Kinetic Steam Works: artifacts of clockwork modernity.
Xeni visits the home of Kinetic Steam Works, a group of retro-tech industrial artisans who "repurpose the artifacts of clockwork modernity," and bring new life to very old steam engines. In doing so, they preserve what many consider a dying form of technology. From the group's description of its work:
What we found were machines, simple and intricate, that blurred the line between art and industry, kinetic masterpieces created during an era of diabolical innovation and gleeful invention. The steam engine embodied the ideologies, desires and dreams of its era, of Jules Verne and H.G. Wells, a bright and shining future where technology was built by hand. They were the aspirational finned cars and rockets of their day. Most recently, steam's fantastic has been represented by romantic industrial arts and the literary movements of retro sci-fi, steampunk, and gothic neo-Victorianism. The arch modernity of the steam driven Industrial Revolution is a powerful metaphor that explores our present and future through the nostalgic and dystopic past.Special thanks to Josh Keppel and Mark Oltz for additional footage of these steampunk machine beauties in action.
the latest
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2:06 "You smell good by the way."
2:06:02 "You smell like oil."
:D
As always, enjoy the show.
These steam traction engines have an amazing amount of power. They develop maximum torque at 0 rpm, which means the slower they go the more they "dig in".
I'm a licensed hobbyist engineer, I get to play at WMSTR every year. These old tractors will PULL. We will enter a little 50hp Case in a tractor pull and run full pulls nonstop.
Here's a vid of a 120hp Rumley tractor developing 3,000+ ft-lb of torque on a Prony brake: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jFGmGk7WgNg&feature=related
What these guys are doing is nice, but I grew up in the midwest, and every fall there are "threshing bees" where steam power enthusiasts (read: farmers) celebrate old tractor technology. To present this as some kind of dying art that needs preservation by geeky city-folk is just plain silly. If you really want to learn about steam powered technology and the impact it had on our society, I suggest you spend some time with the people that grow your food.
ummmm... the director of KSW grew up on a farm with steam equipment. There entire crew visits other steam events including the big show Rushville Indiana. Most of them help out with other steam groups too. So relax, it's seems like it's all for the love and respect of steam.