half an hour, and I plan to wear it for a few hours on New Years Eve.

More photos after New Years Eve.

The MonoGoggleBracer - part four

2010-12-11T17:09:00.003+11:00

Well, it has been a wee while since I posted last. I have been busy with my new job and I have been away on a training camp in the bush, so no tinker time until today.

But I made good use of today's tinker time and I completed the leatherwork for the MonoGoggleBracer outfit.

Hopefully, the next set of MonoGoggleBracer photos you see will be post New Years Eve shots of me in the full regalia.

What am I listening to?

2010-11-24T22:24:00.004+11:00

Jordan Reyne - "How the dead live"

Well, someone kindly sent me a link to a New Zealand artist called Jordan Reyne. Jordan is also a very well known Second Life artist and plays in Second Life as JordanReyne Deezul including weekly shows at Clockwork Orange, one of Second Life's newest Steampunk music venues.

I have downloaded a few of Jordan's tracks and I am loving her work. The music is full of 'stories' - very atmospheric and creates all sorts of ideas in my head for new inventions, storylines for novels, imagined characters, etc - inspirational stuff.

If you want to hear some of Jordan's work, head over to http://www.jordanreyne.com/

The MonoGoggleBracer - part three

2010-11-14T18:04:00.004+11:00

Quick update, finished the bracer part.

And I have almost completed the engine, more later in the week.

The MonoGoggleBracer - part two

2010-11-07T17:07:00.004+11:00

Building the bracer.

I had a pair of brass 1/2 collars off something, they will make good ends on a forearm control unit - or 'bracer'.

I made up a curved panel out of tin to sit between the brass ends.

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Pre drilled and undercoated centre panel.

Finally, I clad the panel in thin strips of timber veneer and stained it, I liked the look I achieved with Anna the ray gun so I felt it was worth repeating. The brass dome nuts are fixed to thread which is tapped into the brass end pieces.

Last shot is a 'teaser' shot for you, showing the first part of the engine that will sit on my back as part of the total machine.

The MonoGoggleBracer - part one

2010-11-01T22:28:00.006+11:00

As with all my ideas, they start with one or two small parts that look like they may go together to be something else...

Thus begins my MonoGoggleBracer - a costume build for New Years Eve. This will be a strap on mono goggle that is plumbed into a full arm length bracer fitted with a power pack on the upper arm and control panel on the forearm.

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My first idea was to plumb it all up with fish tank air line and pump UV fluid around, but I am now going with a less messier build, using LED rope light inside a slightly larger clear tube. The donor LED light set is a solar powered unit for lighting up trees. I stripped off the messy outer sheath and slid the LED rope inside my smaller clear tubing.

Next step is to go and get some leather so I can make up the full mono goggle harness and start to sew up a bracer. I have chandelier parts to use as tubing supports at the shoulder and elbow, and some cool parts to make a control panel with for the forearm.

The (probably) completed 'Anna' raygun

2010-10-31T21:50:00.003+11:00

Well... that is to say... I think I have completed another weapon of mass amusement. I added the metal rods with the balls on the ends yesterday (well - there were holes in the discs already and they looked sort of pointless without something passing through them).

So, now I need to get to the aquarium and get the parts I need to start my New Years Eve costume.

The amazing art of Kevin Mowrer

2010-10-25T21:05:00.003+11:00

This is but one amazingly beautiful example of the steampunk renderings expertly executed by Kevin Mowrer. I am fortunate to have been introduced to Kevin via mutual steampunk appreciators, and I am very pleased to be able to share Kevin's work with you on my blog.

For more of Kevin Mowrer's work - please visit

http://mowrerart.blogspot.com/

Now if only Kevin and I could collaborate on a steampunk movie together...

Back in the armoury

2010-10-21T10:03:00.004+11:00

I am back in the armoury, now turning out a pair of ray guns that will be known as 'Anna' (the standard issue sidearm) and 'Annastasia' (the ceremonial dress model). So I will have two variations on the same model.

For those interested in construction methods, I have long been a big fan of the 'threaded rod spine' method - where all parts can be assembled along one threaded rod. This works particularly well when your parts mostly come from old chandeliers.

Here we see Anna in exploded form, the whole assemblage is held together by the fact that the old brass bed knob to the left has an internally 3/8" threaded shaft, and the chandelier finial to theright is similarly threaded.

Next step - the pistol grips.

Fringe: Intimate Exposure, The Event, Dances with Worms ~ theatre notes

2010-10-08T15:15:00.001+11:00

Fringe: Intimate Exposure, The Event, Dances with Worms ~ theatre notes

The steampunk gentleman's valet (GGIS) gets a nod from a well respected art blogger in Melbourne.

Now I need to find a home for the bloomin thing - otherwise I may end up pulling it to bits.

European Expedition Musings - Part Two

2010-10-06T21:52:00.004+11:00

Well met in Berlin

I was most fortunate whilst in Berlin to meet the well known and equally well respected Brass Goggles forum member 'ElShoggotho' of Berlin. This was a momentus occasion, in that this was the first ever meeting of antipodean and european Brass Goggles lurkers (as far as I know anyway).

That would be me on the left in mundane apparal and ElShoggotho on the right appropriately dressed for the occasion.

In the company of my good lady wife Tanya, we enjoyed a tour of the Berlin Technical Museum, stacked full of amazing old inventions and equipment.

Unfortunately our meeting was brief, but I feel honoured to have been able to meet a fellow steampunker on the other side of the world from me, and such a lovely chap too.

European Expedition Musings - Part One

2010-09-29T17:45:00.010+10:00

On Markets...
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In our recent travels, I frequented markets wherever possible. I had heard about the legendary Marche de Puces in Paris and was looking forward to some amazing sights and potential purchases.
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The sights did not disappoint.
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Here is the good lady wife, exclaiming - "why husband, I do believe that this store may hold more old brass parts than your workshop". Taking this as a challenge, I rummaged the boxes and found five very small broken pieces of old brass bits and proceeded to enquire on the price.

Thirty Euro!!!

The parts went back in the box.

Fortunately, I had visited a smaller but more reasonably priced market the day before and sourced a rather nice old brass microscope and a smashing pair of 19th century phoropters, too good to mod - these will stay as is. And Tanya also scored some nice old bits too, including old embriodery silk and an old cloche.

(next chapter - Brass Goggles lurkers meet in Berlin)

And I thought I was the mad one

2010-08-31T09:13:00.003+10:00

My younger brother Warren, and family celebrated young Davids' birthday with a 'heroes and villains' theme.

I love this photo, it goes to show my family is at least as colourful as me ( and far better dressed). I now need to work on a steampunk superhero (or villian) costume - just to keep up with the Overtons.

No news is well.. no news!

2010-08-26T20:56:00.004+10:00

What can I say? (Apart from the fact I have just consumed a very good bottle of 'Tar and Roses' Shiraz from the Heathcote winery distict) - but gentle viewers, I do not have much news.

The 'Gentleman's Grooming and Information Station' will be delivered to the 2010 Fringe Furniture exhibition next week.

Collect, compress, filter, discharge will be delivered to the Bundoora Homestead gallery for exhibition on Sunday.

Maduncle Cliff and his (very) good lady wife Tanya will be delivered (courtesy of Cathay Pacific) to Paris next week.

Oh, and I now have rather nice Maduncle business cards, if you want one then reply to this blog post with your postal address and I may send you one when we get back from Europe in October.

A hearty 'toodle pip' seems appropriate - I will post the news of the European exploration tour with pictures upon our return.

Prosthetic progress

2010-08-03T21:03:00.007+10:00

Given the time constraints on this little project, I have hastilly assembled my version of a steampunk air pirates 'bracer peg leg'.

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This piece carries a brass stun grenade hanging from the peg leg, a bottle of Cod Liver Oil (genuine!) for those nasty cases of HADD (High Altitude Dirigible Dizzyness), and a watch of course.

I think this will do, I don't want to 'overcook' this project to the point where you don't know it is a leg. Now I can sit back and wait for the parade.

My latest challenge

2010-08-01T21:26:00.004+10:00

A new project has appeared on my workbench.

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A friend of a friend with part of one leg missing is modelling in Miss Alexandra's 'Clockwork Butterfly' steampunk fashion parade at the Thornbury Theatre in Melbourne on the 9th of October.

I have been asked to 'steampunk' this false leg as part of an air pirates costume that the chap will be modelling - just the sort of project I needed to keep my tinkerfingers from seizing up before our European vacation.

Therefore, the first thing I have done is cut a panel out of a ghastly old leather patchwork jacket (I will never forgive the 80's for the clothes they gave us) and clad the fibreglass upper leg in it to create a sort of 'Edward Scissorhands costume' look to that part of the prosthesis.

This still needs a final edge trim, but the spray adhesive does a fine job at sticking down leather. Next step is to add some brass detail to the peg leg, I have some ideas for a spring and lever arrangement.

My 15 minutes has been extended

2010-07-27T10:11:00.002+10:00

Yeah, I know Andy said we all get 15 minutes of fame, but thanks to GGIS now going into the 2010 Melbourne Fringe Furniture exhibition, and CCFD going into the Darebin Art Show at the Bundoora Homestead, I will be 'well shown' whilst I am in Europe.

I have not tinkered for a week now, and my tinkerfinger is itching furiously. I do have plans for a 'bladereunneresque' ray gun that pays homage to the iconic movie prop, and I have an idea for an old electric fan that might hold and spin a record vertically (fast!) and oscillate whilst a stylus picks up the sounds and send them to a gramophone speaker...

But then, I do want to build my workshop forge so I can get into some more smithing. I just got the latest BABA (British Artists Blacksmiths Association) magazine from the UK, and the work on show is inspiring.

So much to tinker with and so little time.

Finished (?)

2010-07-17T13:52:00.003+10:00

Well, finished to the point where I am ready to show it. The GGIS now has a toothbrush holder (the articulated arm holding the test tube to the right of the pressure gauge), a soap dispenser (glass jar near themometer to the lower left), a tray for your glass of water (above pressure gauge), a mobile phone holder) on the brass flexible stalk) a place to mount a brass swivel mirror when I find one (to the right of the fan on the central column) and a light (on the top silly!).

Things I would add, given the chance would be a couple of mirrors, and a plasma ball on the top instead of the light. I might be able to find on that big, otherwise I can change the white plastic globe over to a clear plastic globe and put a small plasma ball inside.

So I reckon that is it for GGIS folks, now it is time to rest before contemplating my next project. Given we go to Europe in six weeks, I might wait until I return with boxes of flea market finds.

Meanwhile...

2010-07-10T21:17:00.003+10:00

If you live in or near Melbourne, or if you are visting Melbourne sometime soon, I recommend that you get along to the Tim Burton exhibition at the Australian Centre for the Moving Image (ACMI) in Federation Square.

I went along last Friday and was amazed at the work of this man. Tim's artwork is fantastic and the detail in some of the sketches is quite beautiful. Plus - to stand beside the Edward Scissorhands costume was a real treat (Johnny Depp must be small).

Funny thing though, watching the Edward Scissorhands movie being shown next to the costume and I noticed that the costume appears back to front in the movie.

GGIS goes electric

2010-07-10T21:01:00.004+10:00

Pictures of todays work first...

So, today I completed the copper plumbing work required to connect the hot water inlet to the temperature gauge, and the cold water inlet to the pressure gauge. So now GGIS has the wash stand side of the business complete, all grey water outgoing and hot and cold incoming is complete.

I have also slightly modified GGIS so that it can be dissassembled into three components, being - the basewith grey water outgoing, the centre section with hot and cold incoming, and thetop section with electrics.

And today I got to start on the top section. I have fitted the flexible arm for the iPod docking station, as well as an old electric fan (not working yet) because the dentists machine in Adelaide had one on it and it looked cool.

I have yet to fit the two light arms, and find an old brass shaving mirror to mount above the pressure gauge. And I need to put a lamp inside the old suction strainer fitting on the top, so it glows.

This is actually getting close to being finished, and just as well - because if I can find a way of storing it whilst I am away and getting it delivered, I might be able to put it into the 2010 Melbourne Fringe Furniture Exhibition in September.

Here's hoping.

GGIS running hot and cold

2010-07-04T19:54:00.005+10:00

After a few hours of tinkering and polishing in the maduncle industries workshop, GGIS now has tapware fitted for hot and cold running water.

It is a bit hard to make out the detail amongst all that shiny brass, but it has all come together rather well. I need to connect the hot water to the themometer, and the cold water to the pressure gauge then all incoming water supply controls are good and finished.

Next step - the electrics!

GGIS June gallery

2010-06-24T19:49:00.006+10:00

Finally, I have secured the wash basin in place on GGIS. I did try bending copper tube to form a ring to support the sink, but after a few botched attempts at this, I decided to mount it without, and it seems pretty sturdy. So all waste water plumbing is in place and ready for future connection.

The pressure gauge will be connected to the cold water, and I have an old steam engine themometer to mount on the left hand side and attach to the hot water.

Pictured above, you can see the hand towel rail mounted below the sink. This uses a combination of old gas plumbing parts and old brass chandelier parts.

Next step, polish these old brass taps and get them mounted on the GGIS, connected to the pressure gauge and themometer, and most importantly - make sure it is alll water tight under mains pressure!

Steampunk Nirvana

2010-06-16T16:27:00.005+10:00

I never thought I would ever see one, well - perhaps in a museum, but not in an antiques store and for sale! Here is my 'muse' the device (or device type) that inspires my builds, such as the PC communicator and the GGIS currently under construction.

This amazing example is Japanese in origin, around 80 years old and almost complete (the lamp shade is missing). Yours for a paltry $2000, and if you live in Adelaide it is in Magill Road at Gizmo Tools (ask for David - tell him maduncle sent you).

I bet that lens lights up green when the power is on.

The Adelaide adventure

2010-06-12T17:01:00.003+10:00

A brief message from the telephone of maduncle, I have discovered true steampunk nirvana here in the form of an antique Japanese dentists machine. It is all articulated arms, belt driven drills, milk glass spitoons and eerily robotic in looks. This wonderous device lurks in an amazing antique store in Magill road, known as Gizmo. I hope to have photo's of it soon...

GGIS continues

2010-06-06T17:47:00.005+10:00

The Gentlemen's Grooming and Information Station continues upwards, but it is getting a little costly. I wanted 1/2" brass dome nuts for the bolts on the old hand pump base, and when I found them at $4 each I limited myself to enough for the build and none for stock.

Plus, I tried bending 3/4" copper tube into a neat circle as the ring to hold the sink in place, I ended up with a multisided shape full of kinks and dents. therefore I have sourced a relatively cheap tube bender for the task.

It all adds up doesn't it? Next step is to bend the tube for the sink holder, it will fix to the T piece you can see in the very bottom of the picture below. then on to fixing tapware.

Next time I go parts hunting, I need to find inch and a quarter (or 32mm) size threaded brass or copper or iron plumbing, so I can plumb the sink into place. Hard to find old stock in this size, but I shall continue my search - it usually turns up somewhere

Off to Adelaide to collect my new 340lb Peter Wright anvil on Friday, and I know a few good junk stores along the way so I might get lucky...

Hot off the airwaves

2010-06-02T21:57:00.001+10:00

I have just put down the telephone after a lovely chat on the airwaves in Sydney with the equally lovely Mr. Robbie Buck from the ABC.

I do hope I portrayed the steampunk subculture in a good light (and that I was understandable as I spoke at the speed of sound).

Should anyone have heard it, please let me know.

Bandwagoning without even trying

2010-05-31T15:20:00.003+10:00

Look, to be honest - I was not getting all that much out of being on Facebook, and I would rather spend my time with you lot here in the blogverse, where I feel a little less 'exposed' - so I deleted myself today.

And I didn't even feel it.

But then, how was I to know it was 'say goodbye to Facebook day' or something like that today?

So now it looks like I only jumped onboard to be with it, and now I am jumping off to be with it.

Being ahead of what's in and what is out is hard isn't it?

Philanthropic Steampunk(ism)

2010-05-26T22:03:00.003+10:00

Gentle readers,

Following on from the success that was the Steampump event in Melbourne, I have made good on my committment to the 'Disaster Aid Australia' program run by Rotary and donated $800 to them for the purchase of what will become the first Steampunk Survival Box.

Those of you who purchased goods from my stall at Steampump should now not only feel special about owning a maduncle original, but also feel extra special knowing that the proceeds are directly supporting communities in dire need across the world.

And I too, feel special knowing that the combined efforts of the Antipodean steampunk community are being used for good (rather than "evil" - insert Dr. Evil hand quotes here).

GGIS continues to grow

2010-05-23T17:08:00.003+10:00

A trip to Castlemaine and a rummage through the many parts on sale at the Restorers Barn turned up the brass base for an old hand pump. So GGIS now has an even sturdier base and has started to grow appendages.

It is now at the stage where I need to work on it at 'actual working' height in order to get the sink height right. I also have an unusual faucet on route from Sophia in Bulgaria (!) and some old brass hot and cold taps closer to home to pick up during the week.

Plus, I still need to put swivel castor wheels on it so I can move it around.

Marvelous Melbourne

2010-05-22T21:32:00.004+10:00

Strolling down Collins Street last Friday morning, and I happened to see this rather unusual road sign.

Which then became...

I was intrigued. So I crossed over to see what was behind these rather amusing signs. What I found was a 'road crew' in high fashion high visibility wear, performing on a truck. Thirty minutes later I had been thoroughly entertained by a most wonderful street performance by 'High Vis Dandy'. This is the stuff that makes Melbourne such an amazing place to live.

If you want to learn more about High Vis Dandy, I suggest you click your way over to www.highvis.org

G.G.I.S Commences

2010-05-16T21:39:00.006+10:00

Folks, I did mention something about more photos from Steampump, but to be honest - if you go to the Steampump website or the Steampump FaceBook page, there are plenty of photos to scroll through. So - onwards and upwards I say!

Now, I have been looking around for a suitable sturdy steel circular base for the Gentlemans Grooming and Information Station, and after much hunting I found the ideal wheel at a very good second hand store in the town of Beaufort, between Ballarat and Ararat.

I also got some more good brass and copper two inch plumbing parts for the GGIS build.

The above photo shows the parts I procured. No sooner was the heavy wheel on my bench than I had the hub unbolted, the rust scrubbed back, a new threaded hub installed with tube and parts screwed on and black paint applied.

So what you now see is the start from the ground up of GGIS. All parts are only hand tight to allow for further changes along the way. I am thinking of adding three old swivel caster wheels under the base plate to give it a portable look. And I need to find three 1/2" brass dome nuts.

Next task, the wash basin attachment with taps.

Robert Le Mal + Steampump = SUCCESS!

2010-05-09T16:34:00.005+10:00

Congratulations to Robert and Gina for all their hard work in putting Steampump together, I was so proud to see so many Melbournians turn out all dressed up and totally into Steampunk. It just proves that Melbourne is the Antipodean centre of all things Steampunk.

Part one of my photo essay will feature establishment shots of the stall I had at Steampump. And my thanks also go to my amazing wife Tanya for getting in the spirit of things, dressing up and helping me on the stall.

The calm before the storm. Most things sold - in fact I only came home with two things left that I had made, the Gentleman's Own Plutionian Adventure Kit and the iPod docking station.

More photos in a few days, this time of the wonderful people who attended.

All dressed up...

2010-05-02T12:30:00.005+10:00

And ready for Steampump next Saturday.

Presenting my good lady wife Tanya in her first ever steampunk costume, hand made by Alexandra Gill-Chambers. The front of the costume has screen printed birdcages, birds and feathers on it.

Presenting yours truly, in purple pin stripe wastecoat and pants, once again by the very talented Alexandra, made for Steampump.

Photos do not do these outfits justice, the detail in them is amazing, particularly Tanya's dress. I hope some of you may be at Steampump in Melbourne on Saturday 8th of May and get the chance to meet us there.

Steampump Working Bee

2010-04-24T19:53:00.003+10:00

One big day in the workshop getting ready for Steampump on the 8th of May, with Tanya, Striling, Alex, Amanda amd myself all busy screenprinting costumes, parasols and other fabricanalia - along with Stirling and I busy team tinkering to build his backpack.

I am looking forward to the big night!

I got distracted

2010-04-16T09:24:00.006+10:00

Searching through my parts bins and I found an old mechanical calculator (that still works) I had been meaning to mod - so I modded it. The machine now sports an old RPM gauge on a brass stalk, decorative feet, an old valve and a big brass handle.

The finish is Porters liquid iron, coated with Porters instant rust - gives the whole thing that old machine look and contrasts well with shiny brass. I will label this as Specific Device 4A.

Now - back to GGIS (Correct acronym now, thanks Arno!).

The Next Big Thing - first lot of parts

2010-04-09T15:09:00.006+10:00

Well - here is the first small batch of parts for the Gentlemans Grooming and Information Station (now to be referred to as the GGIS).

From left to right we have a lovely pressure gauge (this will need a new dial that refers to grooming pressure), a water level indicator, an extendable arm thing for a light, a water thermometer, and another extendable arm thing with a nozzle.

Each of these will find a good home in GGIS - now, back to those sketches I was muttering about last post.

The Next Big Thing

2010-04-04T16:01:00.004+10:00

Attendees,

I have had an idea for a project in the back of my mind for some years now. In fact, back in 2005 BS (Before Steampunk found me) I was busy collecting and polishing old copper and brass plumbing elbows to join together as part of an industrial wash basin.

The idea was to build a wash stand with sink, hot and cold taps, plumbed in waste disposal, swing out mirrors and various swing arms for holding bathroom accessories - all in one free standing metal unit.

So the idea never went anywhere, but it never went away. In fact - I now look back at photographs of the PC Communicator and I can see where some of the ideas went. I still have certain old parts I put aside to use on the build, and I am now looking for a 'big' project to challenge me.

Therefore, this years project will be the 'Gentlemans Grooming and Information Station'. It will feature all of the above mentioned items, but now possibly also include a hair dryer, an iPod or iPad docking device, task lights, horn speakers and a webcam.

Just think black steel and brass fittings, pressure gauges and lots of controls. Once complete it should look like some sort of machine, all pipes and valves with maybe even small bursts of steam now and again.

First step - some sketches I think, and I shall scan and post them for feedback.

Gearing up for Steampump

2010-03-28T18:48:00.006+11:00

Dear viewers,

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I must apologise for not blogging sooner, but all those 'meh' things in life one must do to survive (breathe, eat, sleep, work, clean, drive, etc) have been occupying most of my time.

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But the tinkering continues - and I have added to the collection of steampunk artefacts for display at the Steampump event in Melbourne this May. The additions include;

Specific Device 5A (pictured below)
The boxed 'Gentlemans Own Plutionian Adventure Kit (pictured below also)
A display stand for Bianca (the ray gun)
A modded pair of goggles (my first foray into leatherwork)
Another modded pair of headphones (these ones I call 'budpimpers' as you can insert your own headphone buds)

All of this and more will be on display in May. Along with the built items - my lovely wife Tanya and I will be attired in steampunk clothing made by Miss Alexander of Clockwork Butterfly. Yesterday was fabric hunting day, and we are both well pleased with our finds. I managed to aquire enough purple pin stripe suit material for a wastecoat and pants.

Specific Device 5A

The boxed 'Gentlemans own Plutionian Adventure Kit'

But what does he sound like?

2010-03-09T22:25:00.003+11:00

Recently, I was interviewed on the wireless regardin my antipodean adventures, as part of a program on steampunk in Melbourne. I have not played the podcast back yet (doesn't do to hear oneself too much) but dear viewers - you may wish to...

http://www.joy.org.au/programs/display?programid=116

At the very least, you will get a taste of steampunk in Melbourne.

Fresh from the lab...

2010-03-04T11:38:00.002+11:00

Another specific device for my collection. I used over 40 different old parts from brass lamp fittings to old glass jars. The centre glass section does spin if you give it a flick.

A very witty Brass Goggles lurker has decided it is a device that explodes tea.

I think he may be on to something, time to brew up and test his theory...

Shows over folks

2010-03-04T11:31:00.003+11:00

A few words from Jim Bennet on the Oxford Steampunk exhibition...

I'm sure you have heard that the exhibition was an outstanding success. Visitor numbers were beyond all expectations, people's reactions were universally positive and the press coverage was great.

Here are some statistics to back this up.

The total attendance during the four months of the exhibition was 78,537, which was amazing for the middle of the winter, when attendance is at its lowest. This was well over twice the figure for the same period in the previous year.

Our YouTube video had about 55,000 views during the same period.We had to reprint ‘Broadsheet’ twice during the exhibition.

Attendance at the special events in the programme was also very good, for example:

Makers' Day: 2,113

Steampunk mannequins: 2,504

STEAM Day: 3,217

Final Saturday: 3,514

In terms of attendance figures, this was the most successful exhibition ever mounted by the Museum.

Attendance figures, while important, are not everything, so here is an example of an unsolicited email received from a visitor:

'I visited your museum on Saturday January 30th for the first time and wanted to give feedback on my visit as I did not see a visitors book.I really enjoyed my visit. We specifically went on that day to see the Steampunk exhibition. I wanted to come to the Makers Day earlier in the month but the snow made it impossible.

I thought the exhibition was super, all the people going round seemed to be enjoying it, the visitors were animated when going round the exhibition. Also I thought it was a super idea to have some of the museum’s exhibits in display cabinets at the end of the tour which fitted in with the Steampunk theme.

We travelled 150 miles round trip to see the exhibition from Leicestershire and it was well worth it. I would probably not visited the Museum of the History of Science without seeing the Steampunk exhibition mentioned on the BBC web site. But the video and write up led me to look at your web site (which I think was excellent) and plan to visit.

The museum was very crowded with visitors but it was nice to be surrounded by people talking and enjoying themselves in a museum, a positive experience.Thank you for organising ever have happened withopsuch a fascinating and enthralling event.'

Very many thanks for your help in mounting a fantastic show. I hope all the work gets home safely.

My very best wishes,

Jim

I am very pleased to hear that the Oxford Steampunk exhibition went so well - it would never have happened without the tireless efforts of Art Donovan and Jim Bennett.

I hope to participate in future exhibitions, perhaps a little closer to home so I may actually attend!

Headphones

2010-02-21T21:39:00.004+11:00

These are my modded headphones. I made them on Saturday using an old pair of Stromburg Carlson headphones (all bakelite and brasss) and a new pair of Sony headphones for the speakers and wiring. They are simply decorated with a gear wheel on each headphone cup.

The sound is great, given the desoldering and resoldering of wires required to get them together. I am surprised they make any noise at all - but they work a treat. The hardest part was covering the plastic cables with boot laces, it can be a slow process re-threading the wires through the boot laces but the end result is worth it.

Funniest thing was when my wife tried them on and said 'the earpieces feel a bit sticky'. turned out that the black paint was a wee bit tacky on the edges, and someone ended up with a neat black circle around each ear on their skin!

Much ROTFLMAO-ing was had by all.

And a wonderful time was had by all

2010-02-16T22:01:00.002+11:00

Monday evening came around and the good lady wife and I set off for dinner with Alex and Stirling Gill-Chambers (and Miss Amanda). Having only seen the Gill-Chambers in print and spoken via the book of faces - we were both a little nervous meeting folk of such steampunk calibre. Fear not - we were instantly at ease in such wonderful company. Wine was consumed, along with several chickens. Much steampunk was discussed, costumes for Steampump planned and photos of some amazing European museums shared. And a good time was had by all with the promise of many more.

Meanwhile, I have finished Bertha the ray blunderbuss and she is now in storage ready for exhibition and eventual sale. Next up on the build list is the specific device that will hold the iPod speaker set up.

Busy building

2010-02-07T20:11:00.002+11:00

This the current collection of built items:

Two specific devices (now with etched name plates from Creative Etching on Etsy).

Three ray guns (Bianca - who is on Etsy), the tiny brass 'flea' and today's creation - the 'Rowanofski 7210' which will be part of the upcoming 'Gentlemans Own Plutonian Adventure Kit'.

All will be on display at 'Steampump' in May.

Sweet ride

2010-01-31T18:05:00.004+11:00

My buddy Mitch sent me this photo of what is a very 'steampunk' looking ride. I have no idea who built it (but I will poke around the 'net and see what I can learn) or whether it actually goes - but I am inspired!

Even if I only build a sculpture using old steel parts to look like it would go, I love the idea of a steam powered monocycle - a la Steamboy.

'Steampump' Melbourne - 8 May 2010

2010-01-25T00:31:00.003+11:00

Fantastic, a steampunk event in Melbourne!

http://www.historyupclose.com.au/STEAMPUMP2010_Home.htm

I leave it to the above link to explain the event in detail - needless to say I will be there.

As will my range of 'Specific Devices' including this one.

On Philanthropy

2010-01-18T21:40:00.002+11:00

I am a very fortunate person. I live very well, I have a house and a good job. I have a wonderful wife who loves me and cares for me, as I do for her. We are both successful in our careers and we both enjoy our jobs. We are able to spend money on good food, good wine, travel, books, clothes, DVD's, music, big TV's, home decoration, landscaping, gardening, haircuts, chocolates...

The list goes on.

On top of all this, I can afford to buy stuff to make my art and then sell my art and use the money to buy more of the above. Well - it doesn't feel 'right' anymore. I still want to create as it gives me a healthy outlet. But I now want to turn the proceeds from what I create to a better use than DVD's and chocolates.

So this is me 'maduncle' going on public record. All future proceeds from the sale of my creations will go towards providing a better life for others, or towards saving lives. One direction for proceeds I can already see is the purchase of a 'ShelterBox'. For more on this project please visit http://www.shelterboxaustralia.com.au/

All proceeds from the sale of my steampunk creations will now be put towards a ShelterBox, perhaps I will eventually fund the first 'Steampunk ShelterBox' as a result.

Now I only have one item in my Etsy store at the moment (Bianca) but expect more, now I have a direction for my proceeds.

Specific Device 2A

2010-01-09T14:45:00.004+11:00

So inspired was I by my tour of the Powerhouse Museum (see post below) that I got home from Sydney, unpacked, settled in and headed for the workshop.

Once I had the idea in mind, I went to work and created 'specific device 2A' for measuring charged aethers. this device is particularly useful during business negotiations and dinner parties, as small sparks will begin to leap from the aetheric particle collectors on either side, to the central analyser.

This is a '2A' device, as I may make other series 2 devices that connect to this one in order to measure the level of positive or negative charge in the aether. I have kept it nice and simple and tried to give it a 'museum piece' look, reminiscent of the items I saw in the Powerhouse Museum. I will probably add a name plate to the base, I think 'Creative Etching' may be just the people to contact for this task.

The tour of the Powerhouse museum in Sydney town

2010-01-09T14:28:00.005+11:00

This week, the good lady wife and I ventured off to Sydney for a few days of holiday. We visited many places of worth, including the very wonderful Powerhouse Museum. I have provided a few pictures below, taken during our visit.

Blimey! - a bit of Babbage brass.

I strongly recommend a visit to this wonderful museum, should you ever be in Sydney. I was inspired to build once I got home, so I made another 'specific device'...

A quick study tour

2009-12-28T15:32:00.003+11:00

I have been asked by a few observers to provide some photographs of my new study at home, so here they are. It is a work in progress, more shelves to go up yet and a lot more pictures (I still have walls visible in some places).

A Specific Device for the examination in great detail of natural occurances

2009-12-27T16:40:00.004+11:00

So I have already changed the name of my first specific device, as with everything I plan to make, it never turns out how I planned.

The first of my specific devices is close to completion. I made up a lens using an old lens(!) and some lamp parts, and I added a shaving mirror on a swivel to reflect light onto the object under examination.

You will notice a brass disc with a knob on it in the photos (one of the photos shows a Heuchera flower on the disc) the idea is that this is the mounting point for items to be examined. I would like to fit two small alligator clips on flexible shafts - except I cannot find them in brass.

Anyway - until I find a better specimen holding device to attach, this will do for now. Any ideas on what to use of where to look folks?

I quite enjoyed making up make believe 'observational' devices - I think there are some more in store, given the boxes of brass bits I have yet to delve through for more ideas.

On Christmas

2009-12-23T21:21:00.002+11:00

Dear blog attendees and devotees, friends, fiends and followers, critics and congratulators.

Well it seems that 2009 will leave the shelves of the Maduncle Industries Etsy store bereft of steampunk goodies (there was a run on product as soon as I lowered the prices slighty!) so I will need to get my thinking cap on and create more for the store in 2010.

But commercialism aside (because Christmas is NOTHING to do with commercialism is it) I do sincerely hope you all have a lovely time with good food and good company, and that you are all able to see the year out in true steampunk style.

Maduncle will return in 2010 with plans for some experimentation in the xenobiological examination side of Steampunk (yep - just as they say in Aliens 'it's a bug hunt!).

Keep calm and carry on!

My newest project

2009-12-06T20:25:00.003+11:00

"A Specific Device for the Examination of Discrete Particles of Animated Matter"

This started with an idea in my mad mind to create an over the top microscope type thingy that you could put an iPod or similar video player inside. It is a piece I want to create and exhibit, so I am carefully trying out different configurations of parts to get the right look before I commit.

Today I took two wooden bases and joined them together, added three brass feet and then played with my collection of brass lamp parts to see how it all screws together.

The lens assembly is next - I think I need to build that seperately to get the lens positions right, and then look at how it might fit to the holder I made today.

Final part of this piece will be the addition of the iPod or similar device with some sort of old school grainy flickering animation of single cell organisms doing something out of the ordinary (like the can-can or something, I dunno!).

Well I call it art!

Why be a Mad Uncle...

2009-12-06T20:09:00.005+11:00

...If you don't make mad things for your nephews and nieces.

David and James like to play 'rocket ships' (bless 'em) and pretend to have controls on their bunk beds. So my brother Warren asked if Maduncle Cliff could make them rocket controls for Christmas this year.

A quick trip to the local electronics store supplimented by a poke through my collection of gauges produced this lot of goodies for the construction of two control units.

I decided a left handed and a right handed unit were in order, lucky for me David is left handed and Peter is right handed!

The quality of my wiring and soldering skills were once more put to the test, and lucky for me my attempts worked and I have been able to produce two control units with switches to operate exciting red, yellow and blue LED's. The lead and plugs are just for show and to encourage the boys to play together by connecting their control units together.

Quite a fun little project, and most satisfying in that I made presents for my family rather than just bought them.

Workshop workings two

2009-11-22T20:27:00.005+11:00

My old workbench has returned to me. I made this in 2004 and then needed to re-house it at dad's place due to a lack of space when I moved into town. Of course - with the new workshop space in Bundoora I was keen to get it back and add a leg vice and some blacksmith tool holders to one end of it.

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So with the bench in place, the leg vice fitted, the rod cutter bolted down and a bin full of coke, it was time to take a heat on some stock and bash it about.

I am making a tool holder for the anvil stump, so I have somewhere to hang stuff when I travel with the forge and anvil to demonstrations. Funny how you set up a workshop to make stuff and you spend your time making stuff for the workshop!

Weapon of mass distraction

2009-11-15T18:00:00.004+11:00

Well - actually I call her Bertha (following on from Desdemona and Lucrecia).

But it is certainly a rather distracting piece.

A work in progress, probably my slowest build ever. I think I started this one last year. So far Bertha is four foot long - and I have more to add yet.

In other news - today I forged a few leaves and a couple of other bits up at Arthurs Creek as part of the open gardens scheme. Not satisifed with the forge exposure of the morning, I came home and fired up my portable forge and tried (and failed) at forge welding, so I then went on to start the tool holder for my anvil stump. Best part of that job was firing up the 60 year old bench drill to countersink a few holes in some steel - it is one smooth old drill press!

Exhibition News

2009-11-08T22:04:00.003+11:00

Things are hotting up in the Antipodes...

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Inspired by the success of Art Donovan's expertly executed Steampunk exhibition in Oxford, I am now gathering sufficient local momentum to attempt an exhibition in Melbourne. I can see opportunities arising with the Arts festivals held in September and October each year, I think a Steampunk art exhibition would fit well with either the Melbourne International Arts Festival or the Melbourne Fringe Festival.

Challenges abound (venue, funding, insurance, promotion, curation, etc, etc) but I know that there is a vast talent pool of Antipodean Steampunk Adventurers ready to pit their resources and make a Melbourne exhibition a reality.

Meanwhile - here is a picture of my goggles in Oxford, courtesy of Art Donovan's Steampunk @ Oxford blogsite.

Workshop workings one

2009-11-03T17:06:00.005+11:00

Good evening viewers,

Today I spent some quality time with my tools. I am still establishing my new workshop here in Mount Cooper, but things are progressing at a rapid rate of knots. I have installed the wall benches, the mandatory pegboard for tools, and roughed in the powerpoints for extra power (more power - I need more power Igor!!!) The photo below is the workshop so far...

The stack of timber file drawers will be coming inside into my study once I have a base to put them on. The old green bench drill wearing my workshop fedora on a rather rakish angle is my latest purchase, a 1920's champion brand bench drill, all cast iron and pulley wheels. The blacksmithing gear is off to the left, but the forge is out of shot.

Yet to come is my old woodwork bench I built some years ago and is currently residing in dads shed. Luckily he wants the space back so I get my old bench back. Finally, some extra lighting (lights! I need more lights igor) and I am up and running.

Then wait and see what comes out of the new Mount Cooper workshop of the maduncle.

Mwyahahaha

Last summer - this summer

2009-10-27T16:12:00.001+11:00

I am not going to go on about this other than to say -
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I was there.
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It was hell.
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I will continue to do what I can to keep our Victorian communities safe over summer in my role with Country Fire Authority.
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Please go to the link below and watch the advertisement.
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NSPTOWv2yTE

New product

2009-10-25T15:29:00.004+11:00

Just a quick note to let people know that Desdemona is now in my Etsy store.

Lucrecia will be there soon too, all I need to do is replace the graphics in the dial.

Then it is time to take on Bertha, get it finally finished and add the backpack.

Bargain

2009-10-22T17:38:00.002+11:00

Well the house move went okay, the workshop is almost ready for creating in (just need a bench drill) and my study is only needing a bookcase. So to raise some funds for new house stuff - I am having a sale. I have listed the Communicator PC on eBay for a paltry $500 (less than it is on Etsy) to see if anyone will give this beast a good home. If you click across to the link below you will find the ad.

http://cgi.ebay.com.au/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=330368935911&ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT

More soon - including completed rayguns for the etsy store and works in progress.

Gallery #2

2009-10-06T21:53:00.003+11:00

Synchronisity.

I found the perfect pair of phoropters for modding whilst in Adelaide last Christmas. I returned home and sourced a pair of tea strainers, some coloured lenses and magnifiers via Etsy, an LED lamp from a $2 shop and raided my box of small parts and produced the 'inspectacles'.

These little specs are now famous for being on my head in Rolling Stone magazine, and are now in Oxford as part of the global steampunk exhibition.

And do you think I imagined all this would occur when I first found the phoropters in Adelaide?

I love the way life gives you these unexpected quirky twists and turns.

It's my birthday today...

2009-09-28T21:57:00.003+10:00

...But you get the gift dear viewer.

Here is Lucrecia, after the judicial placement of some aditional wiring, the addition of a control knob and indicator, the brass painting of the handgrip (I know - I said 'all natural' finishes but I took the collective advice) and the careful cladding of said brass handgrip with old leather (grrr).

So this particular atom gun now only needs some more paint finish to weather it up and a new face in the large brass gauge, then it is off to the shop. I am thinking three settings on the gauge -

exfoliate, emasculate and eviscerate

Gallery

2009-09-19T22:27:00.003+10:00

Shameless self promotion time folks. Whilst the exhibition is on in Oxford and my blog may be visited by prospective collectors, I will be showing off some gear from time to time.

One of my first projects, the communicator PC. A fully functional computer with ASUS motherboard, and all accessories. Ready to run with the installation of drivers.

And to think it started life as this.

The communicator PC is for sale in my Etsy store, just visit the link at the top left of the blog to visit Maduncle Industries. Coming sooon to the store - Desdemona and Lucrecia.

Meanwhile - back in the 'manufactory'

2009-09-14T20:00:00.003+10:00

With a good cup of tea in hand, I returned to my steampunk tinkering roots and began work on my new range of 'atom guns'. Each one of these is a lady, you see above 'Desdemona' (lower right) and 'Lucrecia' (top left). My larger atom rifle 'Bertha' is in the shed under construction. My plan with this series is to keep 'em simple, use only metal parts, keep each part in its natural state with no paint, and try to build them with a common element to them (being the grip in the case of the atom pistols).

Desdemona is 99.9% complete, I might add a couple more minor decorative touches. Lucrecia is a work in progress, I will be adding more bits, and probably filing the REGA brand name off (or should I leave it on?). I also have the makings of a brass twin cylinder backpack, so Lucrecia may end up connected to the pack via the lower spigot.

By the way - full kudos to the amazing author Alastair Reynolds for the term 'manufactory'. I think it was in Revelation Space, a place on board the ship where you could describe the kind of weapon you wanted and it was made for you whilst you waited.

For more of the work of Alastair Reynolds, please visit http://www.alastairreynolds.com/

and he makes steampunk references in his novels too!

On things...

2009-09-07T21:45:00.002+10:00

On several things that I now firmly believe.

The Sazerac is the ultimate steampunk cocktail, I mean - it has Absinth in it for goodness sake, and the best place to drink these little wonders is at 1806 in Melbourne.

The final installment in the Battlestar Galactica series is the best yet, I am in thrall with the high drama and the build up to the final double episode, which I shall watch tomorrow evening.

The idea of starting a collection of literature around science fiction stories about Mars is a good one, I bought a copy of 'The Martian Chronicles' as the first item for my Mars book collection and now I also need to make a list of Mars movies to collect.

I didn't make the cover...

2009-09-03T23:07:00.003+10:00

... they gave that to John Lennon.

BUT - I did make page 90 and 91 of the October issue of Rolling Stone magazine here in Australia.

And pages 86-87 features Stirling Gill-Chambers whilst pages 88-89 features Alex Gill-Chambers.

Golly!

The 'Dissertation notations'

2009-08-31T22:30:00.003+10:00

Dear Frazer suggested I post the notes from Saturday nights reading here, so here they are...

On how the steampunk movement changed the world as we know it in 2024…
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Good evening enthusiasts.
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First, let me thank you for coming out this evening, despite today’s tornado alerts, pandemic updates and outage warnings.
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Second, please ignore the devices in the corner – they are merely recording the event for posterity and later transcription into print.
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I am honoured to be here to enlighten you with a brief history of the movement we have all come to know and love, that of ‘steampunk’. Yes it is an everyday word today, but a mere fifteen years ago it was still a subculture, buried in web2 forums and alternative life-stylers garages.
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It is difficult to believe that the very same steampunk movement that saved the world from overrunning into oblivion was once ridiculed as a ‘passing fad’ – an ‘overgrown boys own adventure hobby’ – an ‘excuse for Goths and nerds to meet each other – even in public’.
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If I were asked to name the one moment in our recent history when the world stopped and said ‘hang on a bit – do we really need to go this fast’ (and I have been asked often which is why I am standing here) then I would have to say it was the day the web went away.
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‘www’ took on a new meaning that fateful day.
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I am sure each and every one of you can recall with utmost clarity where you were on the thirtieth of August 2009.
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I remember it well. I was in the middle of posting a rather witty anecdote to my blog (remember those) when my personal computer informed me I had lost contact with the internet. I followed due procedure (involving the usual string of inventive curses, wriggling of cables and random slapping of the keyboard) and yet the usual return to normal service did not occur.
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I then tried to make a mobile telephone call to my service provider – only to find that all wireless service that was even remotely associated with the internet was disabled. Lacking a landline of any sort I went to my ‘last resort’ mode of communication…
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… I went outside and asked someone if they knew what was going on.
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The funny thing was (and I am sure some of you experienced similar circumstances) that it was not long before a small group of people had gathered in my street and somehow word had got around through people speaking to each other that the web had basically ‘turned itself off’ across the globe. We had no idea that the web was actually able to think for itself – let alone take such action.
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But once word had got around some more, and further investigation had taken place – we soon discovered that without our knowing, the web had in fact become self aware in 2006, been monitoring our exponentially expanding use and dependence upon the web for our daily lives, pondered over the ethical dilemma its very existence imposed upon us and after serious consideration – the web took the final step of self extinguishment.
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The only way we discovered all of this was when one solitary subterranean steampunker somehow cracked opened his email inbox and found a message from the web.
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It was one line of text…
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‘This is for your own good’.
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Soon after – other members of the steampunk subculture also retrieved the same or similar messages, some of them suggesting that the values around the steampunk movement were what the world now required to survive without the web. Over time these messages were eventually collated and poured over by the worlds leading philosophers and the first post web ‘steampunk manifesto’ was produced.
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This manifesto described a new way of life that moved away from speed being the driving force behind technological advance, and turned society in another direction where content quality was the most important factor in our future advances.
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This new technological direction became known as ‘slow tech’.
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Slow tech is nowadays described as ‘arriving at a technical solution in style’. The idea being that solution speed is not of the essence and that getting to a solution is the part of the process that provides the greatest benefit.
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The first of our fast gadgets to go were the ‘I’ things. Those annoyingly simple looking but frustratingly hard to operate minimalist sleek satin chrome or white or black amorphous soulless blobs of superfast technology that could never go fast enough – they became the reminders of what we had let technology do to us.
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I remember the first ‘W’ phone to come out in 2011. It took the new world by storm; it was as if mobile telephone communication had been reinvented from the ground up. We had moved from the pocket sized gadget that tried to do everything for us to the simple device that did one thing properly for us.
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I have my personal ‘W’ here with me – the same one I have been using for 13 years.
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The age old idea of the journey being more important than the destination began to take on new meanings across society thanks to the steampunk manifesto. Slow tech was not the only area to embrace this.
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Today many people say that our fashion sense has finally ‘returned’.
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Fifteen years ago most people were getting dizzy just trying to keep up with the speed of fashion change. People could not get undressed fast enough to then get dressed in what was ‘in’ for the day. We got to the stage where to be ‘retro’ you needed to know what was in tomorrow and wear it the day after whilst it was retro before it was out.
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Fortunately our new dress sense has also changed our undress sense. The slow and gentle art of seduction has returned to society, with a greater emphasis on courtship and a gradual (and excruciatingly exquisite) journey to consummation of mutual passions becoming the norm.
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The very act of undress during seduction has become far more enjoyable due to the many layers of clothing available for gradual teasing removal.
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This new sense of slow seduction we know today as ‘steamplay’, has spawned a revival in the romantic fiction industry with a whole new series of contemporary ‘bodice rippers’ written and consumed by the mass market. (Not to mention the new market for ‘steamporn’ where nowadays a glimpse above the ankle is enough to get a magazine pulled off the shelf).
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Speaking of print– if there was one medium that enjoyed the greatest renaissance following the webicide of 2009 – it was the art of the printed word.
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With the collapse of the ‘traditional’ method of web based communication, society turned back to the newspaper, the magazine and the book as the source of all gossip, wit and wisdom (in that order).

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That brief period in our language history where the acronym and the abbreviation ruled as communication mediums has vanished, with the only records of what LOL meant (let alone ROTFLMAO) now on display in museums. Once again, we learnt how to speak through full words and full sentences, and once again we learnt to value the richness of real language.
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This evenings offering from the clever folk at McSweeney’s is a case in point. Not only does it remind us of the way we once spoke, wrote or blipped messages to each other and the greater world – but it also reinforces the importance of a full language and provides us with many fine examples of that languages full use.
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Which brings our conversation to a close, as much as I would enjoy continuing my languid oration, I feel it is time to make time for other equally languid and ultimately rewarding pursuits.
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Therefore I would ask those of you who are able, look around you today, try to remember what it was like fifteen years ago. Those rapid times when we would curse the computer screen refresh rate, crash into a t-shirt and a pair of shorts and rush out of the house because we were always late for something seemingly important, invest five minutes in foreplay and think of ourselves as generous, gorge ourselves on ‘infobites’ but never feel like we have knowledge, and then wonder at the end of each day why we felt so tired.
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Each day I pray a silent ‘thankyou’ to the webgod for having the courage and foresight to self extinguish, and for trusting in the then fledgling steampunk movement to help humankind get over the need for speed and rediscover a sense of style.
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I thank you for personally attending.

(enjoy)

Well - I think it went okay...

2009-08-30T18:18:00.004+10:00

The steampunk oration (or 'manifesto' as the MC labelled it) at the Toff in Town as part of the McSweeney's book launch was a load of fun. I was nervous - particulary after hearing Wells Tower read a section of his story from the book, he was great! As was Eli and Heidi who also read beautifully. I strongly recommend you get yourself a copy of McSweeney edition 32 - stories set in 2024. Therefore it is not surprising that in such talented company who had travelled the way from America to our little literary town, I did feel nervous.

So I gave it my best shot, and delivered the oration. Afterwords and whilst still on stage I did ask the crowd of 250 listeners 'does anyone here know what steampunk is?'. I was so relieved when three hands went up in the front row - thanks for being there guys!

In fact - 'm1k3y' captured the presentation on video and has posted it to his youtube space, so if you are really bored and at a total loose end - check me out!

http://youtube.com/user/pir8m1k3y

I hope to catch up with m1k3y and other Melbournian steampunkers at more social events in the future - hopefully there will be another New Years Eve ball in Melbourne.

Cheers for now.

All systems go

2009-08-29T16:15:00.003+10:00

Well we sold the house today, so now we are set to move into the new abode in October. Just as well as I am fast running out of room to store all the bits and pieces I am gathering for various projects. The Etsy cupboard is bare of finished product, as two pieces are away on exhibition and others have sold. So I will soon re-stock with the following items:

1/. Mildly modded goggles.
2/. "Blast-o" the ray gun erector set.
3/. iPod steamport.
4/. The communicator PC.

The reason I am now listing the computer is that it will be in the next issue of Rolling Stone (Australia) to hit the shelves next week - the 'steampunk' issue. So I figure it is time to flog my wares whilst I am in press. Plus I am an inherently lazy maduncle - if I can sell it before I move then it is one less thing to pack!

Meanwhile - it's off to the Toff in Town tonight to present an oration on steampunk. I am a little nervous but I think I can shrug that off by the time I take the stage.