STEAMPUNK
'Musical Instruments'
In this display, the focus is on ‘Steampunk Musical Instruments’ that will be loosely defined, leaving lots of opening for creativity and an eclectic approach for using a broad and diverse range of resources. Bands that are associated with Steampunk music, often incorporate handcrafted one-of-kind instruments, such as Kevin Heffernan’s ‘Route 66’ guitar, featuring car auto parts, signs, brass, leather, and even keys and an ignition. Sometimes various combinations of instruments from other ensembles or cultures are employed in Steampunk bands, such as Scottish Bagpipes, a Russian Balalaika, the Western European Classical Cello, or a Chinese Pipa. Nevertheless, their music appears to be more about a narrative than a genre of music.
Another group of ‘Steampunk Musical instruments’ in this display take you into the world of imagination with some uncommonly peculiar looking instruments. The goal of these Steampunk stylized instruments is to explore a range of curious reconfigured shapes, attachments, uses, and sound possibilities, sometimes different than what the original instruments addressed.
This is a most unique Steampunk guitar, with its combination of vintage parts from old cars, vintage equipment, a metal Route 66 sign as the pickguard, leather and even a built in ignition with a key that works as a kill switch.
‘Route 66 Steampunk Guitar’
Artist: Kevin Heffernan (KLH Custom Relics)
Noblesville, Indiana
Metal, glass
ca. 2016
Length: 29 in
The most notable artifact is a big V8 hood ornament with a red pearlescent eye. It also has a highly flamed maple neck with arrow carving on the volute.
In June, 1973, Mr. Maier, a high school humanities teacher at Jennings High School, was featured and recorded playing this instrument on the CBS “On the Road with Charles Kuralt” Show.
‘Hungarian Officers Korps Signal (HOKS) Horn’
Artist: John (‘Jack’) E. Maier
St. Louis, Missouri
Metal
ca. 1972-1973
Length: 15.25 in, Bells diameter: 4.75 in
There are six valves, one for playing each of the six bells. John Maier also authored, “Bizarre Brass of Four Millenniums or, Arcane Artifacts and Indigenous Instruments.”(1982)
Steampunk ‘Full Size – Clockwork’ Violin
Artist: Lisa Talbott
Nashville, Tennessee
Wood, metal, Leather
2000s
Length: 23 inches
A full size 4/4 violin, retrofitted for the steampunk universe with vintage brass gears, copper tubing, clockwork parts, and steampunked bow.
‘Phonofiddle’
Artist: Unknown
Possibly Romania
Wood, metal
1980s
Length: 23.5 in
This steampunk style violin is modeled on quite an old design patented in London, in 1899 by John Matthias Augustus Stroh and known in the whole world as the Stroh violin. Mr. Stroh had the idea of combining the violin with a metallic horn based on the same working principle of the gramophone to serve as an amplifier.
‘Egyptian Hydrolic Trumpet’
Artist: John (‘Jack’) E. Maier
St. Louis, Missouri
Metal
ca. 1975
Length: 24 in
Provenance of the John Maier Horn Collection. This configuration with brass mouthpiece is a 3-valve instrument with parts from baritone horn and trumpet.
‘Horn-Bell Trumbonium’
Artist: John (‘Jack’) E. Maier
St. Louis, Missouri
Metal
ca. 1972-1973
Length: 41 in, Bell diameter: 12 in
This bell-back horn, is another in the series of Civil War hybrids. It is featured in ‘Bizarre Brass of Four Millenniums or, Arcane Artifacts and Indigenous Instruments by John E. Maier (1982)
This free-reed Steampunk style instrument is known as the ‘goofus.’ The reeds inside the mouthpiece cap vibrates when the player blows and presses the desired keys.
Cousenophone ‘Goofus’
Couesnon & Cie
Paris, France
Metal
1924
Length: 21 in
Some may describe it as a mouth-blown accordion. Its piston-like keys are arranged in a similar manner to the keys of a piano. While shaped like a saxophone, which is monophonic, the ‘goofus’ is a polyphonic instrument with more than one sound produced simultaneously.
‘BMW’ Neon Sign Logo Guitar
Artist: Unknown
Germany
Wood, metal, plastic
1990s
Length: 30.5 in; Width: 12 in
This is a custom-made neon sign fully functioning electric guitar with cord jack and volume control knob. The peg head displays the BMW logo and reads: ‘The Ultimate Driving Machine.’
‘Serpentine Pedalphone’
Artist: John (‘Jack’) E. Maier
St. Louis, Missouri
Metal, leather, rubber, cloth
ca. 1972-1973
Length: 12 feet
In June, 1973, Mr. Maier, a high school humanities teacher at Jennings High School, was featured and recorded playing this instrument on the CBS “On the Road with Charles Kuralt” Show. John Maier also authored, “Bizarre Brass of Four Millenniums or, Arcane Artifacts and Indigenous Instruments.”(1982)