Steampunk, Past and Present

Brian Braiker / Web Exclusive

See that thing to the left? You might be forgiven for thinking it's a music box. You'd certainly have no way of knowing that it's a laptop. But pry it open, turn the key and the thing boots up. It looks like it was beamed here from some alternate Victorian past, one where computers were as commonplace as monocles. And that’s the point: This modified machine is a prime example of the growing do-it-yourself garage hacker aesthetic known as "steampunk." The movement's a nod to an era when technology was open-source, less cold and simply beautiful. Although more clunky than today's disposable gadgets, steampunk's finest hacks and mods pay homage to a time before electricity, when all was steam-powered, gear-propelled and built to last. Keep clicking for a tour through the fantastic world of steampunk, past and present.