Steampunk car update

In a previous post I was telling everyone about an old guy who had an old replica Merc for sale and that it is in rough condition. The guy was asking way to much, so I showed him compatibles for sale on the internet. The guy came down on price but not nearly enough I think. I felt bad so I spread the word about the car to no avail. I went back the other day (three weeks later) to see if he had any luck selling it, only to find that he backed up into it with his other vehicle. I am afraid he may never get rid of it now. To bad, for the right price it would of made a great Steampunk car.

Current Project

Here is a current project we have been working on. A steam powered backpack with clockwork backup system. The backpack is about 80% done and we have taken it to a few events, everyone seams to like it and are amazed the the clockworks actually work the backup piston. Once we get it completed we will post some better photographs.

This is NOT Steampunk

I tend to agree with what she has to say about Steampunk. ^^
Watch your ears though, her voice is kinda high pitched. lol
Now she just needs a Steampunk outfit!

Punking out a keyboard

While digging through my storage bins today I found an old working PC keyboard. I am going to take it apart to see if I can modify it for the typewriter keys. If I can, I still need to find another typewriter to fill in the missing keys.

Great Finds!

The other day I was lucky enough to find some great items at a local sale. A Reminton Rand model 1 typewriter and on old RCA radio with glass tubes in it. They look like the ones pictured, but no were near as nice of condition.

I am thinking of using the typewrite keys in a project or selling them to someone else. The tubes I will keep for myself. ^^

I was also able to find a few Victorian patterns, a copper tea kettle, some brass odds and ends, and some loose fabrics.

My collection of "stuff: is growing for projects!

Worlds oldest running steam powered car up for sale

Today the worlds oldest running steam car will go up for auction, a 1884 De Dion Bouton Et Trepardoux Dos-A-Dos Steam Runabout.
(UPDATE: Sold 4.62 Million!)
It sports twin compound steam engines,  solid front and rear axles, locomotive-style connecting rod motion, single-acting mechanical brakes. The wheelbase is 43" wide, and is capable of 38 mph, 20 miles on tank of water.


- Named “La Marquise” after the Count de Dion’s mother

- At 127 years of age, the oldest running motor car in the world

- Single family ownership for 81 years and only four owners from new

- Participant in the first automobile race in 1887

- Veteran of four London-to-Brighton runs


For more information on this piece of history watch the video below.

Hard time finding gears

I have been searching locally all over and not had any luck finding gears. I find a few here and a few there but not enough to to keep projects going steady. Online seems a tad expensive for anything descent. Anyone have any leads or ideas for a cheap steady supply of gears?

Helping hand

The other day while at an event, one of our steampunk friends gave me some of his extra old tubes to play with. I was having no luck finding any cheap ones in my area yet. THANK YOU!^^

Hmm, I wonder what we will use them on?

Steampunk games

There are a few online Steampunk games out there on the web. I just got done playing one of them amply named "Steampunk".
It is a sort of puzzle game where you got to manipulate the room in such a way that the good guy is safe on the grass and any bad guys are dead. It took me about a week to finally get 100% with no cheating or walkthroughs.
If anyone knows of any free online Steampunk games let me know!

Now onto the next game I am going to try, Remnants of Skystone! ^^

Finds for the week

Did not find a lot this week but what I did find was super cheap. I got all this for under $3.00!
A couple of vest patterns, two solid brass candle holders, some ribbon, a pendant, and two old oil cans. Wonder what I will find this coming week?

Real Steam Power

One of the largest moving Steam Engines lies in rest in Omaha. She is a beauty to behold. Although it is not functional anymore, it's outer shell is in great condition. Big Boy UP4023 used to be on display near the airport for a few years but it was getting vandalized and broken into.So she was moved and stored in the back of a train museum till a new spot could be made for her at Kenefick Park.



  Here is a view of Big Boy UP4023 and the diesel electric Centennial  UP6900 atop Kenefick Park. Another designation for a Big Boy is a 4-8-8-4.
That means it has four small wheels up front, followed by eight big drive wheels, followed by another set of eight big drive wheels, and last four more small wheels.



Although I was not here for the move of the giant locomotives many other people did take pictures of it. It must have been a site to be seen coming down the road and then up the step hill to the top of the park.
More info on 4023 can be found all over the web, look for some future pictures with her. ^^

Tidy up

Went to a lovely Steampunk event the other day with a few friends and had a wonderful time. This morning I looked around the house and realized we had a lot of Steamy stuff randomly spread throughout the house.
 So I took some time to get all the little stuff organized and in one place without just dumping it all in a box. Once I got it all in one area the amount of items did not look so big. The costumes and cloth are all back in the sewing room as well.

Garage sale finds; Lots of Brass

Another great find today at two garage sales! Both places were having 50% off, so I got a few brass items and some gauges. Already have a plan for the gauges, but who knows what I will do with the other stuff...hmmmmm

Garage sale finds; Door hardware

Today I hit a few garage sales on my way to and from work. No luck finding anything interesting. After leaving the last sale for the day I headed home empty handed. Just about a mile from home I seen a small garage sale sign that I never seen, there was not much there, but buried in a box was a bag of door hardware! No clue what I would use most of it for, but something told me to get it.
Maybe I will sell some of it in our Etsy Store later this year when we open it. Anyone interested?

Girl and Robot

Found another great Steampunk animation this morning that I would like to share, it is called Girl and Robot.

Leather work

Today I was back talking to the old man about his car. (mentioned in a post last week) He is slowly going down to a reasonable cost  after showing him comparable online cars but not a price that would work for me. I told the old man I would look for anyone else that would be interested in it. I would hate to see the car hauled off to the dump. We were talking about the car and the leather work that it needed done. In the middle of the conversation he said to "wait", and walked off. He came back with two wooden boxes. In them were some old Number and Letter dies. He said I could have them and that he might have others he would be willing to give me! I told him I could not just "Take Them". He said if I continue to help him with his old 1929 car I could keep it all!  Now I really want to get this car running! Granted, I was going to help him regardless, but this was very nice off him. If we get this car sold or running again I just might get the nerve to ask him what else he might be willing to sell.

Brass and bullets

 Today I found some neat finds at the thrift store for under $4.00.  Two very nice candle holders, a clock and some brass colored air hose fittings. My mind is already racing with ideas! ^^

 I have never modded a Nerf gun, it is not that I do not love some of the mods I have seen, just not a "high on my to do list" for me. I thought it was time to jump on the bandwagon so to speak, a friend of ours had a few extra Mavericks that he was not going to mod so he gave them to me. ( :Thank you! :)
 I have laid out a few ideas already and can't wait to take these Nerf guns apart! Oh no! I am catching the Nerf bug!!! ^^

A Gentlemen's Duel

I found this animated Steampunk video the other day, I think you all might like it! ^^

Next Steampunk outfit

 We had an idea for my next Steampunk outfit for a few weeks now, we were amazed to find this picture today that is very close to what we were thinking of making.

 I am not one for using Nerf guns for Steampunk but the Maverick in the picture does look like it fits the outfit. So I may just break down and do my first Nerf mod. ^^

As for the outfit, I already got similar boots, some loose fabric, and a corset before seeing this photo. Today I got a used maverick from a friend and looking around for a hat.

Steampunk car

There is a house I pass by all the time, and I have seen this car sitting in the back yard for years. I finally asked if it was for sale and the man said yes.He wanted way to much for it with the condition it is in.

It would make a wonderful Steampunk car I think if it got some TLC.

The old man said over the years people have taken parts from it. Puzzling that no one ever took the radio? I was told it ran, "OK", when it was parked years ago but I am sure that is not the case now. I will continue to talk with the owner every once and a while and see if he changes his mind. Not that I need a car like this but it would be a fun full sized project! Look! The dash is already wood! ^^

Garage sale finds

On the way home today I stopped at the local thrift store and look what I found for a total of $1.75!
1. Brass and copper candle holder.
2. Brass candle holder that looks very nautical.
3. Fake brass lamp bottom.











It may just be a few little pieces but they do look good together. ^^
I can't wait to make something with them!

Interesting Brass clock

A cute little find today, a small brass and wood clock at the local thrift store. The front outer ring is solid brass that gives it a very nautical feel. The clock even has a brass cover over the back side electronics to hide them.
This will be going in my office!. ^^

Goggle bliss

Found a great old camera at a thrift sale while running errands. It had a great iris for a pair of goggles, as well as some other bits I'll share later. After some disassemble and remounting of the pieces, this is what we got. Not a bad start.^^

All Aboard!!!

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We hope you will enjoy your trip with us as we explore the world of Steam and Steampunk, from real steam trains to huge air ships from another history. From real historic finds in our reality to elegant hand made Steampunk creations by us and other like minded people. So stoke your boiler, ease the throttle, and take off with us for steamy adventures!