Steampunk Gear, Gadgets, and Gizmos: A Maker's Guide to Creating Modern Artifacts

Chapter 6Calibrated Indicator Gauges

We made the controls of the Ornithoptic Boarding Conveyance as simple as possible. As not to confuse our Marines with a great many numbers, which they would not understand anyway, the pressure gauge indicator has only three values: Falling (pressure too low, please adjust), Flying (pressure just right), and Dead (pressure too high but no need for further adjustment). We recommend the Marines try and keep the pressure at “Flying” whenever possible.

—From transcript of Col. Waiselthorpe testimony,during the Air-Admiralty’s inquest of the “O.B.C Affair”and review of the Areo-Naval BoardingActions Handbook by Col. Waiselthorpe

Through constant and continuous scouring of local flea markets, antique shops, and ...