Tom Favell of Hi Tech Systems writes:

Your website gave me the inspiration to make a steampunk version of one of
our controllers for a recent trade show. I had never heard of steampunk and
was going to make a 30's style unit all Bakelite with large dials, when a
friend told me about your website.

The result is pretty awesome!  As I understand it, this is a fully functional broadcast controller that controls video mixing and editing software via USB, serial or network connections. There are more pictures here and be sure to click through to watch a video of  the first showing of the extraordinary Comptometer from Hi Tech Systems Ltd, at IBC 2009. 

Doug writes:

I thought I'd pass on a project I've been working on for a couple weeks. I am a Steampunk fan, to be sure...but also a fan of old horror films.  I thought it would be fun to take both and combine them for a "MAME" arcade cabinet. You probably know what that is, but put simply it's an application that allows you to play arcade games (pac-man, donkey kong, etc) on a pc.  By building a cabinet, you can get some of the feel and fun of the old days of playing video games at the local arcade.  My cabinet combines some of the victorian elements found in steampunk with electrical mad-scientist designs from the man behind Karloff's Frankenstein lab(Strickfaden).  I'm finishing up the Marquee (the machine name plate usually found at the top of a cabinet) and will post pictures of that soon....

What an amazing creation! The details are stellar! In particular the CNC carved lithopane side panels!  Click through for a gallery of images or check out Doug's own blog.

Also be sure to read what he says about finding time - so true!

Rich "Datamancer" Nagy writes:

Hello everyone, I thought I'd let you all know that I have added a page to the site for the keyboard frames that contains pics and more info.

http://www.datamancer.net/keyboards/keyboardkits.htm

I have also decided to offer the frames in raw, unfinished metal for those of you might want to save some money on them and try your hand at polish or sanding them yourself.

As far as the pre-polished/sanded keyboards go, I have 4 aluminum frames and 2 polished brass frames available for immediate purchase.

Thanks and have a great day,

-Richard "Doc" Nagy

Best hurry, I doubt these will last long!

Dan writes:

This whole thing started when I dropped my graphire3 wacom tablet.  Everything worked just fine, but the case cracked and would not stay together.  After some soul searching I decided that since I couldn't use the thing in its current condition I might as well try and improve it.

I'm finally getting around to adding some shots of the Steampunk Amp's debut at Maker Faire!

We all really had a great time and the turn-out was amazing! In addition to playing through-out event in a amongst the Carnivale Mechanique, Nathaniel Johnstone, Melissa and John Paul Mayden played a couple of sets on the main stage while the dancers of  Deshret Dance Company performed.

It was a sublime experience and the amp performed beyond my expectations!

Click through for more pictures and video of the event at the end of the build log . . .

Here's a project of mine from a few years ago, it's an LG mobile 'embedded' into an old Western Electric model 500 handset.

The Bell Model 500 desk phone manufactured for decades by Western Electric is an icon of Twentieth Century product design.  The evolution of the Model 500's receiver begun with the first telephones produced in the late 19th Century and it's longevity has taken it into the 21st.  I have always found it to be ergonomically designed and comfortably to use,  It is the embodiment of "form follows function".

I am thinking about making a follow up version for my iPhone 3 GS but have yet to find a suitable handset to embed it in.

The full build log is here . . . 

Click through to Mental Design to see an amazing collection of artwork by Ivan Mavrovic including this skull mouse!  I particularly like the cellphones he's done and the his Steampunk keyboard the "Crystal Deluxe" is one of the best ever! I so want a pair of the Steampunk Matrix spectacles too!

An already venerable IBM Model M is retro-fitted with glass and nickel keys and mounted in a polished brass frame.

Update: I thought I'd pop this story up the the front page because I've been fielding a lot of mail in reference to SyFy's Warehouse 13 and the keyboard seen on Artie's desk.  The keyboard in the show is Rich "Doc Datamancer" Nagy's work - a much improved version of my original design.

For more info click through or check out Doc's website!

So I've been thinking of doing some Art Deco inspired mods and it seems like the internet is reading my mind again!

I love this Dieselpunk casemod from Germany! Follow that link for a few more pics but what really caught my eye was some shots of a model made from etched brass here. Wow! such detail! (Thanks Joerg!)

PS: Wouldn't this look great with Doc's Industrial Keyboard !

Things have been far too quiet, I have heard nothing from the labs of my arch nemesis Jake-of-all-Trades Hildebrandt - and now I know why.  Not since Kirk bellowed "KHAAA....AAN!!" has the interwebs heard such exasperation!  So THIS is what you've been up to?  My god man, what have you wrought?

More here and two more shots after the cut - the rest at Jake-of-all-Trades Flickr.