Anyone who was a fan of The 8th Doctor's TARDIS in the 1996 TV Movie, will simply love the mind-blowing Steampunk clocks by Bad Dog Designs.
We found out about Bad Dog Designs through some of DWO's visitors who asked us if we know where to buy them. After a bit of digging around, we got in touch with Paul Parry who designs the fantastic contraptions, to find out more.
Of particular interest was their 'Gemini' clock, and Paul told us a bit more about it:
"'Gemini In Tempore' Latin for 'Twins in Time' - this is a Steampunk Dual time Nixie clock with a running Steam engine and of course steam. The Nixie tube displays were the fore-runner of the LED and LCD displays we have now, popular in the 1960's and early 1970's. No longer commercially produced but have a mesmerising quality in operation as each digit is stacked on top of the other inside, so the numbers jump backwards and forwards as the digits change.
The clock also has 2 Dekatrons which were used to count and divide electrical signals in early computers, which are controlled by 2 brass knobs on the top of the clock. Situated in the centre of the clock is a gyroscope, taken from a WWII spitfire that is geared to rotate at 1 rpm. On top is a Steam beam engine, driven by a discreet electric motor, and to the LHS of the clock is a steam generator that is fed from a water reservoir inside the brass housing, and finally top RHS is a Nixie display for Temperature and Humidity.
The clock can be programmed to shut itself off at night and power down all the motors, and wake up again in the morning.
On a technical note - the clock contains 4 microprocessors, 2 variable speed drives, 3 voltage converter / power supply units. The Steam is actually vaporised water using a piezo transducer so there is no heat or smoke involved. The clock started life as a 1942 Volt / Amp meter and the build took me approximately 3 months from initial request to finished piece."
Watch a promotional video for the Gemini clock, below:
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[Source: Bad Dog Designs]
