It’s not difficult to build a diddley bow, or one-stringed guitar. I saw a video of Jack Black making and playing one and thought, “I want to do that!”
Here are the materials, most of which I picked up at …
Archive for the ‘Device’ Category
Shoot Fireballs!
Jan
26
After reviewing my Universal Amazon Wish List for potential Christmas presents, my wife asked me, “Do you really want to shoot fire?”
It wasn’t a judgmental question. It was more along the lines of, “It’s awesome, but is it really …
Get Up (I Feel Like Making A) Sex Machine
Aug
25
Victorians found better living through mechanical engineering with the introduction of the vibrator. Physicians used Joseph Mortimer Granville’s percusser, aka Granville’s Hammer, to treat female hysteria via paroxysm. In other words, women got vibrated to orgasm. Steampunk and DIY culture …
The Gramovox
Nov
18
The Chicago-based Gramovox combines vintage amplification with contemporary audio technology. The Bluetooth 4.0 gramophone pumps music through an audio driver though a powder-coated steel horn.
Pavan Bapu and Jeff Parrish were inspired by a Magnavox R3 horn that they found …
League of STEAM kicks off their third season with a new Kickstarter!
Sep
26
I first met the members of The League of STEAM at Steam-Con Two about what feels like ten or fifteen hundred years ago (though I think it was actually only three). They immediately grabbed me, literally grabbed me, and introduced …
More Mechanical Music
Jul
02
Last year, I wrote about mechanical music. Joe Vourteque followed up with pictures from the Musee Mecanique in San Francisco.
My plunge has delved deeper. When I went to the Grayslake Antique Fair in August 2012, there were representatives …
Daria Melnikova, Independent Videographer
May
28
An interview with Daria Melnikova, Steampunk Chicago’s hard working resident videographer.
1. When did you begin to work in video production?
I wanted to be a movie director since I was 12 years old. Even in childhood I realized that …
My Field Trip to Borri Audio Laboratories
Dec
24
Princeton, IL, is a two hour drive from Chicago. Down the street from the antique shops, upstairs from the dance studio and down the cramped hallway, you can find Borri Audio Laboratories. It’s the home of Shawn Borri, who …
Musee Mechanique in San Francisco
Oct
01
So I just got back from San Francisco where I Djed for the lovely Unwoman’s record release party and I have to say I’m quite impressed with how beautiful the city of San Francisco is.
Though it wasn’t all DJing …
Sycamore Steam Show August 9 – 12
Aug
06
The Northern Illinois Steam Power Club presents the 56th Sycamore Steam Show & Threshing Bee. August 9 through 12, 2012, sees an exhibition of steam-powered equipment in action.
The club formed in 1957. Chuck Raymond and LeRoy Levine …
