Steampunk-o-phone

When my friend Jeff mentioned a steam-powered record player last week I had to check it out and see for myself.  This is perhaps old news in some circles, but I feel compelled to share it here on Timbreleaf.  Simon Jansen's creation is far from fit for audiophiles, and indeed for anyone who actually wants to hear music...but it does work, is a bit insane, and I love it (further evidence that I am a geek).

Photo by Simon Jansen

You can read up on the basics of how it was made here.  Essentially, steam provides the power for the motor and the speed of the turntable is regulated by a servo-driven throttle that is controlled by a single-board microcontroller.  Control loop feedback is implemented with a coil to sense a set of magnets fixed to the spinning platter.  On first glance I thought of Seth Chatfield, a local artist here in New Hampshire.  Not only would he love this, but it would look right at home next to a few of his interesting creations.

Thrifty Instincts

Some months ago I picked up an old disheveled record cabinet from Murray's in Peterborough.  It was somewhat abused and seems to be amateurly hand made: a bit wobbly and covered in wax candle drippings...a hippy artifact of yesteryear?  It had far too much character to pass up.  Since then it has been my on and off again project.  I disassembled it to removed the sliding doors, sanded it down to the bare wood, double stained it, smoothed the finish, painted the feet black, double matte sealed it, reinstalled the doors, and tightened things up a bit to eliminate the wobble.  I never took a before picture when it was all the color of the inside portion, but here's what it looks like now in English Chestnut...

She still needs a few extra finishing nails and maybe some wood glue, but I am very pleased with the results for my total of ~$20.