June 3, 201213 yr comment_4340 I've had this wooden box for at least 20 years, with the intention of doing something interesting with it, but have never found the right inspiration: I can't even remember where I got it from, but I do remember that it was an instrument box that housed a high voltage rheostat. The large hole in the front housed the dial and the two smaller holes either side housed the positive and negative terminals. I can't remember what the holes on the side or top were for. It didn't look the polished and aged Cherry Wood (that I think it is), as it was pretty shabby and cleaning things up was my first priority. But after that, it's just travelled along with our moves and not progressed further. Steampunk only came to my attention recently, so it's something Steampunk that it has to become. My current ideas are: 1. Power Supply 2. Hard Drive Housing It has to be a functional, working, device and not just an ornament, even if that's what it might end up being. The first idea is currently my favourite, as it would complement the Olympus Electric Macroscope I showed earlier and power the intervalometer, which runs off a 12V power supply. The box would be able to house a couple of 12V Li-Ion batteries that Jaycar sells and then it would need a gauge, switches and whatever else to give it that Steampunk look. The second idea is for it to house one or two hard drives (laptop ones) and for it to become a Steampunk NAS box, basically cannibalise and existing NAS and add whatever is needed to make it look Steampunk. But then I'd almost be committed to turn my computer setup into an equivalent Steampunk system to match. I don't have the skills or workshop resources to do what some of the gurus have done and a half-arsed effort is worse than none. The internal measurements of the box are: 100D x 120W x 140H; so whatever it becomes, components have to fit within those dimensions. Ideas are welcome. Cheers Ray Report
June 3, 201213 yr comment_4355 To me it looks like an old wind up toy box of some sort... Ballerina maybe.. I like the portable HDD box if that'll work.. Imagine the movies and maps you could take with ya.. Report
June 3, 201213 yr comment_4371 Damn thats an awesome idea, I'm gonna do a steampunk Hackintosh! Edited June 3, 201213 yr by heyhey Report
June 3, 201213 yr Author comment_4377 I could actually fit one of those micro-PCs in the box, but I don't know if I need another PC. A DVD player is too big for this box. Cheers Ray Report
June 3, 201213 yr Author comment_4379 That's not Steampunk! It has to be something functional that embodies 21st century technology, but wrapped in an 18-19th century cover (the Steampunk that I want to build anyway). Here's a Steampunk laptop that someone made: Or a Steampunk mobile phone: Cheers Ray Edited June 3, 201213 yr by Ray! Report
June 4, 201213 yr comment_4388 That's not Steampunk! It has to be something functional that embodies 21st century technology, but wrapped in an 18-19th century cover. Cheers Ray Function - holds remotes in a neat lil box 21st century technology - plasma remote, set top box remote 18-19th century cover - your box.. Report
June 4, 201213 yr Author comment_4389 Function - holds remotes in a neat lil box 21st century technology - plasma remote, set top box remote 18-19th century cover - your box.. Yes, I know, but that's simply too easy. You could use a 19th century spitoon for the same thing. Cheers Ray Report
June 4, 201213 yr comment_4404 . A DVD player is too big for this box. Cheers Ray Think outside the box! Don't but a DVD player in the box, just the working part from a DVD player?? Report
June 4, 201213 yr comment_4409 I went to a phone shop the other day with my son to have his repaired. I couldn't believe how tacky and over the top some of the cases were not that people would actually buy them. Talk about cheap and crappy! The one above.... Awesome! That would stick it up a few of bling Brigade. Imagine going to a phone shop with the steampunk one. They would go nuts for that !!! Report
June 4, 201213 yr Author comment_4411 A DVD player mechanism, the tray, won't fit within the dimensions of the box. I thought of a camera, but I'm also considering finding an old bellows camera and converting it to a digital one. Cheers Ray Report
June 4, 201213 yr comment_4413 Yeah sorry ray. Just looked at measurements of box again and yeah it is small. What about a GPS unit? Report
June 4, 201213 yr Author comment_4416 A GPS is a bit of an expensive thing to pull apart and it's not going to really serve much purpose inside the house. I want to use the box for something that could serve some practical use in the house, but also perhaps be a talking piece. That's why I thought of the power supply, as the bits involved are pretty simple and it's not difficult to get bits and pieces fairly cheaply and it complements the OEM. But I just don't want to lock myself in, in case there's a better idea. Cheers Ray Report
June 4, 201213 yr Author comment_4418 Could you fit a modem in it? That's a good idea. It would sit nicely and look quite good where my current modem resides. if I'll have a look into that. Cheers Ray Report
June 5, 201213 yr Author comment_4424 The hub wouldn't work, as it'd take up too much space and reside with my PC and just look out of place. As for a phone, I'd actually prefer one of those genuine, old style, wall mounted phones with the rotary dial etc. Cheers Ray Report
June 5, 201213 yr comment_4432 It's a nice old box. Made when there was a pride in products and quality was a a concern as well as a selling point. I don't have any suggestions what to do with it only to suggest whatever it is, make ure it will stand the test of time and not be something that you modify the box for then in 5 years it's obsolete. Something like this deserves to be round a lot longer. Report
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