Saturday, May 26, 2012
Moving!
Hello Friends! I have been absent far too long. However, this blog is now defunct. Please visit my new site over at http://blacksunrenaissance.com/ (All the old posts have been transplanted, so you can still go back and reference them as you like!) The new site will be more broad based, and also a place for my students (present and future) to get information on classes, seminars, and promotions. Please visit, and I'll see you over there!
Sunday, July 17, 2011
Steam Power in the Skies!
Hello Friends!
The hallmark of steampunk, if not toppers and goggles, is the airship. Such a romantic piece of history with so many fantastic dreams attached. What I would like to talk about is the history, a bit of science and engineering, and the different types. Commonly called a dirigible, or luftschiff in the German, it goes back to the 1600s when the first hot air balloons arose. As engineering produced different designs, and the search for powered flight continued, the aerostatic design gave way to the elongated envelopes, tail fins, and directly attached gondolas. The tethered balloons would be relegated to recreation, where the new style was the future. There were three major types that developed: Non-rigid, or blimp, semi-rigid, and rigid (later to become generically known by the German trademark Zeppelin).
You're probably asking for some timelines at this point. At the end of the 1700s the elongated balloon, still tethered to a lower seating platform, saw some hand powered flights via propellers or wings, but it wasn't until 1851 that designs for true powered flight made an appearance at the Great Exhibition, and in 1852 Henri Giffard made the first steam powered flight, for 27 km. In 1872 the first coal-gas powered combustion engine flew in Vienna by Paul Haenlein. It wouldn't be until 1883, more than a decade later, that an electric powered flight would be made, by Gaston Tissandier. A year later, the first fully powered and controllable flight was made by the French Military, piloted by Charles Renard and Arthur Constantin Krebs. The end of the 1800s saw more developments in electric and combustion engine powered airships, but 1900 and the next 4 decades saw the greatest refinement, and, ultimately, the demise of the great sky platform.
It was July of 1900 that saw the launch of the first Zeppelin. Count von Zeppelin began research and experimentation with rigid airships in the 1890s, and his designs became so successful and popular that has name and trademark bacame synonymous with the rigid airship. At the same time, the French were perfecting the semi-rigid designs, headed by Henri Julliot. Many other engineers made contributions in the first decade of the twentieth century, leading up to the first (unsuccessful) attempt at a transatlantic crossing in 1910. It was not long before military applications became apparent.
The Italians first used the dirigible for reconnaissance in 1912, but The Great War saw the first full scale use as scouts and bombers. However, by 1915 their use was in decline as accuracy became an apparent issue. Though they were beyond standard ballistic range, and their design made anti-aircraft damage trivial (holes had little effect on the operation of the craft, including buoyancy) the weather and height proved difficult conditions for success. Then came the invention of incendiary bullets, which proved deadly to the hydrogen filled ships. Their remaining limited use against submarines, and on small, short range missions eventually led them to being replaced entirely by airplanes which proved much more valuable to military purpose.
From the end of the war, and into the 1940s the airships saw great popularity in civilian use, including, finally, transatlantic transport (with the first double transatlantic flight being made in 1919, and 1926 saw the first airship over the north pole.) Military operations, post war, were still searching for a proper use, and saw the construction of several more ships, but they were eventually phased out, except by the Americans in WWII who found one last use for them against submarines. Unfortunately, the 1930s saw several high profile accidents (including the famous Hindenburg explosion of 1937) and by 1947 the general use of the dirigible became obsolete, with niche use continuing into the present for publicity and transport mostly. A few notable moments include the first global circumnavigation by the German Graf Zeppelin (the largest Zeppelin to possibly be built in their facilities, and it also had an enormous safety/success record of 1.6million km without passenger injury) and the 1923 USS Shenandoah, the first dirigible to use helium (still a precious rare gas at the time) instead of hydrogen. The advent of helium would prove insufficient to bring back the popularity of the flying balloons, and before the half century could hit it was a bygone convention.
A couple of notes on the three major types of airship before we close. The older of the three, the non-rigid, is commonly called a blimp (a word of uncertain origin) and has no supporting structure for the gas envelope. There is the semi-rigid ship which typically sports a fixed keel, allowing for larger gas envelopes, and heavier payloads. Finally is the rigid airship, commonly known as the Zeppelin, introduced by Count von Zeppelin 1900, which had a fully ribbed frame, allowing for the largest, and most complex of gas envelope systems, able to carry more sophisticated engines, and much larger payloads. The size and simplicity of blimps allow for cheap production and have found continued small use throughout, but in the 1900s America and Germany pursued the rigid ship, while many countries (including France and Italy) focused on the semi-rigid variety. Eventually, Zeppelins took precedence, and the semi-rigid phased out. One thing they all have in common is a fixed gondola, aft fins, and internal gas envelopes. Of course, they all vary in degrees of complexity based on the refinement of the model, but as a general rule, the more rigid, and larger the dirigible, the more complex its design.
Well, my dear friends, this brings us to a close. The magnificent airship of steampunk legend is an appropriate fixture, if not a little ahead of its time. It boasts all the majesty one could wish for, and with a little imagination, it is capable of so much more. Until next time, good journey!
The hallmark of steampunk, if not toppers and goggles, is the airship. Such a romantic piece of history with so many fantastic dreams attached. What I would like to talk about is the history, a bit of science and engineering, and the different types. Commonly called a dirigible, or luftschiff in the German, it goes back to the 1600s when the first hot air balloons arose. As engineering produced different designs, and the search for powered flight continued, the aerostatic design gave way to the elongated envelopes, tail fins, and directly attached gondolas. The tethered balloons would be relegated to recreation, where the new style was the future. There were three major types that developed: Non-rigid, or blimp, semi-rigid, and rigid (later to become generically known by the German trademark Zeppelin).
You're probably asking for some timelines at this point. At the end of the 1700s the elongated balloon, still tethered to a lower seating platform, saw some hand powered flights via propellers or wings, but it wasn't until 1851 that designs for true powered flight made an appearance at the Great Exhibition, and in 1852 Henri Giffard made the first steam powered flight, for 27 km. In 1872 the first coal-gas powered combustion engine flew in Vienna by Paul Haenlein. It wouldn't be until 1883, more than a decade later, that an electric powered flight would be made, by Gaston Tissandier. A year later, the first fully powered and controllable flight was made by the French Military, piloted by Charles Renard and Arthur Constantin Krebs. The end of the 1800s saw more developments in electric and combustion engine powered airships, but 1900 and the next 4 decades saw the greatest refinement, and, ultimately, the demise of the great sky platform.
It was July of 1900 that saw the launch of the first Zeppelin. Count von Zeppelin began research and experimentation with rigid airships in the 1890s, and his designs became so successful and popular that has name and trademark bacame synonymous with the rigid airship. At the same time, the French were perfecting the semi-rigid designs, headed by Henri Julliot. Many other engineers made contributions in the first decade of the twentieth century, leading up to the first (unsuccessful) attempt at a transatlantic crossing in 1910. It was not long before military applications became apparent.
The Italians first used the dirigible for reconnaissance in 1912, but The Great War saw the first full scale use as scouts and bombers. However, by 1915 their use was in decline as accuracy became an apparent issue. Though they were beyond standard ballistic range, and their design made anti-aircraft damage trivial (holes had little effect on the operation of the craft, including buoyancy) the weather and height proved difficult conditions for success. Then came the invention of incendiary bullets, which proved deadly to the hydrogen filled ships. Their remaining limited use against submarines, and on small, short range missions eventually led them to being replaced entirely by airplanes which proved much more valuable to military purpose.
From the end of the war, and into the 1940s the airships saw great popularity in civilian use, including, finally, transatlantic transport (with the first double transatlantic flight being made in 1919, and 1926 saw the first airship over the north pole.) Military operations, post war, were still searching for a proper use, and saw the construction of several more ships, but they were eventually phased out, except by the Americans in WWII who found one last use for them against submarines. Unfortunately, the 1930s saw several high profile accidents (including the famous Hindenburg explosion of 1937) and by 1947 the general use of the dirigible became obsolete, with niche use continuing into the present for publicity and transport mostly. A few notable moments include the first global circumnavigation by the German Graf Zeppelin (the largest Zeppelin to possibly be built in their facilities, and it also had an enormous safety/success record of 1.6million km without passenger injury) and the 1923 USS Shenandoah, the first dirigible to use helium (still a precious rare gas at the time) instead of hydrogen. The advent of helium would prove insufficient to bring back the popularity of the flying balloons, and before the half century could hit it was a bygone convention.
A couple of notes on the three major types of airship before we close. The older of the three, the non-rigid, is commonly called a blimp (a word of uncertain origin) and has no supporting structure for the gas envelope. There is the semi-rigid ship which typically sports a fixed keel, allowing for larger gas envelopes, and heavier payloads. Finally is the rigid airship, commonly known as the Zeppelin, introduced by Count von Zeppelin 1900, which had a fully ribbed frame, allowing for the largest, and most complex of gas envelope systems, able to carry more sophisticated engines, and much larger payloads. The size and simplicity of blimps allow for cheap production and have found continued small use throughout, but in the 1900s America and Germany pursued the rigid ship, while many countries (including France and Italy) focused on the semi-rigid variety. Eventually, Zeppelins took precedence, and the semi-rigid phased out. One thing they all have in common is a fixed gondola, aft fins, and internal gas envelopes. Of course, they all vary in degrees of complexity based on the refinement of the model, but as a general rule, the more rigid, and larger the dirigible, the more complex its design.
Well, my dear friends, this brings us to a close. The magnificent airship of steampunk legend is an appropriate fixture, if not a little ahead of its time. It boasts all the majesty one could wish for, and with a little imagination, it is capable of so much more. Until next time, good journey!
Saturday, July 16, 2011
I'm Steam-Back!
Hello Dear Friends!
I have been gone a couple of weeks. Life has been quite busy, with as awkward a schedule as I've ever had. Within the next 24-36 hours, you should see a new post, and it will be another piece of history and science, digging deep into the roots of the steampunk movement. Until then, good journey!
I have been gone a couple of weeks. Life has been quite busy, with as awkward a schedule as I've ever had. Within the next 24-36 hours, you should see a new post, and it will be another piece of history and science, digging deep into the roots of the steampunk movement. Until then, good journey!
Thursday, June 23, 2011
Interview With A Gypsy
At the eastern reach of the realm there is a carnival. Among the merchants selling their wares, and the entertainers distracting one from one's purse, there lay a caravan of those who keep the old ways. From within their ranks, I notice a troupe of dancers and crafters. They go by the theatrical name of “The Gypsy Assassins”, and I was granted audience with Dima, a voluptuous temptress, and everything you would expect a young gypsy woman to be. The following transcript is the brief interview I was allowed before she had to go steal the breath of the next audience.
How long have you been bellydancing?
I myself have been bellydancing for about 9 years now. Sabrina has been at it for over 14, and Sophie for 3 1/5 so we have a very wide range as far as experience.
Indeed!
When did your troupe form?
It was actually never a defined moment, more like it grew out of necessity. Sabrina would call on us whenever she needed dancers. We started getting together to create costumes too, and we got along as friends in general. The three of us are all big dorks, dancers, and crafters and pretty soon we formed this very silly, crafty, jingly triumvirate and things just fell into place. In the last year or so is when it really started coming together naturally.
'Seems to be how things work out best.
I myself have been bellydancing for about 9 years now. Sabrina has been at it for over 14, and Sophie for 3 1/5 so we have a very wide range as far as experience.
Indeed!
When did your troupe form?
It was actually never a defined moment, more like it grew out of necessity. Sabrina would call on us whenever she needed dancers. We started getting together to create costumes too, and we got along as friends in general. The three of us are all big dorks, dancers, and crafters and pretty soon we formed this very silly, crafty, jingly triumvirate and things just fell into place. In the last year or so is when it really started coming together naturally.
'Seems to be how things work out best.
The costuming is simply delightful, is it custom work?
We do custom work upon request, but we're trying to also create set costume items as well. We want to make items that are unique and functional but different from what is out there. It's good to have set items to give people an idea of what you can do. That's why we started naming our items things like "Sabrina's Bane" or "Death by Chiffon" to give them a unique character. Actually naming things is half the fun for us. When you create something you get to know it and it has it's own personality and story. So the first time we make a costume item it kind of creates it's own name in the process. From there people can choose to either buy it as is, or customize it to their needs with different colors, fabrics and sizes. We're working on standardizing designs and fabrics now, but in the meantime we can still do this for people as needed. We get a lot of requests for custom sizing which is great! The three of us have very different shapes and we know what it's like having to try to fit petite, busty and plus size! Dancers, like all women, come in all shapes and sizes!
We do custom work upon request, but we're trying to also create set costume items as well. We want to make items that are unique and functional but different from what is out there. It's good to have set items to give people an idea of what you can do. That's why we started naming our items things like "Sabrina's Bane" or "Death by Chiffon" to give them a unique character. Actually naming things is half the fun for us. When you create something you get to know it and it has it's own personality and story. So the first time we make a costume item it kind of creates it's own name in the process. From there people can choose to either buy it as is, or customize it to their needs with different colors, fabrics and sizes. We're working on standardizing designs and fabrics now, but in the meantime we can still do this for people as needed. We get a lot of requests for custom sizing which is great! The three of us have very different shapes and we know what it's like having to try to fit petite, busty and plus size! Dancers, like all women, come in all shapes and sizes!
Wonderful, wonderful! Men certainly love crafty women.
Now, you're a gypsy troupe, so do you travel?
We do! We travel as the three of us, or sometimes we tag along with The Neville Campanye or Corr Thieves two groups which we are honorary members of. It's easy to find travel buddies when you're a troupe of dancing gypsy gals! Eventually we want to have our own caravan and we're working on either building or buying a vardo (gypsy wagon) for traveling and sleeping in and a gypsy tent for lounging while camped. This year we plan to do a lot of traveling to any and every Medieval/Renaissance Faire we can attend and really get out there and meet new people, promote, and have fun!
And to date, what has been your best show?
Our favorite event which we look forward to year round is hands down the New Hampshire Renaissance Faire NHRF in Kingston, NH. We typically dance twice a day and teach Bellydance 101 at this two weekend long event and we have so much fun! Between sets we spend a lot of time playing tricks on others (Specially the Neville and Corr Thieves guys) and causing general mischief. For example, we have no idea how the Neville camp was invaded by pink flamingos overnight. Not a clue. Wasn't us! We've also become rather infamous for creating the "NHRF Men of the Renaissance Calendar" which we sold at auction this year. I've never seen so many terrified men in armor as when we pulled that calendar out! I have the calendar pictures and quotes on my Facebook page for all to see! The first year I did NHRF (I've been there every year since it began) I played a minor role as a gypsy enchantress and was tasked with hypnotising a 6 1/5 foot tall pirate named Maavus from the Corr Thieves group. He became one of my best friends and I've made many friendships at NHRF since then. This year was particularly epic for me, because of a long standing rival I have had with Garreth The Rogue from the Corr Thieves. Every year at the Wench and Lad auction we compete against each other to go for the highest bid. This year we made a bet that if I won he had to give me a scimitar with a custom sheath he had made. If he won I had to give him a kiss. I slaughtered him like I do ever year, but when I took my prize (the sword) I took the kiss too. The crowd loved it! We want to continue work between our group and the Corr Thieves guys (check out the videos on their website, they are awesome!)
Enchanting! I imagine the rogue will not soon forget that encounter.
We do! We travel as the three of us, or sometimes we tag along with The Neville Campanye or Corr Thieves two groups which we are honorary members of. It's easy to find travel buddies when you're a troupe of dancing gypsy gals! Eventually we want to have our own caravan and we're working on either building or buying a vardo (gypsy wagon) for traveling and sleeping in and a gypsy tent for lounging while camped. This year we plan to do a lot of traveling to any and every Medieval/Renaissance Faire we can attend and really get out there and meet new people, promote, and have fun!
And to date, what has been your best show?
Our favorite event which we look forward to year round is hands down the New Hampshire Renaissance Faire NHRF in Kingston, NH. We typically dance twice a day and teach Bellydance 101 at this two weekend long event and we have so much fun! Between sets we spend a lot of time playing tricks on others (Specially the Neville and Corr Thieves guys) and causing general mischief. For example, we have no idea how the Neville camp was invaded by pink flamingos overnight. Not a clue. Wasn't us! We've also become rather infamous for creating the "NHRF Men of the Renaissance Calendar" which we sold at auction this year. I've never seen so many terrified men in armor as when we pulled that calendar out! I have the calendar pictures and quotes on my Facebook page for all to see! The first year I did NHRF (I've been there every year since it began) I played a minor role as a gypsy enchantress and was tasked with hypnotising a 6 1/5 foot tall pirate named Maavus from the Corr Thieves group. He became one of my best friends and I've made many friendships at NHRF since then. This year was particularly epic for me, because of a long standing rival I have had with Garreth The Rogue from the Corr Thieves. Every year at the Wench and Lad auction we compete against each other to go for the highest bid. This year we made a bet that if I won he had to give me a scimitar with a custom sheath he had made. If he won I had to give him a kiss. I slaughtered him like I do ever year, but when I took my prize (the sword) I took the kiss too. The crowd loved it! We want to continue work between our group and the Corr Thieves guys (check out the videos on their website, they are awesome!)
Enchanting! I imagine the rogue will not soon forget that encounter.
What is your favorite part about performing?
For me, I enjoy sharing my love of dance and the music. Middle Eastern music is very foreign to most people and hard for them to feel and understand. I like to think that my dancing helps them to interpret and appreciate it. We also have a lot of fun interacting with the crowd by dancing with the pirates, mesmerizing small children, and embarrassing our friends. Whatever gets people to smile and take photos that will give them fond memories! When someone in the crowd smiles and says something like "Thank you" or "Beautiful!" it makes me so happy!
You're a lovely lass, inquiring fans want to know...
Yes, they are real!
Haha! Indeed!
For me, I enjoy sharing my love of dance and the music. Middle Eastern music is very foreign to most people and hard for them to feel and understand. I like to think that my dancing helps them to interpret and appreciate it. We also have a lot of fun interacting with the crowd by dancing with the pirates, mesmerizing small children, and embarrassing our friends. Whatever gets people to smile and take photos that will give them fond memories! When someone in the crowd smiles and says something like "Thank you" or "Beautiful!" it makes me so happy!
You're a lovely lass, inquiring fans want to know...
Yes, they are real!
Haha! Indeed!
Okay, I want to know personally, is bellydancing really a good workout?
Yes! We work a lot of muscles that just aren't used often in everyday life or repetitive exercise movements. The isolations required for bellydancing teach you to learn to contract specific muscles and muscle groups which helps with body awareness and core strength. We work a lot on posture and that helps in preventing injury and overall confidence. Arms get a work out from being held up and moves like snake arms. Legs take a surprising beating from holding you up while doing the movements. We keep knees bent 99% of the time, which requires the legs to work harder while allowing more freedom of movement. Movements can be sinuous and circular or sharp which uses the muscles in very unique ways. And of course the stomach area is worked, but not always in the way people expect. The abs are used for certain belly movements like belly rolls, but also for overall corr strength. We contract in the abs to add stability to things like backbends. Overall it's great for posture, body awareness, core strength and coordination but you would have to do a LOT of bellydancing to use it as a sole means of weight loss or overall fitness. Like any other dance form cross training is important.
...and my physical culture courses are exactly what they should use!
Yes! We work a lot of muscles that just aren't used often in everyday life or repetitive exercise movements. The isolations required for bellydancing teach you to learn to contract specific muscles and muscle groups which helps with body awareness and core strength. We work a lot on posture and that helps in preventing injury and overall confidence. Arms get a work out from being held up and moves like snake arms. Legs take a surprising beating from holding you up while doing the movements. We keep knees bent 99% of the time, which requires the legs to work harder while allowing more freedom of movement. Movements can be sinuous and circular or sharp which uses the muscles in very unique ways. And of course the stomach area is worked, but not always in the way people expect. The abs are used for certain belly movements like belly rolls, but also for overall corr strength. We contract in the abs to add stability to things like backbends. Overall it's great for posture, body awareness, core strength and coordination but you would have to do a LOT of bellydancing to use it as a sole means of weight loss or overall fitness. Like any other dance form cross training is important.
...and my physical culture courses are exactly what they should use!
So, how has performing in a troupe changed your lifestyle?
I personally have been in two dance groups in my time as a dancer so far. I began in Lotus Moon when I was newer to dancing. It was excellent for me because the regular practices and support of a group of fellow dancers helped me immensely in improving quickly. It was also a great creative outlet to try new things. It took a lot of time and sometimes it was stressful, but overall very much worth it. When the other ladies all moved away I started working more on myself as a soloist. With the Gypsy Assassins we don't do a lot of choreography so I still do a lot of solo dancing or we dance together but unchoreographed. So we get to work a lot on our own style while still having the support of the group. It's also great for me because I tend to befriend males more than females due to my interests, but in dancing I get along with the other women really well so it's a chance for me to form friendships with other women.
Is there anything else you would like to add?
Sure! We are planning to go to a lot of the local renaissance faires this year if anyone out there wants to meet us. Next up is Winslowshire June 25th and 26th we will be camping out with the Neville guys. Friend us (The GypsyAssassins) on Facebook to keep in touch! We're always looking for fellow rennies to connect with. On June 18th we performed at a post apocalypse LARP for ATF Roleplay in Spencer, MA. I'm going to be adding video from the event on our Facebook page as soon as I get a chance. And of course thanks for the interview, it's been fun!
I personally have been in two dance groups in my time as a dancer so far. I began in Lotus Moon when I was newer to dancing. It was excellent for me because the regular practices and support of a group of fellow dancers helped me immensely in improving quickly. It was also a great creative outlet to try new things. It took a lot of time and sometimes it was stressful, but overall very much worth it. When the other ladies all moved away I started working more on myself as a soloist. With the Gypsy Assassins we don't do a lot of choreography so I still do a lot of solo dancing or we dance together but unchoreographed. So we get to work a lot on our own style while still having the support of the group. It's also great for me because I tend to befriend males more than females due to my interests, but in dancing I get along with the other women really well so it's a chance for me to form friendships with other women.
Is there anything else you would like to add?
Sure! We are planning to go to a lot of the local renaissance faires this year if anyone out there wants to meet us. Next up is Winslowshire June 25th and 26th we will be camping out with the Neville guys. Friend us (The GypsyAssassins) on Facebook to keep in touch! We're always looking for fellow rennies to connect with. On June 18th we performed at a post apocalypse LARP for ATF Roleplay in Spencer, MA. I'm going to be adding video from the event on our Facebook page as soon as I get a chance. And of course thanks for the interview, it's been fun!
It certainly has been a treat. I look forward to meeting again, and in the meantime I bid you farewell.
Well, my friends, if you would like to know more about The Gypsy Assassins, head on over to their facebook page, check out their blog, and stop by their Etsy shop for some beautiful handmade garments and accessories! If you happen to be on the east coast, and want to learn how to dance, please stop by Lotus Fire Studios in Rollinsford, NH. Until next time, good journey!
Monday, June 13, 2011
Steam-Pump-Action Shotgun?
Hello Friends!
*You probably didn't notice the poll I had going. I asked you what you wanted me to cover next, and out of a meager three votes, the winner is "History and Science". So today's post is the result of that poll, and is especially for the two of you whose votes won! Keep an eye peeled for the next poll, coming soon.*
The role of firearms in steampunk comes up often. Firearms, so misunderstood, often become over or underpowered in the name of plot or assumed knowledge. As a shotgunner myself, I would like to talk to you about shotguns in the 19th century, and some of the actual developments coming to the turn of the 20th century.
The term shotgun itself was first used in 1776, in Kentucky, USA. With other terms like scatter gun, riot gun, pepper gun, and even fowling piece as appropriate names for the iconic weapon, nothing rings with as great a thunder as "shotgun". Typically a smooth bored barrel and designed to fire shot of various size, including a single, larger projectile, it is a short/medium range gun with an effective range of 50-75 yards depending on the quality of workmanship, and ammunition, with high quality slugs from a rifled barrel (a possible feature even in the Victorian era) reaching an upper effective limit of 100 yards. The shotgun was certainly the weapon of choice for hunters, but also served a significant military role, especially by cavalry troop in the American Civil War. The last few decades of the 19th century saw a decline in military use, however, but they remained a strong presence in law enforcement, home defense, and sport. As iconic to the American frontier as the revolver, it even developed little sister in the coach gun, a shorter barreled version designed to be used from the passenger seat of a stage coach, in tight brush, and other circumstances where a long gun would be disadvantageous. The use of the shotgun in military action would not be redeemed until the Great War, where is served magnificently in the trenches. Since that time, it has found various modifications and uses, and garnered favor among various demographics.
So, what of the technology? Let's start with the basic design. By the Victorian era, muskets and blunderbusses had given way to the more recognizable shotgun. The muskets saw their last tour of duty to the crown in 1838. The break action, breech loading design had taken hold, but it wasn't until the 1860s that cartridges, or shotshells, came on the market. Until that time, the guns were hand loaded, and would take life threatening time to reload in battle, or in the face of a stampeding boar. This led to the double barreled shotgun being a favored design, allowing a second shot before the necessary reload. Another notable innovation was the hammerless firing mechanism. Several designs were put forth in the middle 19th century, but it was the 1875 advent of the boxlock that gained the most success. With its simple design it allowed for cheaper manufacture, and greater reliability. Since its innovation, double barreled shotguns have had little need to adapt, and are still favored by sport shooters. 1880 saw the innovation of the ejecting cartridge, and the first automatic cocking mechanism upon closing the breech.
Enter John Browning. The man who revolutionized firearms in a way no one else could. In 1887 he completed the lever action shotgun. More of a gimmick for Winchester, the company he worked for at the time, he went on to finish his design for the first, more reliable, pump action shotgun (1893). In 1900, the very end of the wild west, and Victorian era, he patented the Browning Auto-5, the first semi-automatic shotgun. The first two decades of the twentieth century saw some astounding firearms innovation, much done by Browning.
Let us backtrack for a moment, to 1884. Up until this point firearms relied on black powder which was loud, smokey, and corrosive, and later, guncotton, which was unstable, and resultingly dangerous. Both produced a number of problems on the battlefield, including unnecessary fatalities. Then the invention of smokeless powder. Smokeless powder proved more powerful than black powder, more stable than guncotton, gave off negligible smoke, and would even burn wet. Beginning its use in France, it swiftly moved into prominence in middle Europe. By 1890 there were patent disputes because several different folks developed chemical variations. Needless to say, this became the standard in ammunition manufacturing.
A final, somewhat random note is that early shotshells were manufactured of brass, with paper shells becoming an option from the 1870s through about 1900. The paper shells had many problems, including dampness and pinholes (which would reduce the effectiveness of the powder burn). This led to brass bases, and wax coated paper to give them a little more reliability. Plastic shells, of course, would not be seen until 100 years after the first, in the 1960s.
So where does this leave us in the world of steampunk? Well, it leaves us with the king of close range combat an option. Depending on the specific date you're meddling in, you could certainly wield a pump action, or even semi-automatic shotgun. Being steampunk, it wouldn't be complete without some clock work or steam-powered anachronistic advances and ornate brass work, but this is technology you could certainly feel good about using in your projects. Me? I'll be taking my coach gun with me into town, just in case some bandits want to rough up the locals. Hell, I even have a gypsy spell engraved inside the barrel for a little extra oomph. Good Journey.
*You probably didn't notice the poll I had going. I asked you what you wanted me to cover next, and out of a meager three votes, the winner is "History and Science". So today's post is the result of that poll, and is especially for the two of you whose votes won! Keep an eye peeled for the next poll, coming soon.*
The role of firearms in steampunk comes up often. Firearms, so misunderstood, often become over or underpowered in the name of plot or assumed knowledge. As a shotgunner myself, I would like to talk to you about shotguns in the 19th century, and some of the actual developments coming to the turn of the 20th century.
The term shotgun itself was first used in 1776, in Kentucky, USA. With other terms like scatter gun, riot gun, pepper gun, and even fowling piece as appropriate names for the iconic weapon, nothing rings with as great a thunder as "shotgun". Typically a smooth bored barrel and designed to fire shot of various size, including a single, larger projectile, it is a short/medium range gun with an effective range of 50-75 yards depending on the quality of workmanship, and ammunition, with high quality slugs from a rifled barrel (a possible feature even in the Victorian era) reaching an upper effective limit of 100 yards. The shotgun was certainly the weapon of choice for hunters, but also served a significant military role, especially by cavalry troop in the American Civil War. The last few decades of the 19th century saw a decline in military use, however, but they remained a strong presence in law enforcement, home defense, and sport. As iconic to the American frontier as the revolver, it even developed little sister in the coach gun, a shorter barreled version designed to be used from the passenger seat of a stage coach, in tight brush, and other circumstances where a long gun would be disadvantageous. The use of the shotgun in military action would not be redeemed until the Great War, where is served magnificently in the trenches. Since that time, it has found various modifications and uses, and garnered favor among various demographics.
So, what of the technology? Let's start with the basic design. By the Victorian era, muskets and blunderbusses had given way to the more recognizable shotgun. The muskets saw their last tour of duty to the crown in 1838. The break action, breech loading design had taken hold, but it wasn't until the 1860s that cartridges, or shotshells, came on the market. Until that time, the guns were hand loaded, and would take life threatening time to reload in battle, or in the face of a stampeding boar. This led to the double barreled shotgun being a favored design, allowing a second shot before the necessary reload. Another notable innovation was the hammerless firing mechanism. Several designs were put forth in the middle 19th century, but it was the 1875 advent of the boxlock that gained the most success. With its simple design it allowed for cheaper manufacture, and greater reliability. Since its innovation, double barreled shotguns have had little need to adapt, and are still favored by sport shooters. 1880 saw the innovation of the ejecting cartridge, and the first automatic cocking mechanism upon closing the breech.
Enter John Browning. The man who revolutionized firearms in a way no one else could. In 1887 he completed the lever action shotgun. More of a gimmick for Winchester, the company he worked for at the time, he went on to finish his design for the first, more reliable, pump action shotgun (1893). In 1900, the very end of the wild west, and Victorian era, he patented the Browning Auto-5, the first semi-automatic shotgun. The first two decades of the twentieth century saw some astounding firearms innovation, much done by Browning.
Let us backtrack for a moment, to 1884. Up until this point firearms relied on black powder which was loud, smokey, and corrosive, and later, guncotton, which was unstable, and resultingly dangerous. Both produced a number of problems on the battlefield, including unnecessary fatalities. Then the invention of smokeless powder. Smokeless powder proved more powerful than black powder, more stable than guncotton, gave off negligible smoke, and would even burn wet. Beginning its use in France, it swiftly moved into prominence in middle Europe. By 1890 there were patent disputes because several different folks developed chemical variations. Needless to say, this became the standard in ammunition manufacturing.
A final, somewhat random note is that early shotshells were manufactured of brass, with paper shells becoming an option from the 1870s through about 1900. The paper shells had many problems, including dampness and pinholes (which would reduce the effectiveness of the powder burn). This led to brass bases, and wax coated paper to give them a little more reliability. Plastic shells, of course, would not be seen until 100 years after the first, in the 1960s.
So where does this leave us in the world of steampunk? Well, it leaves us with the king of close range combat an option. Depending on the specific date you're meddling in, you could certainly wield a pump action, or even semi-automatic shotgun. Being steampunk, it wouldn't be complete without some clock work or steam-powered anachronistic advances and ornate brass work, but this is technology you could certainly feel good about using in your projects. Me? I'll be taking my coach gun with me into town, just in case some bandits want to rough up the locals. Hell, I even have a gypsy spell engraved inside the barrel for a little extra oomph. Good Journey.
Saturday, June 11, 2011
The Steampunk Strongman!
Hello Friends!
I mentioned previously that I would "later" write about the place of the strongman and physical culture in steampunk. Well, now is later, and I shall illustrate this most important aspect. Physical culture not only belongs in steampunk because it was and emerging and popular trend during the mid-to-late 19th century, but because strength and ability are indeed a must for the intrepid adventurer and explorer.
As a quick recap, what is physical culture? It is the concept of physical education as set in the 19th (and early 20th) century. Physical culture included many schools of thought and many methods, all ranging from simple posture and breathing to rugged military drills, and everything in between. The concept of exercise separate from lifestyle, and as a lifestyle came largely from the observation that as affluence grew, so did ill health. The activities and diets of our struggling selves had kept us relatively strong, and with new, foreign foods becoming more available, and with work being mechanized and eased, people started becoming flabby as a regular trait (something that has continued to today.) Of course, there were a great many things they did not know, and much we still do not know, so the search for a more precise understanding of the human being continues.
Now, where does this all fit in with steampunk? Indeed, many places. Let us look at a few reasons and examples to illustrate this point. First, in the world of industrial fantasy, you have far more than just clockwork machinery and steam power. Man power still existed as a necessity. From the rural countryside, to the boiler rooms in the factories, strength of body was necessary to heave bushels of produce and lug massive wrenches and kettles. The bodies of the labor class would be made of the very iron they worked on. And the military class, putting the overly extravagant works to use, would be packing dozens of extra pounds to their bodies in the name of dominance. The noble class? They would not be seen as sickly in comparison to their subjects (though, historically, they were every bit as sickly.) They would take up leisure activity, hunting, boxing and other sport. All of this demand would lead worthy (and many unworthy) instructors to supply. The military, lettered expeditioners, and noble sportsmen would be first in line for the uptake of exercise, sport, and combat instruction. The labor class would be relegated to carnival stuntmen, and market square performers. This area would be most open to the charlatans taking advantage. The snake oil salesmen selling opiates, poisons, and placebos as health tonics, the illegitimate strongmen hefting empty bells, and the sweet talking performers selling convenient devices to shape them up in minutes a day!
Perhaps, though, there would be enthusiasts simply seeking a quiet life who would take on one or two students out of some bond or kinship. Not all instructors belonged to the circus, military, or royal academies. No, there were certainly the quiet strongmen who put their muscle to use working on the great boilers, and spinning cogs, who aided the farmers in the harvest in exchange for a simple meal. You see, strength and ability do not require grand display, and there are many who would not seek fame.
If I may continue with this limited listing, there is then my favorite type of strongman, the one of the wild. The explorer and adventurer. The great traveling hunter, archaeologist, geologist, or even reporter. Those who traveled the world through personal riches, jobs and commissions, and even military charters understood the need for a fit body. One could simply not hunt in the jungles of Africa, investigate the Central American native ruins, and dig the Gobi Desert without a modicum of fitness. Many of these men (and women) would be up on their boxing and wrestling, be accustomed to hefting weighted loads of gear and supplies, long treks through uncivilized routes, running from predators, chasing down prey, etc. It was a life to be reckoned with, and those who survived were as cast of marble as the ancient Greek statues. Those well-enough-to-do would carry membership to known academies, while the lucky peasantry would be forged from a life of labor. There would certainly be dabbling in foreign cultural practices, such as those of India and China under the Crown, or of the Native Americans, and immigrant infusion in the Union, and on the frontier. A wonderful real world example of this is Georges Hebert, a French Navy-man, who saw native Africans escaping from a natural disaster, once gave this quote:
Their bodies were splendid, flexible, nimble, skillful, enduring, resistant and yet they had no other tutor in gymnastics but their lives in nature.
Combining the gymnastic practices of the day with a regimen of moves based on the necessities of survival, he created the Natural Method, the prime tenet of which is:
This lineage survives today through military practices world wide, and the popular parkour movement. This kind of strength and training would be most greatly employed by the intrepid explorer, either by rote, or by instinct and lifestyle. His life might be made simpler by auto rifles, steam chariots, clockwork investigative lenses, but his body would be old fashioned sinew and bone. A strength belied by his frame, and an ability unmatched by the noble savants. This the the realm in which I play, and live. I employ the wild strength of the mountain and forest, and of the trained hands and feet. What is your strength? Are you the quiet doctor who performs his daily routine upon waking, or perhaps of the gentry studying at the academies? Do you belong to the carnival or circus, or perhaps just a laboring hand earning his way through work? Please, tell me your strength, leave a comment, and join the discussion. Good Journey.
I mentioned previously that I would "later" write about the place of the strongman and physical culture in steampunk. Well, now is later, and I shall illustrate this most important aspect. Physical culture not only belongs in steampunk because it was and emerging and popular trend during the mid-to-late 19th century, but because strength and ability are indeed a must for the intrepid adventurer and explorer.
As a quick recap, what is physical culture? It is the concept of physical education as set in the 19th (and early 20th) century. Physical culture included many schools of thought and many methods, all ranging from simple posture and breathing to rugged military drills, and everything in between. The concept of exercise separate from lifestyle, and as a lifestyle came largely from the observation that as affluence grew, so did ill health. The activities and diets of our struggling selves had kept us relatively strong, and with new, foreign foods becoming more available, and with work being mechanized and eased, people started becoming flabby as a regular trait (something that has continued to today.) Of course, there were a great many things they did not know, and much we still do not know, so the search for a more precise understanding of the human being continues.
Now, where does this all fit in with steampunk? Indeed, many places. Let us look at a few reasons and examples to illustrate this point. First, in the world of industrial fantasy, you have far more than just clockwork machinery and steam power. Man power still existed as a necessity. From the rural countryside, to the boiler rooms in the factories, strength of body was necessary to heave bushels of produce and lug massive wrenches and kettles. The bodies of the labor class would be made of the very iron they worked on. And the military class, putting the overly extravagant works to use, would be packing dozens of extra pounds to their bodies in the name of dominance. The noble class? They would not be seen as sickly in comparison to their subjects (though, historically, they were every bit as sickly.) They would take up leisure activity, hunting, boxing and other sport. All of this demand would lead worthy (and many unworthy) instructors to supply. The military, lettered expeditioners, and noble sportsmen would be first in line for the uptake of exercise, sport, and combat instruction. The labor class would be relegated to carnival stuntmen, and market square performers. This area would be most open to the charlatans taking advantage. The snake oil salesmen selling opiates, poisons, and placebos as health tonics, the illegitimate strongmen hefting empty bells, and the sweet talking performers selling convenient devices to shape them up in minutes a day!
Perhaps, though, there would be enthusiasts simply seeking a quiet life who would take on one or two students out of some bond or kinship. Not all instructors belonged to the circus, military, or royal academies. No, there were certainly the quiet strongmen who put their muscle to use working on the great boilers, and spinning cogs, who aided the farmers in the harvest in exchange for a simple meal. You see, strength and ability do not require grand display, and there are many who would not seek fame.
If I may continue with this limited listing, there is then my favorite type of strongman, the one of the wild. The explorer and adventurer. The great traveling hunter, archaeologist, geologist, or even reporter. Those who traveled the world through personal riches, jobs and commissions, and even military charters understood the need for a fit body. One could simply not hunt in the jungles of Africa, investigate the Central American native ruins, and dig the Gobi Desert without a modicum of fitness. Many of these men (and women) would be up on their boxing and wrestling, be accustomed to hefting weighted loads of gear and supplies, long treks through uncivilized routes, running from predators, chasing down prey, etc. It was a life to be reckoned with, and those who survived were as cast of marble as the ancient Greek statues. Those well-enough-to-do would carry membership to known academies, while the lucky peasantry would be forged from a life of labor. There would certainly be dabbling in foreign cultural practices, such as those of India and China under the Crown, or of the Native Americans, and immigrant infusion in the Union, and on the frontier. A wonderful real world example of this is Georges Hebert, a French Navy-man, who saw native Africans escaping from a natural disaster, once gave this quote:
Their bodies were splendid, flexible, nimble, skillful, enduring, resistant and yet they had no other tutor in gymnastics but their lives in nature.
Combining the gymnastic practices of the day with a regimen of moves based on the necessities of survival, he created the Natural Method, the prime tenet of which is:
The final goal of physical education is to make strong beings. In the purely physical sense, the Natural Method promotes the qualities of organic resistance, muscularity and speed, towards being able to walk, run, jump, move on all fours, to climb, to keep balance, to throw, lift, defend yourself and to swim.
In the "virile" or energetic sense, the system consists in having sufficient energy, willpower, courage, coolness, and firmness.
In the moral sense, education, by elevating the emotions, directs or maintains the moral drive in a useful and beneficial way.
The true Natural Method, in its broadest sense, must be considered as the result of these three particular forces; it is a physical, virile and moral synthesis. It resides not only in the muscles and the breath, but above all in the "energy" which is used, the will which directs it and the feeling which guides it.
This lineage survives today through military practices world wide, and the popular parkour movement. This kind of strength and training would be most greatly employed by the intrepid explorer, either by rote, or by instinct and lifestyle. His life might be made simpler by auto rifles, steam chariots, clockwork investigative lenses, but his body would be old fashioned sinew and bone. A strength belied by his frame, and an ability unmatched by the noble savants. This the the realm in which I play, and live. I employ the wild strength of the mountain and forest, and of the trained hands and feet. What is your strength? Are you the quiet doctor who performs his daily routine upon waking, or perhaps of the gentry studying at the academies? Do you belong to the carnival or circus, or perhaps just a laboring hand earning his way through work? Please, tell me your strength, leave a comment, and join the discussion. Good Journey.
Wednesday, June 8, 2011
Trousers or Pants?
Hello Friends!
I was once told, "Men wear trousers, women wear pants!" Certainly, I had to check the veracity of that statement, and these are my findings:
Trousers is a 16th century word derived from a combination of the word "trews" and "drawers". Of course, you know what drawers are. It is simply a term denoting leggings that are drawn up. However, I needed to dig a bit deeper to find out what trews were. The word is derived the Scottish "triubhas", or French "trebus". Triubhas, or trews, are close fitting tartan trousers, especially worn by select Scottish regiments.
Now, what about pants? Pants has a simpler story. Pants is short for pantaloons, which is in turn a French derivative of the Venetian "Pantaleone", a name of a favored Venetian saint from the fourth century. So what does that have to do with clothing? Venetians were known for popularizing a style of close fitting leggings, and so the clothing became synonymous with them. Interestingly enough, the term "pants" became popular (along with the style) in the middle 19th century.
What remains is the question, "Are pants for women?" Well, in a word, no. There is no gender role assigned to either term. Of course, in proper Victorian, or 19th century American society, the grand majority of women would be wearing dresses, and be expected to wear dresses. The lines drawn against the sexes were certainly far stricter than today.
We are not, however, living in Victorian England, nor on the frontier. In fact, the majority of us are just seeking the flavor of the era to set in our fantasy. Then there are those like me who are looking to develop a lifestyle largely based in the principles of the steampunk genre. In steampunk, it is simple to find a woman wearing a pant suit as a business owner, or trendy woman on the town, however, this does not in any way delineate the terms. No, The choice is yours. Are you a stickler for the old ways, a pastoral laborer? Trousers is yours. Are you trendy and cosmopolitan, like a Victorian Londoner? You'd be wearing pants. Of course, there are other terms (breeches/britches, knickers, slacks...) but this article is about that one debate which fired my mind for a time. Me? I prefer trousers, as I have no need for Venetians hugging my ass. Good Journey.
I was once told, "Men wear trousers, women wear pants!" Certainly, I had to check the veracity of that statement, and these are my findings:
Trousers is a 16th century word derived from a combination of the word "trews" and "drawers". Of course, you know what drawers are. It is simply a term denoting leggings that are drawn up. However, I needed to dig a bit deeper to find out what trews were. The word is derived the Scottish "triubhas", or French "trebus". Triubhas, or trews, are close fitting tartan trousers, especially worn by select Scottish regiments.
Now, what about pants? Pants has a simpler story. Pants is short for pantaloons, which is in turn a French derivative of the Venetian "Pantaleone", a name of a favored Venetian saint from the fourth century. So what does that have to do with clothing? Venetians were known for popularizing a style of close fitting leggings, and so the clothing became synonymous with them. Interestingly enough, the term "pants" became popular (along with the style) in the middle 19th century.
What remains is the question, "Are pants for women?" Well, in a word, no. There is no gender role assigned to either term. Of course, in proper Victorian, or 19th century American society, the grand majority of women would be wearing dresses, and be expected to wear dresses. The lines drawn against the sexes were certainly far stricter than today.
We are not, however, living in Victorian England, nor on the frontier. In fact, the majority of us are just seeking the flavor of the era to set in our fantasy. Then there are those like me who are looking to develop a lifestyle largely based in the principles of the steampunk genre. In steampunk, it is simple to find a woman wearing a pant suit as a business owner, or trendy woman on the town, however, this does not in any way delineate the terms. No, The choice is yours. Are you a stickler for the old ways, a pastoral laborer? Trousers is yours. Are you trendy and cosmopolitan, like a Victorian Londoner? You'd be wearing pants. Of course, there are other terms (breeches/britches, knickers, slacks...) but this article is about that one debate which fired my mind for a time. Me? I prefer trousers, as I have no need for Venetians hugging my ass. Good Journey.
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