Greetings ladies and gentlemen..
I have a bit of a left-of-field request from one of my historical re-enactment contacts .. I have been offered a gig at the Melbourne Wooden Boat Festival, happening at Docklands on 20/21st February... they are wanting a crew of pirates to come along and provide some colour as roving entertainment..
It would consist of dressing up like a pirate and roaming around the festival and making merry with the punters.. all you need is a piratical outfit and a good attitude..
There might even be a little bit of a pocket-money reward in the offering..
If you're interested in participating please email me at steampunkerie AT gmail DOT com as soon as possible, need to move fast on this one!
I have a bit of a left-of-field request from one of my historical re-enactment contacts .. I have been offered a gig at the Melbourne Wooden Boat Festival, happening at Docklands on 20/21st February... they are wanting a crew of pirates to come along and provide some colour as roving entertainment..
It would consist of dressing up like a pirate and roaming around the festival and making merry with the punters.. all you need is a piratical outfit and a good attitude..
There might even be a little bit of a pocket-money reward in the offering..
If you're interested in participating please email me at steampunkerie AT gmail DOT com as soon as possible, need to move fast on this one!
I found these tonight, and I just love them.. I think this is what steampunks are trying to do, in a way.. bring some of the past back into the present.. in a fantastical way, anyway..
Photographers are imposing an old picture on a new one of the exact same place.. the effect is quite eerie and wonderful!
Photographers are imposing an old picture on a new one of the exact same place.. the effect is quite eerie and wonderful!
There's a flickr group of this style of image here: Looking into the Past Flickr Pool. Fascinating stuff!
The 1920s satnav ... and other weird and wonderful gadgets that never quite took off
It was the invention of the future - a tiny machine complete with its own map that would tell motorists which way to go.
But this was no satnav - after all, the communications satellites that help modern cars locate themselves were still decades away.
Instead, the route-finder for the well-equipped 1920s driver was a wristwatch-style device equipped with minuscule maps.
Lost in time: The 1920s route-finder that never took off
Miniature scrolls bearing the directions were loaded onto the watch and revolved as the wearer continued his journey.
The 1920s TomTom never took off - perhaps because there were too few motorists to buy them.
It is one of the labour and face-saving devices to go on display from a private collection of weird and wonderful gadgets from the past.
Maurice Collins, a retired businessman from Muswell Hill, London, has cherry-picked 50 must-have items from his collection of 1,400 historic gadgets to show off at the British Library Business and Intellectual Property Centre.
Mr Morris said his collection was a celebration of 'ingenious products that attempted to solve human difficulty'.
Other crazy Heath Robinson contraptions in the show include...
- BURGLAR ALARM
The clockwork mechanism on this 1870s burglar alarm was wound up and the upright lever set, before the device was placed at the foot of a door and a spike pushed into the floor. If an intruder tried to enter, the lever would be pushed down and set off the surprisingly loud and effective bell.
- PISTOL PURSE
Highwaymen were a real danger in the late 19th century and this cunning design might just have saved your honour, property and even life. A dainty weapon was concealed in a secret compartment of this seemingly normal ladies' purse. The barrel could hold only one bullet - so you had to make your shot count.
- ELECTRO MASSAGER
During the 1930s, body massage was not seen as a luxury or part of being pampered but was, correctly, regarded as important for maintaining healthy skin and good circulation. However this functional-looking dynamo massager appears neither pleasurable nor safety conscious, as it gave tiny electric shocks to the user.
- TOE SOCKS
These pre-shrunk 'To Sox' were designed to act as toe protectors. Produced during World War II, it was claimed that they could reduce hosiery costs by up to 80 per cent. They were designed to be worn over the big toes, to protect socks from wear.
- THE ENVELOPE SEALER
This invention, by Reynolds of Chicago, was a byword for gravitas and efficiency. When the lever is cranked, a roller forces an open envelope to undergo a dampening process, before a second roller presses it closed.
- PEEP SHOW
Hand-cranked 'What the butler saw' machines were a staple of British amusement arcades for much of the 20th century. Some featured supposedly erotic slideshows - like this one, pictured above left, - while others offered comedies and dramas. All were available for a penny and were seen through a metal socket on the screen.
- CIGARETTE HOLDER
This double holder, pictured above right, is thought to have been inspired by a fictional cigarette case belonging to Bulldog Drummond - hero of Sapper's bestselling crime novels of the day - which 'held Turkish on one side and Virginian on the other'.
- LIGHT SPECTACLES
Invented in the U.S. in the 1930s, these specs were adorned with two small, battery-powered lights, with a long wire trailing beneath. The experience was marred only by the likelihood of electrocution when it rained.
- EYE MASSAGER
Apparently it was not enough to have a gadget for massaging the body.
By the 1920s, it was also deemed necessary to devise a mechanism to massage the eyeballs. This convoluted gadget was pressed to the face.
The user would then operate the small lever to compress the rubber bellows which would in turn emit cool puffs of air directly onto the eyeballs.
By the 1920s, it was also deemed necessary to devise a mechanism to massage the eyeballs. This convoluted gadget was pressed to the face.
The user would then operate the small lever to compress the rubber bellows which would in turn emit cool puffs of air directly onto the eyeballs.
- MOUSTACHE PROTECTOR
Having a bushy moustache has always been something of an obstacle to refined dining - particularly when it came to mulligatawny soup. The answer was to use a moustache protector, spoon or cup - designed with a hole for the mustachioed man to sip through.
- FOOD PROCESSOR
The modern food processor is something we take for granted - just fill the bowl and push the switch. More satisfying - and quieter - was this Victorian food chopper. Turning the handle pushes the cutting arm up and down and rotates the bowl at the same time.
- FINGER STRETCHER FOR PIANISTS
Developed in America in 1910 to help pianists hit the sprawling notes demanded by the likes of Stravinsky and Debussy. Careful use was required: it is thought the composer Schumann destroyed his hands using an early version.
- PAGE TURNER
Designed for musicians this dates from 1905. Sheet music could be prepared for turning by fixing the top of each metal rod on to the desired page. When ready, a catch was pulled free and the page flipped over.
- CLOCKWORK TEASMADE
Patented in Birmingham in 1902, this brass and copper tea maker was the first Teasmade. The alarm clock triggered a switch and a match was then struck against moving sandpaper, lighting the spirit stove under the kettle. Once the water boiled, the steam pressure lifted a hinged flap and the kettle would tilt, filling the teapot beneath. Finally, a plate would swing over the stove, extinguishing its flames.
- AN EARLY LAVATORY
In the 19th century, the cost of using a public convenience, such as this, was one penny - hence the phrase 'to spend a penny'. This decorative 1870s water closet was manufactured by Mr Jennings - a plumber who made his name installing such WCs at the Great Exhibition in Hyde Park in 1851.
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Ignoring sewing skills/ cash flow issues/ laws of physics... describe your dream ballgown.
Ooooh.. good question!
It would have to be red, no question..
If money and time and sewing skill were no object, I would probably go all out and get an exquisitely re-created 18th french ball gown, no expense spared, silk damask, embroidered to within an inch of it's life.. with all the underpinnings, shoes, clocked stockings - and of course an appropriately over the top wig - one of those nice little numbers with a ship sailing on a sea of curls or something.. Of course just as ladies did back then, I would need several matching bodices for different times of day, and if I was really going all out, I'd get some matching skirts too - say a natural form bustle and a caged bustle with the respective underpinnings...
It would be a versatile and extravagant ensemble! :)
Have you ever wondered what FIFTY SIX THOUSAND DOLLARS worth of jacket looks like?
Well, I didn't either until now, but here it is:
Well, I didn't either until now, but here it is:
You have to admit, it is pretty snazzy and would certainly suit a steampunk ensemble.
If you happen to have the spare cash lying around, you can buy one here. Heck, why don't you buy two and send one my way?
What's one thing you'd change about the steampunk community?
Hmmm. How about giving us a nice solid line of government funding so we could do some really amazing stuff?
There's a small, mean part of me that prays for a world-wide shortage of clock parts so people stop gluing it randomly to everything in an effort to make it look more steampunk.
In every subculture there are those who seek to elevate themselves by telling everyone else how they ought to be "doing it". Steampunk seems to be fairly resistant to these people, which is good.
How was it like running Dr Sketchys Brisbane? Have you been to the relaunched Dr Sketchys?
Running Dr Sketchys was a lot of fun..heaps of work but I always had a great time.. I haven't been back in Brisbane since it relaunched, but I hope it's doing really well!
We like to think of the Victorian Era as a prim and proper time, but it seems they enjoyed juvenille humour just as much as people do today. I stumbled across this article about the most highly paid artist ever to perform at the Moulin Rouge - The "Fartiste" - The Great Pujol..
Joseph Pujol, a man of singular talent, was born in Marseilles, France in 1857. In his early youth it became clear that he was a natural entertainer, singing, dancing, and performing for his parents’ house guests. He had a love for music, and over the years he became handy with a trombone, but it was a different wind instrument that led to his eventual fame and fortune.
Young Joseph became alarmed one day when he was swimming in the sea, and took a deep breath before submerging. As he inhaled, he felt icy cold water entering through his rear end. He immediately returned to shore, and was astonished to see a great deal of seawater pouring from his backside. A doctor assured him that this was nothing to be concerned about, and it seems that Joseph took this advice to heart, exploring his strange new ability with a healthy curiosity.
He soon found that with a little abdominal control, he could deliberately suck water in through his anus, and project it back out with impressive force, creating a spout of several meters. Further experimentation led him to discover that he could also suck in large amounts of air if he contorted himself properly, which he could let out at will. He was also able to use varying pressures to produce distinct notes, allowing him to reproduce simple tunes. Needless to say, he became very popular at school as a result. But little did he know that this unique talent would one day make him the most well-known and most highly paid entertainer in all of France.
While Joseph was in the army he amused his fellow soldiers with his lowbrow tricks, and they gave him the nickname “Le Pétomane,” which translates roughly to “fartiste.” When he left the service he opened a bakery in Marseilles which was reputed to bake some of the finest bran muffins in the south of France, but he started a foray into show business when he began to feel restless. At first he resisted using his unique physiology in his stage comedy act, instead trying the “yokel with the trombone” routine, but the fartiste within him could not be contained.
In 1887 at age 30, “Le Pétomane” first took the stage in Marseilles. The initial attempt was met with some skepticism, since “petomanie” (or “fartistry”) was something of a novelty for the French. But he quickly won the audience over, and was a big success. He developed his act locally for about five years, then went on to Paris to try for the infamous Moulin Rouge. He succeeded.
“Ladies and gentlemen, I have the honor to present a session of Petomanie.” Such was his introduction at the famous vanity theater on his first night. He was very finely dressed in a red coat and black satin breeches, with a pair of white gloves held in his hands. He looked quite sophisticated as he explained to the audience that the emissions he was about to produce were completely odorless, since he irrigated his colon daily. The audience was completely unprepared for what lay ahead. And so he began.He started off with a series of fart impressions… a new bride’s timid toot; her noisy, flapping emissions a week later; the solid, booming fart of a miller; and a majestic ten-second-long helping of flatulence to wrap up his introduction. He did impressions of famous people, he played songs, and he blew out candles. He did imitations of cannon fire, and reenacted a thunderstorm. And that was just the first portion of the show.
At first, the audience was astonished at the bizarre spectacle. But when the first uncontrollable laughter erupted from the crowd, it quickly spread throughout the theater. Soon the men and women were completely paralyzed with laughter, with tears streaming down their cheeks. A number of women passed out, unable to breathe in their tightly bound corsets, and had to be escorted from the theater by nurses.
For the second part of his act, he stepped offstage and inserted a rubber tube into his orifice, which dangled out of a hole in the back of his trousers. His used the tube to smoke two cigarettes at once, one from each end; to blow out the flames of stage lights; and as a grand finale, he attached an ocarina to the end of the hose, and played popular tunes while inviting the audience to sing along.
Overnight, Le Pétomane was a huge success. He used his unique physiology to entertain in this way for years, eventually becoming the highest paid entertainer in all of France, and perhaps the world. He parted ways with the Moulin Rouge in 1895 when the owner of the theater sued him for breach of contract after he fart-serenaded a few people in public, but he was quickly replaced by a female, bellows-powered fraud… La Femme-Pétomane.
Joseph opened a theater of his own and enjoyed many more years of success, until two of his sons were disabled in World War 1 in 1914. At that point he gave up the stage and went back to baking, and let his rectum content itself with more conventional pursuits. He died, aged 88 years, in 1945. When a medical school in Paris requested the privilege of examining the late Le Pétomane’s famous anus, the family declined, stating, “there are some things in this life which simply must be treated with reverence.”
Though Le Pétomane was perhaps the most famous fartiste, he was not the first to ply the farting trade… professional flatulism has a long and rich history throughout the world. In the De Civitate Dei, written about halfway through the first century A.D., Saint Augustine mentions some performers who possessed “such command of their bowels, that they can break wind continuously at will, so as to produce the effect of singing.” As other examples, medieval Ireland had professional farters called “braigetori,” and the Japanese Kamakura period (1185–1333) had professional performers of fart dances called Oribe.
A contemporary flatulist, perhaps the only representative of his trade today, is Mr. Methane. He clearly lacks Le Pétomane’s class, but he can certainly break a wind. Dressing in a cape and mask, he has the appearance of a superhero (or supervillain), though whether the force of his farts is sufficient to allow him flight is doubtful. But be warned, if you spend much time reading his website, your world will turn pink.Further reading:
Wikipedia article on Le Pétomane
The Mr. Methane home page
Interview with Mr. Methane
Flatulence on demand (requires flash)
When did you discover steampunk?
I have been into Victorian aesthetics for a long time - many years in historical re-enactment is probably a factor. A few years ago I heard of people who were into the "neo-victorian" thing.. it wasn't until I moved to Melbourne that I really got involved in the steampunk subculture though.
Brand spanking new in the Steampunkerie Etsy and MadeIt stores - Steampunk Soaps!
I had a lot of fun making these, I hope others enjoy them too..
The soaps are available in four types:
Essence of Cog:
At the heart of every manic contraption is a cunning clockwork (and if there is not, by Jove, there ought to be!) Gears mesh against one another in perfect synchronicity, whirring and clicking against one another in a symphony of creation.
In the Steampunkerie laboratory our scientists have been hard at work harnessing the essence of this miraculous device and after much experimentation have succeeded in distilling the very essence of cog. In doing so they have also succeeded in answering a question that has plagued us all for far too long:
What do you get the steampunk who has everything?
Makes them devilishly hard to buy a gift for.. if they see a need for something, off they go to their laboratory, workshop or underground lair and emerge a mere few hours or days later with an awe inspiring contraption!
If they are the type who does not let small niceties such as regular ablutions get in the way of SCIENCE! Then this thoughtful gift may be just the ticket – it will prove to be a welcome gift to both recipient and bestower. The delightful perfume of this soap is sure to make the evidence of those sweaty hours melt away like the first snows of winter.
Essence of Cog soap will remove grease, grime, experimental detritus, dust, powder flares, oil spills, and the soot of explosions from your personage. More stubborn marks may require several applications and the most tenacious stains may require the addition of Elbow Grease (coming soon from Steampunkeire Soapworks in a convenient 12 gallon tub).
Essence of Goggle:
Don’t let this unforgivable gaffe happen to you. Out you go arrayed in your finery, ready to dabble in some conviviality with your fellow steampunks.. and you find yourself stopped at the door!
“Excuse me, Sir... I am dreadfully sorry, Madam... but...”
“YOU APPEAR TO HAVE FORGOTTEN YOUR GOGGLES.”
Inexorably you feel the crimson tinge of deep embarrassment creep across your dermis until you resemble a ripe tomato.
Never let this happen again! By using this soap in your bathing routine, your personage will become imbued with the subtle and immutable scent of goggles. Why, you won’t even need to be wearing a pair – the very essence of goggle will intimate itself in your immediate surroundings.
Thus armed, you may go forth amongst the populace secure in the knowledge that wherever your wanderings may lead you, you will always have the “Essence of Goggle” exuding from you!
Essence of Bustle: Never has there been an item of clothing that has inspired so many poets, artists and other servants of the muse as the bustle. Taking the natural contours of the feminine form and using the arcane mysteries of needle and thread to accentuate and enhance these natural blessings, the bustle is the very pinnacle of the seamstresses’ art.
Never before have the mavens of science attempted to harness so potent an object! After many trials and no few mishaps of an explosive nature we are delighted to announce that the secret has been unlocked – we can now offer the general populace the very “Essence of Bustle” in an elegant bar of soap!
Upon application the wearer will surround themselves with a scent reminiscent of frills and ruffles, a heady intimation of sashaying hips and silken pleats decked with lace wafts through the ether in an enticing haze.
IT IS OUR DUTY TO WARN YOU! Essence of Bustle may have unexpected aphrodisiac effects on the opposite or indeed, the same gender! Steampunkerie Soapworks can accept NO RESPONSIBILITY for awkward outpourings of affection, embarrassing declarations of undying adorations, inconvenient proposals of marriage and gifts of an elaborate nature that the wearer may find themselves surrounded with after using this soap.
Essence of Zepplin:The soaring heights of hygienic perfection can be yours by the simple application of this fine soap. The aroma will waft about your person majestically, bringing all who catch the scent the unmistakable image of a fine airship soaring above the clouds.
Carefully crafted by the genius scientists of Steampunkerie Soapworks, they have used their (patent pending) process to distil the very essence of zeppelin and imprison it within the elegant confines of this luxurious soap. Mad, they called us, when we first attempted the process! But who is laughing now?
NO DIRIGIBLES HAVE BEEN HARMED (BEYOND REPAIR) IN THE MAKING OF THIS SOAP.
(Please note any mention of tits, boobies or snarks refers to smaller British bird breeds and Steampunkerie Soapworks cannot be held responsible for any fainting that may occur upon a too-hasty perusal of the texts provided. To the pure – all is pure.)
Listen not to the foolish fellows who claim that this particular bar of soap smells remarkably as though it has been perfumed with Essential Oil of Rose – such individuals suffer from a small minded lack of imagination and can safely be ignored.
Steampunkerie soaps are crafted using a hot process with such ingredients as Sodium palmate, Sodium palm kernalate, Aqua, fragrance, Vegetable Glycerine, Sodium Chloride, HEDP, EDTA, Organic Colour Pigments, Titanium Dioxide.
Each bar weighs 100 grams, and lathers beautifully.
Through cunning modification of the soapmaking process these essences can be altered to put one in mind of other less exotic flavours if preferred. If the recipient is enamoured of any of the following scents, they are advised to start a conversation with us so that a custom order may be produced. Scents currently available are: Lime Blossom, Mango Butter, Rose Petal, White Gardenia, Orange Crush, Honeysuckle, Passionfruit, Freesia and Lemongrass. (Other scents available on request, if you have something specific in mind, please do ask.)
Likewise if larger quantities or specific combinations are required, we encourage you to contact our laboratory for a personal consultation.
I had a lot of fun making these, I hope others enjoy them too..
The soaps are available in four types:
Essence of Cog:
At the heart of every manic contraption is a cunning clockwork (and if there is not, by Jove, there ought to be!) Gears mesh against one another in perfect synchronicity, whirring and clicking against one another in a symphony of creation.
In the Steampunkerie laboratory our scientists have been hard at work harnessing the essence of this miraculous device and after much experimentation have succeeded in distilling the very essence of cog. In doing so they have also succeeded in answering a question that has plagued us all for far too long:
What do you get the steampunk who has everything?
Makes them devilishly hard to buy a gift for.. if they see a need for something, off they go to their laboratory, workshop or underground lair and emerge a mere few hours or days later with an awe inspiring contraption!
If they are the type who does not let small niceties such as regular ablutions get in the way of SCIENCE! Then this thoughtful gift may be just the ticket – it will prove to be a welcome gift to both recipient and bestower. The delightful perfume of this soap is sure to make the evidence of those sweaty hours melt away like the first snows of winter.
Essence of Cog soap will remove grease, grime, experimental detritus, dust, powder flares, oil spills, and the soot of explosions from your personage. More stubborn marks may require several applications and the most tenacious stains may require the addition of Elbow Grease (coming soon from Steampunkeire Soapworks in a convenient 12 gallon tub).
Essence of Goggle:
“Excuse me, Sir... I am dreadfully sorry, Madam... but...”
“YOU APPEAR TO HAVE FORGOTTEN YOUR GOGGLES.”
Inexorably you feel the crimson tinge of deep embarrassment creep across your dermis until you resemble a ripe tomato.
Never let this happen again! By using this soap in your bathing routine, your personage will become imbued with the subtle and immutable scent of goggles. Why, you won’t even need to be wearing a pair – the very essence of goggle will intimate itself in your immediate surroundings.
Thus armed, you may go forth amongst the populace secure in the knowledge that wherever your wanderings may lead you, you will always have the “Essence of Goggle” exuding from you!
Essence of Bustle: Never has there been an item of clothing that has inspired so many poets, artists and other servants of the muse as the bustle. Taking the natural contours of the feminine form and using the arcane mysteries of needle and thread to accentuate and enhance these natural blessings, the bustle is the very pinnacle of the seamstresses’ art. Never before have the mavens of science attempted to harness so potent an object! After many trials and no few mishaps of an explosive nature we are delighted to announce that the secret has been unlocked – we can now offer the general populace the very “Essence of Bustle” in an elegant bar of soap!
Upon application the wearer will surround themselves with a scent reminiscent of frills and ruffles, a heady intimation of sashaying hips and silken pleats decked with lace wafts through the ether in an enticing haze.
IT IS OUR DUTY TO WARN YOU! Essence of Bustle may have unexpected aphrodisiac effects on the opposite or indeed, the same gender! Steampunkerie Soapworks can accept NO RESPONSIBILITY for awkward outpourings of affection, embarrassing declarations of undying adorations, inconvenient proposals of marriage and gifts of an elaborate nature that the wearer may find themselves surrounded with after using this soap.
Essence of Zepplin:The soaring heights of hygienic perfection can be yours by the simple application of this fine soap. The aroma will waft about your person majestically, bringing all who catch the scent the unmistakable image of a fine airship soaring above the clouds. Carefully crafted by the genius scientists of Steampunkerie Soapworks, they have used their (patent pending) process to distil the very essence of zeppelin and imprison it within the elegant confines of this luxurious soap. Mad, they called us, when we first attempted the process! But who is laughing now?
NO DIRIGIBLES HAVE BEEN HARMED (BEYOND REPAIR) IN THE MAKING OF THIS SOAP.
Soaps from Steampunkerie Soapworks come wrapped delightfully in a page from a GENUINE VICTORIAN work of NONFICTION (the original book was damaged beyond any other purpose and rescued from destruction by the laboratory’s technicians, and is now being put to a decorative use). Currently in use is the 1874 edition of “The Smaller British Birds”. This is not a copy, but an actual page carefully extracted from the antique book.
(Please note any mention of tits, boobies or snarks refers to smaller British bird breeds and Steampunkerie Soapworks cannot be held responsible for any fainting that may occur upon a too-hasty perusal of the texts provided. To the pure – all is pure.)
Listen not to the foolish fellows who claim that this particular bar of soap smells remarkably as though it has been perfumed with Essential Oil of Rose – such individuals suffer from a small minded lack of imagination and can safely be ignored.
Steampunkerie soaps are crafted using a hot process with such ingredients as Sodium palmate, Sodium palm kernalate, Aqua, fragrance, Vegetable Glycerine, Sodium Chloride, HEDP, EDTA, Organic Colour Pigments, Titanium Dioxide.
Each bar weighs 100 grams, and lathers beautifully.
Through cunning modification of the soapmaking process these essences can be altered to put one in mind of other less exotic flavours if preferred. If the recipient is enamoured of any of the following scents, they are advised to start a conversation with us so that a custom order may be produced. Scents currently available are: Lime Blossom, Mango Butter, Rose Petal, White Gardenia, Orange Crush, Honeysuckle, Passionfruit, Freesia and Lemongrass. (Other scents available on request, if you have something specific in mind, please do ask.)
Likewise if larger quantities or specific combinations are required, we encourage you to contact our laboratory for a personal consultation.
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