Historical Technology

Josef Ressel: the inventor of the propeller

March 27, 2012
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Josef Ressel: the inventor of the propeller

Josef Ludwig Franz Ressel was born on June 29th, 1793 in the Bohemian town of Chundrum. His mother was Marija Ana Konvichkova, a Czech, and his father Anton Hermann Ressel, a German. He came from a poor family that couldn’t sustain his studies at Vienna University, and for this reason he had to sustain himself (and even his family) with his works of calligraphy and drawings. One of his drawings was admired by Emperor Franz I who decided to pay for his studies in the newly founded Forestry Academy. Once finished, he became District Forester in Pleterje and later...

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Steampunk Mass Communications

March 1, 2012
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Much of Steampunk fiction takes place in the latter half of the 19th Century, with some crossover to the very early days of the 20th.  One element of storytelling that we find in prominent position, and especially for those stories set in the 1890s/1900s, is the concept of improved mass communication.  As a genre richly detailed with historical innovations, Steampunk fiction has several inventions to choose from to satisfy the need for improved mass communications. These include the telegraph, improved printing presses, and the radio, all of which were developed or advanced near to if not within the canonical...

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Keeping history relevant: Some thoughts for prospective contributors

January 13, 2012
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January 11th, 2012 marked the 77th anniversary of Amelia Earhart’s flight from Honolulu to Oakland, the first flight across the Pacific made by a woman. This and other “firsts” by Earhart, more than her disappearance in 1937, make hers a story of considerable interest to the Steampunk community. Among our goals at Doctor Fantastique’s Show of Wonders is the promotion of good efforts and action by all members of society. By ‘good’ I refer to contributions, inventions, explorations and discoveries that aim to benefit the whole of humanity. Be it through the design of a new tool to make...

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The Steampunk Guide to Airships

May 24, 2011
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Airships are a familiar technology in the steampunk genre. Aerostat (lighter-than-air) in design, they differ from the simple hot air balloon in their ability to be steered using propellers and rudders. Today, airships have lost out to the speed, manoeuvrability and comparative safety of the airplane. But the development of the airship long precedes the airplane. The sense of majesty and innovation makes them a perfect steampunk accompaniment. A Brief History The first hot air balloon was invented by Joseph and Etienne Montgolfier in France, 1783. Originally paper manufacturers, the Montgolfier brothers experimented with floating paper and fabric bags...

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Library of Classics
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