Bird Song

Automata alive!

The Mysterious Explorations of Jasper Morello

The Kinematograph - Short Animated Films - www.DRDOCUMENTARY.com

 

I say!   That maniac from Gotham lives within the confines of the video game.

"Gotham By Gaslight" as a game.. How could it possibly get any better?

 

Snow no bother at all!

 

With winter approaching, Dastardly Steampunks everywhere will apreciate

the odvious luxury of this horseless carriage customized to operate in the

most wintery of weather.

 

 

Mr Edison confounds us all!!

The Dastardly Benifit of Yard Sales

   It's been said that one mans trash is another mans treasure. This saying neatly encapsulates what is known today as "The Yard Sale"  also "The Estate Sale".







   I prefer the later because Estate Sales happen when an elderly member of society passes on and their surviving family need to clean out the now empty home or apartment. These sales are best when the person who moved on to the next world was indeed elderly and had worked in an interesting profession.
   The area where I live was once occupied by a thriving aerospace industry and the film industry. Lots of retired engineers, Special effects artists, and technically skilled workers here.
   I look for old tools, old technical books, old technology and, lucky for me, I actually find some interesting stuff!
   I love finding devises that need to be wound up to work- not toys- but other things like old Victrolas, Over sized Alarm Clocks, Wrist Watches etc.  I love that a power source can be the controlled release of energy from a wound strip of metal.  The mechanisms that regulate the speed of release, the escapements, are man made miracles.
   I realize  in a time where the entire Library of Congress can be accessed via the phones we carry, When complex surgeries and medical procedures can be achieved by operating room robots, when our cars just give us driving directions and video phone calls to China are free- It's hard to imagine that a hand wound time piece on the mantel, ticking its way through the hours, was once cutting edge.
  
 

Steam Punk Leprechaun...FREE!

During a recent exploration of the blogosphere I stumbled across this curious offering- A Leprechaun driving a Victorian looking Mech Suit! This paper toy was designed by Robert Curet and looks to be a worthy edition to any Steam Punk collection! Available for a limited time so Hurry!

                                                        http://www.xoneindustries.com

Film by Edison

Edison - 1900 - Automobile Parade by sououiceau

Cornish Pasty- Edible Delight for Dastardly Steampunks

Padre Diego, 15th century Automata

I first discovered this mechanical marvel years ago in a book called "Edison's Eve".

Recently, I came across the podcast done by Radio Lab which I have embedded below.



Glue on Steampunks?

     In his book, "The Invention of Hugo Cabret", Author/Illustrator Brian Selznick has his title character state:

"You know, machines never have any extra parts. They have the exact number and type of parts they need."

     As I read these words to a young apprentice I was struck with a feeling of clarity. Mr. Selznick had put into words a truth I've come to learn myself, but never uttered.
     Mechanical design is conceiving a desired motion and then thinking of the exact number and type of parts needed to produce the result. Simple.
    
     My question then is why is it so many "Steampunks" seem to ignore this truth? How many costumed cavaliers have we seen trying to depict a Steampunk character by simply gluing gears on to fashion items? 
    
    Gears are the work horses of mechanism! - not pretty wheelie things to adorn  a hatband or parasol!
    When my Automaton Army finally does rise up to take over the world, Glue on Steampunks will be at the top of my list for eradication!

Great Cinematic Dastardly Steampunks Number One; Dr. Loveless

Dr. Loveless as depicted by most excellent thespian : Mr. Kennith Brannah

 in the entertaining flicker-"Wild Wild West"

Master of Mechanisms, Would be userper of the American republic and

Lord of a giant spider conveyance. A man to aspire to!

Artificial Intelligence?

Mister Edison astounds yet again!

It seems the famed inventor has combined

 his mechanically marvelous Phonograph

(Pictured below)

With the innocence and playfulness of youth.

He and his assembled men of mental might 

have developed a child's plaything that actually talks!

I ask you dear readers,

With innovations such as this alive in the world,

Can my dream of world dominating automatons

be far away?