PULP-O-MIZER

Here is an incredibly cool and fun site. Thought you might enjoy it as much as I do.
http://thrilling-tales.webomator.com/derange-o-lab/pulp-o-mizer/pulp-o-mizer.html

Reproduction Victorian Era British Passport

Here is a little prop I created for myself to add a little more detail to my Steampunk/Victorian outfit.

Reproduction French Revolutionary War Banknotes

Wanted by the Ministry of Magic

Reproduction Japanese Banknotes from the Meiji Era

Sabrage

What gentlemen or lady for that matter, wouldn't want to learn how to do this to celebrate a great adventure or just impress your guests. There are many theories on the origin of sabrage. One tells about how this technique became popular in France when the army of Napoleon visited many of the aristocrat domains. It was just after the French revolution and the sabre was the weapon of choice of Napoleon's fearsome cavalry. Napoleon's spectacular victories across all Europe gave them plenty of reason to celebrate. During these parties the cavalry would open the Champagne with their sabres. Napoleon probably encouraged this and is known to have said: "Champagne! In victory one deserves it; in defeat one needs it."

Another one tells about Madame Clicquot who had inherited her husbands small Champagne house at the age of 27. She used to entertain Napoleon's officers in her vineyard and as they rode off in the early morning with their complimentary bottle of Champagne, they would open it with their sabre to impress the rich young widow. At your service.

More info…

http://www.confreriedusabredor.co.uk/sabrage/tutorial.html

http://www.sabreachampagne.com/products.html

http://www.confreriedusabredor.co.uk/sabrage/history.html

Bon Voyage for now…..

Code Duello

The challenge is issued, two gentlemen will settle their dispute by dueling. To turn it down, would  mark a gentlemen as a coward for life. Weapons are chosen and they meet at the agreed location. One or both gentlemen could be severely wounded or killed. No matter, an insult has been spoken and neither gentlemen will yield and honor must be upheld. Doctors are standing by, while seconds watch each other warily.

   Dueling, a one-on-one showdown typically with swords or pistols, was a major part of many societies, shaping the lives (and deaths) of gentlemen. A duel is a very controlled fight. Two men and sometimes women would face each other on equal terms. Duels follow an agreed upon set of terms, begin at a specified time and are held at a specific place.

    Duels didn't happen spontaneously in most cases, because of an insult or slanderous remark, one man would issue a challenge to another, who would often respond by directing further matters to his second. A second was a friend who came along to help prepare your weapons, make sure the other duelist wasn't going to be ambushed. Seconds were also supposed to try to defuse the situation that led to the duel by getting an apology from one party or another. Sometimes, seconds often ended up fighting each other alongside the main duelists. In any event, after one man issued a challenge, the seconds would arrange all the details. The process could in some cases take days. When a duel was declared, any weapon could be used, with either the challenger or his opponent given the choice depending on which set of dueling rules was in use. One of the most common set of dueling rules was the “Code Duello”. This set of rules covered the practice of dueling and points of honor, was drawn up and settled at Clonmel Summer Assizes, 1777, by gentlemen-delegates of Tipperary, Galway, Sligo, Mayo and Roscommon, and prescribed for general adoption throughout Ireland. The Code was generally also followed in England and on the Continent with some slight variations. In America, the principal rules were followed, although occasionally there were some glaring deviations.

 Bon Voyage for now....

More info..

http://www.speakeasy.org/~dr_gary/Naval/Duello/Right%20Frame.htm

http://knowledgenews.net/moxie/todaysknowledge/the-rules-of-duels.shtml

http://www.gwu.edu/~magazine/archive/2005_law_fall/docs/feat_duel.html

http://www.ballindalloch-press.com/society/

Travel Papers

Here are several pieces I created for a customer. Various reproduction banknotes and a Letter of Marque from the British government for and airship.

Rocket Pack

A Victorian Era rocket pack I designed for a Steampunk costume previewed at the Dallas ALL-CON.

Lincoln Funeral Train

President Abraham Lincoln died from his wounds at 7:22 P.M. on Saturday, April 15, 1865. He was shot by John Wilkes Booth at Ford Theater on April 14 1865. The Lincoln funeral train embarked on a trip that took 1700 miles and involved an estimated 30 million mourners

More info here..

http://www.abrahamlincolnsclassroom.org/Library/newsletter.asp?ID=116&CRLI=164Ghostly

Funeral Ghost Train of Pres. Lincoln

http://www.forgottenoh.com/Counties/Champaign/lincoln.html

http://www.psychics.co.uk/ghosts/ghosttrain.html

http://www.madametalbot.com/pix/posters/lincolntrain1.htm

http://www.headlesshorseman.co.uk/railway.html

http://www.paranormality.com/ghostly_transport.shtml

Ouija Board

There are many theories and stories concerning the Ouija board history and how it began. Some say it dates back to ancient Greece, others say China. Well, after a little research I found some interesting things.

    A man by the name of Adolphus Theodore Wagner received the first patent for the "talking board" in London, England in 1854. It was then called a "psychograph" and was supposed to read the minds of people with "nervous energy." The planchette (the piece touched with both hands on the board while using it) was named after a French medium by the name of M. Planchette and there were many planchette designs, including one with a pencil.

  The Ouija board was first introduced in the United States in 1890 as a parlor game sold in novelty shops for $1.25. E.C. Reiche, Elijah Bond, and Charles Kennard created a new design and it fast became popular because of the Occult trends of late 19th century America. Modern Ouija boards were developed by inventor William Huld. Huld took his design and sold his patent to Parker Brothers in 1966. The Ouija boards, as we recognize them today, look nothing like the original prototypes. Older versions were made out of wood and metal planchettes and are often sought after by collectors. The 25 million Ouija boards sold by Parker Brothers since its release were unfortunately made out of cardboard and have a plastic planchette. In early 1999 Parker Brothers stopped manufacturing the Fuld version and switched to a smaller less detailed glow in the dark version.

 Because of its popularity and mysterious origins, the Ouija board has taken on many myths and lengends. In fact, I have some friends that will have nothing to do with them. I have used it with other more adventurous friends and have never been fully convinced. Seems the Ouija board will always have a mysterious power surrounding it as long as people remain interested in the occult and have active imaginations. However, as the Parker Brother's slogan says, "It's only a game right?" What do you believe??

Bon Voyage for now..

More info:

http://www.museumoftalkingboards.com/history.html

http://www.allabouttheoccult.org/ouija-board.htm

http://www.damnedgames.com/cf_ouijahistory.html

http://www.hauntedbay.com/history/ouija.shtml

http://www.mostparanormal.co.uk/the-planchette.html

Various Reproduction Banknotes I produce

I am not Dead!!

DEAD PERSON:  I'm not dead!

  MORTICIAN:  Here -- he says he's not dead!

  CUSTOMER:  Yes, he is.

  DEAD PERSON:  I'm not!

  MORTICIAN:  He isn't.

  CUSTOMER:  Well, he will be soon, he's very ill.

  DEAD PERSON:  I'm getting better!

  CUSTOMER:  No, you're not -- you'll be stone dead in a moment.......

The psychopathological fear of being buried alive is called taphophobia, (from the Greek taphos, meaning "grave".) Literally it translates into "fear of graves." Before modern medicine, this fear was not irrational. During the 18th and 19th century many people had been accidentally buried alive due to improper medical diagnoses.

Being buried alive was such an elaborated fear that those who could afford it, made special arrangements. Certain burial customs, such as bodies being viewed for up to ten days prior to being put in the ground were observed. In fact, these plans included the use of a "safety coffin". These special coffins were designed to ensure accidental burial would be avoided. Special coffins contructed with; glass lids for observation, ropes to pull bells for signaling, and breathing pipes for survival until rescued were often used.  None the less, sometimes these horrific instances did happen.

"I'm not dead. I am alive.......I'm alive....."

Bon Voyage for now....

More info.....

http://danfingerman.com/dtm/archives/cat_patents.html

http://oakgrovecemetery.wordpress.com/victorian-funeral-customs-fears-and-superstitions/

http://www.sloughhistoryonline.org.uk/ixbin/hixclient.exe?a=query&p=slough&f=generic_theme.htm&_IXFIRST_=1&_IXMAXHITS_=1&%3Dtheme_record_id=sl-sl-burial&s=Igu7ixb1oCI

http://www.prairieghosts.com/grave_horror.html

Have your own coffins made to order:

http://www.vintagecoffins.com/index.html

When thinking of Victorian Horror, my mind always envisions a cemetery. No matter if it is a horrific story of accidental burial or maybe a grave robbing band of thieves, Highgate Cemetery has always stood out in my mind. Graced in literature, this cemetery was founded in 1839 by Parliamentary action. The act authorized the construction of seven private cemeteries to solve the intolerable burial problems in London. The cemetery has many permanent residences, including such famous people as Karl Marx. If you are planning a trip to London, make sure you take a day and wonder through this historic and mysterious cemetery.

"..theres always room for one more. Any volunteers..."

More info:

http://www.highgate-cemetery.org/index.asp

http://www.highgatecemetery.net/

http://www.tchevalier.com/fallingangels/bckgrnd/cemeteries/

http://www.vintageviews.org/vv-tl/pages/Cem_Symbolism.htm

Steampunk Props

Various Steampunk and other props I created for own outfit detailing.

Airship License

Here is a little prop I developed for my personal Steampunk outfit, an Airship Pilots License.

Discworld Props

Here are some Discworld Props I created for my own personal collection.

Reproduction Victorian Era British and French Banknotes

Reproduction Swiss Banknotes from 1907

Airship Travel Book Prop

Reproduction Banknotes