A Japanese View of Victorian London

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A View of the Thames by Utagawa Yoshitora, c. 1860s. Image from the Library of Congress collection.

A View of the Thames by Utagawa Yoshitora, c. 1860s. Image from the Library of Congress collection.

In the spirit of Steampunk Hands Around the World 2015, I’d like to share a view of Victorian London as depicted by a Japanese artist of the time, Utagawa Yoshitora. Whether writing, creating, or defining your steampunk persona, it is always helpful to see through others’ eyes and gain a fresh perspective.

More details on the artist and these prints at the always informative Two Nerdy History Girls blog.

Steampunk Weekend DIY

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Lots of great Steampunk DIY projects!

Shawn's avatarShawn Writes Stuff

There’s an abundance of octopus hats this week.  That’s the only intro I can think of.

So if you were looking for a tentacle related project, read on!

There are some other cool things too.  Somehow I got wrapped up in steampunk octopus stuff and things spiraled out of control form there.  I google’d aardvarks for goodness sake.  The internet, man.  The internet…

Enjoy!

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Old House Idiosyncrasies #2–Imbrication

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DSC_0271Imbrication is a fancy word that means the overlapping of edges, such as in scales or tiles.  Or shingles, as it turns out.  In architectural parlance, imbrication is the use of specially shaped shingles to create a decorative effect.  Imbrication is often seen in Victorian homes, especially those built in the Queen Anne style, between about 1880-1900. Continue reading →

DIY Steampunk Plasma Pistol

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pistol_offOnce I had a steampunk outfit put together, I wanted to accessorize.  While I’ve since imagined a few instruments appropriate for a Steampunk Scientist, the first gadget I made was a plasma pistol.

My ultimate inspiration was seeing a steampunked electric guitar on display a few years ago at Clockwork Alchemy, the San Jose steampunk con.  The guitar incorporated a small plasma globe into its design and I thought it the perfect piece of steampunk technology.  (Unfortunately, I can’t find a photo of this guitar on line, but if anyone knows its maker, please let me know and I’ll suitably recognize him/her.)

I remember when plasma globes were special enough that they were exhibits at science museums.  That I could incorporate one into one of my creations was too cool. Continue reading →

The Great Blizzard of 1888

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The weight of the snow snapped telegraph and telephone wires in New York City, hindering communications

The weight of the snow snapped telegraph and telephone wires in New York City, hindering communications

As the east coast of the US prepares for a significant snowstorm–Snowmaggedon, Snowpocalypse, etc.–here’s an article about the grandfather of all US blizzards, the Great Blizzard of 1888.  The article focuses on the storm’s effect on New York City, which was horrendous in today’s terms, but the storm also affected the entire northeast of the US.  Remember this was in the days of no weather forecasts–so the storm arrived without notice–and no snow plows–so its effects lingered for weeks after the storm cleared.

Coincidentally, two months before this blizzard, there was another Blizzard of 1888 that affected the center portion of the US.  This storm is also sometimes called the Schoolhouse Blizzard or the Children’s Blizzard because it came on so quickly and unexpectedly that many children were trapped in their schoolhouses until they could be eventually rescued.

Goldsworthy Gurney–Gentleman Scientist

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Goldsworthy_Gurney_-_PD-OLDSir Goldsworthy Gurney is a prime example of that most Victorian of species: the gentleman scientist.  A man of independent means who did not actually need to work to earn his living, and who possessed a scientific mind could make a fair contribution to inventing the 19th century. Such a man was Gurney.

He invented the limelight–a lamp which glowed when heated with an oxygen/hydrogen flame and used to enduring fame in lighting actors on stage.

In the 1820s he invented a steam carriage and proved that it could travel long distances even over the rough roads of the day.

In 1856, he patented an improved heater, called the Gurney Stove, some of which are still in use to this day!

Here’s a link to an article on the BBC website about this interesting and not-very-well-known man.

The last Victorian has died at the age of 114

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It’s amazing that some people live so long that they almost seem like time travellers!

Mark's avatarLondon By Gaslight

RPY_ETHEL_LANG_TAM_01.jpgAstounding as it sounds it is true.

She was born in the late reign of Queen Victoria and has lived through six monarchs, 22 prime ministers and two world wars and has seen the invention of the radio, the car, the aeroplane, the television, the computer and the internet.

Mrs Lang was one of six girls and left school at 13 to work in a shirt factory. She met and married her husband, William, in 1922, and they had a daughter together, Margaret. Mr Lang died in 1988. The couple’s daughter Margaret Walker said one of her aunts lived to the age of 104…clearly a long lived family. ‘She was a lovely mother, I’ve had her a very long time. I’ve been a very lucky person,’ said her daughter.

Mrs Lang died in her nursing home in Barnsley on Thursday and is survived by a 91-year-old daughter.

Our condolences go out to the Lang family…

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