A few weeks ago, I saw a post on Boing Boing about steampunk lamps. I liked them and decided to build one for myself.
I used an old wooden cigar box, a few ceramic bulb mounts, a rheostat and few other odds and ends. I did get a little fancy and paint the ceramic mounts with textured copper paint. The wiring was trivial, but I got a chance to use an Underwriter's Knot.
There's a lot more steampunk I could have thrown at it, but I like the simplicity of this.
I used two 60 watt bulbs, so it can get quite bright. It's much more pleasant at a lower light level.
Here is a short video of the steampunk lamp in action.
I have no idea what I'm going to do with it now, but I'm sure I'll figure something out.
Posted by michael at February 25, 2009 07:20 PMI really like that ornate knob. The whole thing is pretty cool, actually.
Posted by: lomara [http://blog.lomara.org/] on February 25, 2009 8:01 PMI bet this lamp is featured on tonight's episode of Lost. They are able to travel back in time and steal other people's ideas you know....
Posted by: Sanjay Sabnani [http://www.crowdgather.com] on February 25, 2009 8:04 PMOMG. My mom and I both exclaimed, "I want one!"
I can't believe the timing of this. I followed the link from Boing Boing. We've made almost the same lamp ( http://tinyurl.com/cigarbox ) for a teen craft event at the San Diego library on 2/26. Teens will get to make their own lamp to take home and we are hoping to spawn a bunch of jr. makers out of it. Here's to more kids playing with electricity!
Posted by: Ingred [http://machinafatalis.blogspot.com] on February 26, 2009 1:43 AMDo you want to sell it? I want it! Nice work man!
Posted by: onestoploser [] on February 26, 2009 8:33 AMForgot to add: Email me and let me know if it's buyable.
Posted by: onestoploser [] on February 26, 2009 8:35 AMIt's elegant and beautiful. Really one of the more tasteful executions of the Steampunk aesthetic I've seen. Good Job!
Posted by: Austin [http://amildsnafusis.blogspot.com] on February 26, 2009 10:07 AMif that could make an eerie humming noise, it would be cool.
Posted by: kp [] on February 26, 2009 10:52 AMNice work!
Posted by: Bribo [http://www.flickr.com/photos/bribo] on February 26, 2009 6:33 PMIt is always so much fun to read your posts.
Posted by: Mom [http://momonthealert.com] on February 26, 2009 8:54 PMyou are amazing..
Posted by: yee [] on February 27, 2009 2:31 AMVery nice!But personally I'd have hidden the writing on top of the box(or mounted the lights and switch so it would have been part of the design)
Posted by: Arno [http://www.arnobrosi.com] on February 27, 2009 9:59 AMI know of a poker-dome where it would look very nice, indeed...
Posted by: Ken [] on February 27, 2009 10:29 AMHey, can you post a simple circuit diagram of the lamp? Or a picture of the insides? I am trying to figure out how big a rheostat you would need to take a 60 Watt or greater load. Thanks!
P.S. feel free to email me if you don't want to post it.
Posted by: the_wakeful [] on March 3, 2009 8:50 PM