Feeling a little dazed by the pace of change these days? Perhaps a little wistful for simpler computing times gone by? Then feast your eyes on Wozniak’s Conundrum, a wonderful – and working – steampunk marriage of a 1991 era Macintosh and an 1897 Remington typewriter.
Wozniak’s Conundrum is the charming work of Steve La Riccia. The keyboard comes from a 114 year old Standard Model 7 Remington typewriter, the information workhorse of its day. Since typewriters don’t have Return keys, La Riccia used the cartridge release (carriage return) lever for this task – a fitting analog!
The Mac runs System 7.5, and the multi-generational hybrid includes a modified telegraph key mouse, a wind-up 56k modem built from old telephone parts, and a floppy disk drive. The requisite miniature steam engine geneator is located along the left side.
Steve’s steampunk Mac represents a three month labor of love, and is currently on display at The Mac Store in Eugene, Oregon. And there’s no chance that it’s Lion compatible!
[via Gizmowatch]
Adam Rosen is an Apple certified IT consultant specializing in Macintosh systems new and old. He lives in Boston with two cats and too many possessions. In addition to membership in the Cult of Mac, Adam has written for Low End Mac and is curator of the Vintage Mac Museum. He also enjoys a good libation.
10 responses to “Wozniak’s Conundrum – A Working Steampunk Marriage of Mac and Typewriter”
Interesting.
Upgrade to 7.6! Keeping it at 7.5 is such a horrible thing to do!
It’s beautiful!
wow… marriage between the past and the future. awkward + sexy.
I videod Steve giving a demo of
“Wozniak’s Conundrum”. Steve likes my video better than the Mac
store video. Here’s the link to my
video.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v…