Technabob » victorian

Steampunk Telephone: 1890 Called, They Want Their Phone Back

Conner Flynn — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 16:00:24 +0000

If you have an aversion to modern technology and it’s lack of style and sophistication, then check out this Victorian era replica phone. It should go perfectly with your other Steampunk decor.

It’s a replica of an 1892 L.M. Ericsson model, but the rotary dial has been changed to push-buttons, with the center being a dedicated redial button. And even though it isn’t necessary, the magneto generator crank really turns. The cord even resembles that fabric-covered material they used to use for power cords on old devices.

At $110(USD) it might also be a good gift for your grandparents, who likely have trouble with the way modern phones look anyway. It’s pricey, but you are really paying for that old time style. Find it at Museum Replicas.

[via Redferret]

R2-D2 and C-3PO: 19th Century Droids

Conner Flynn — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 20:30:24 +0000

A while back, we shared some of Greg Peltz’s Victorian Star Wars portraits, which made our favorite characters into Victorian gentlemen. Though at the time, we didn’t find the droids we were looking for.

R2 in fancy dress with a pipe? Someone please make a new Sherlock Holmes with the little droid as Holmes and C-3PO as Watson. I would pay good money to see that and it would beat the whole Data/Geordi Holmes thing from Star Trek.

Jabba certainly still looks evil, but now he’s an evil gentleman from the past. He could easily be Holmes’ arch-enemy Moriarty. Chewbacca is also available, but he just looks strange to me.

You can buy all of these portraits over on KULT, with prices starting at $125(USD). For that price, you get an unframed 9″ x 13″ Limited Edition hand numbered giclée print signed by the artist with a Certificate of Authenticity.

[via Modcloth]

Star Wars Goes Out on the Town, Victorian-Style

Range — Fri, 09 Jul 2010 16:25:21 +0000

I’ve never really thought that Star Wars characters could go out in public without shooting a few stormtroopers or using a lightsaber, but these new paintings by Greg Peltz would definitely allow Chewbacca to go out in style

The original idea came from Robert Mackenzie who created a cool-looking portrait of Chewbacca with a monocle. This led Greg to make a whole series of paintings in the same genre. They definitely look steampunk to me!

If definitely makes you wonder how the Star Wars characters would look in real life, if they were just going around doing their jobs in-between fighting the Empire or the Rebellion.

[via Diskursdisko]

Phrenology Head: What’S Really Going on Inside That Brain of Yours

Technabob — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 13:08:17 +0000

Do you miss the scientific quackery of the early 18th century? Then have I’ got a deal for you. This phrenology head is the perfect way to figure out what’s wrong with your brain – as long as you don’t care if it’s wrong 100% of the time.

Perfect for wannabe charlatans, this Phrenology bust is actually a reproduction of the original “medical” evaluation tool used by Phrenology madman L.N. Fowler, who theorized that you could point to specific personality traits based on the shape of your skill, mapped out into 48 faculties of your brain. It’s guaranteed to make you look way smarter than you really are.

Want one? Head on over to Amazon.com and you can find them for a wide variety of wacky prices, ranging from $35 to $888 (USD). Why are the prices so all over the map? Because they’re craaaaaaazy!

[photo via flickr]

Tricked Out, Victorian-Inspired Laptop Case

Alisha K. — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 11:38:05 +0000

Described by its creator as “Victoriana meets Glam Rock,” this is definitely a contender for wildest laptop case ever. One part pre-bought hard case, one part rhinestones, and one part pom poms equals all parts awesome… and completely unique.

Craftster onceupon was happy with her laptop case until one day when she thought that everything just might be better with pom pom trim. From there the project took inspiration from Victorian photo albums… but why limit oneself to traditional materials when there are rhinestones lying around?

If you’re interested in doing something similar, it doesn’t sound very difficult, thanks to the brief how-to posted on the project.

[via Crafty Crafty]

Steampunk Keyboard Makes Old Look New Again

Alisha K. — Tue, 10 Mar 2009 12:33:37 +0000

Steampunk-inspired computers and accessories are becoming popular themes for modders, and even so, this particular keyboard stands apart thanks to the sheer creativity of the approach. Also? Plaid. Who doesn’t like plaid?

Gone is the dark, brassy look of most of the steampunk mods we’ve seen; Markus’s keyboard is old, battered and faded, but still noble somehow. There’s dignity in the prim script on the keys–and the “arrows” are lovely. This looks like the kind of thing that would be an antique even in an alternate Victorian era.

Doesn’t look very ergonomic, though. Suppose the prevention of CTS isn’t a big priority in a steam-powered world.

[Steampunk keyboard via The Steampunk Workshop]