Rain’s Subterra Shells

Gabriel Rain’s bears the dubious honor of introducing landmines during the Civil War, during the Peninsula Campain.  His Subterra shells used as land mines and booby traps created a bit of a challenge for Union forces.  Click here for an article about Rains and his explosives work. http://maic.jmu.edu/JOURNAL/6.1/notes/robbins/robbins.htm

Rain’s deadly hanywork was put to use at Battery Wagner to fend off the attack by the 54th Massachusett- Rain’s Subterra shells were pressed into service as immense hand grenades.  This along with a heavily entrenched position helps explain the terrible loss of live in the 54th, whose service is recounted in the movie Glory.

Electricity on Show: Spectacular Events in Victorian London

From London’s Science Museum website comes “Electricity on Show” a four part paper detailing science exhibits – particularly electricity related ones -as public entertainment in 19th Century England.  Contains details of a number of interesting exhibitions, including mentions of Tesla and Jacob Perkins, mentioned elsewhere in this blog in connection with his steam gun.

http://www.fathom.com/course/21791714/session1.html

Museum of Retro Tech

The Museum of Retro Tech is a great collection of interesting technology – odd steam engines, early communications devices and more!

http://www.dself.dsl.pipex.com/MUSEUM/museum.htm

Da Vinci Drawings of Siege Engines

Follow this link for some beautiful drawings of siege engines by Leonardo

http://members.iinet.net.au/~rmine/Leonardo.html

Page also includes many interesting links many kinds of siege engines.

Mini Steam the Great Toy Steam Company

Just came across this site – has beautiful models of various kinds of miniature “toy” steam engines – their is nothing “toy” about the prices though =) http://www.ministeam.com/acatalog/shop.html