Just beautiful objects
Discussion
I haven't seen any threads like this, so I thought I'd start one. A thread for pictures (and descriptions) of simply beautiful bits of design and crafting.
I'll start with this example:
The “Studley" Tool Chest
Master craftsman Henry O. Studley (1838-1925) was an organ and piano maker, carpenter, and mason. He is best known for building this incredible tool chest during his tenure at the Poole Piano Company in Massachusetts, working on it over the course of 30 years. Using ebony, mother-of-pearl, ivory, rosewood, and mahogany – all materials used in the manufacture of pianos – he refined the chest to the point that, even now in the 21st century, it is still in a class by itself.
The Studley Tool Chest holds 300 tools, yet measures only 9 in. deep, 39 in. high, and 18 in. wide, when closed (22.86 x 99.06 x 45.72 cm). Every tool has a custom-made holder to keep it in place, many with beautiful inlay, and tiny clasps that rotate for easy access. As the chest folds closed, tools from the left side nestle precisely between tools on the right side.
I'll start with this example:
The “Studley" Tool Chest
Master craftsman Henry O. Studley (1838-1925) was an organ and piano maker, carpenter, and mason. He is best known for building this incredible tool chest during his tenure at the Poole Piano Company in Massachusetts, working on it over the course of 30 years. Using ebony, mother-of-pearl, ivory, rosewood, and mahogany – all materials used in the manufacture of pianos – he refined the chest to the point that, even now in the 21st century, it is still in a class by itself.
The Studley Tool Chest holds 300 tools, yet measures only 9 in. deep, 39 in. high, and 18 in. wide, when closed (22.86 x 99.06 x 45.72 cm). Every tool has a custom-made holder to keep it in place, many with beautiful inlay, and tiny clasps that rotate for easy access. As the chest folds closed, tools from the left side nestle precisely between tools on the right side.
Edited by ChemicalChaos on Tuesday 22 December 21:33
Tony2or4 said:
Just seen this car on the Life has Been Draining Lately thread, and I think it fits the criteria for this thread:
BTW I've no idea what car this is - anybody know?
I'm the one who posted it!BTW I've no idea what car this is - anybody know?
It's the 1936 Pacey-Hassan special - a custom-bodied 3-litre Bentley chassis with a tuned 4.5 litre Le Mans engine. It was developed by legendary engineer Walter Hassan (of ERA and Jaguar fame) for the wealthy gentleman racer Bill Pacey, and would regularly lap Brooklands at 130mph.
Up until a few years ago, it was owned by Julian Mazjub and frequently raced in VSCC events - but it was sold in 2010 for north of $2million and hasnt been seen very much since.
It also looks even more beautiful in race trim without the gawky lights and mudguards - just pure art-deco design:
Edited by ChemicalChaos on Friday 16th May 23:06
Thanks, glad to see I can finally do something right!
Huntsman - that is indeed a very pretty boat
Reminds me of my all-time favourite boat, and what was going to be one of the next few subjects of this thread:
An astonishingly beautiful example of all the is right with Italian style and craftsmanship, the Riva Aquarama was launched in 1962. The most famous of Carlo Riva’s designs, today's Aquariva still bears a strong resemblance to its legendary forebear.
The hull was sheathed in heavily varnished mahogany and accentuated with just enough chromed metal detailing (plated with 30 microns of chrome, when the norm on car bumpers was 5 microns). The interior was trimmed in a combination of white and sky blue leather, again with chrome accents. The twin engines ranged from standard smallblock Buick V8s, up to a pair of DOHC V12 Lamborghini engines in one particular Aquarama.
I want one of these boats so much that it hurts!
Huntsman - that is indeed a very pretty boat
Reminds me of my all-time favourite boat, and what was going to be one of the next few subjects of this thread:
An astonishingly beautiful example of all the is right with Italian style and craftsmanship, the Riva Aquarama was launched in 1962. The most famous of Carlo Riva’s designs, today's Aquariva still bears a strong resemblance to its legendary forebear.
The hull was sheathed in heavily varnished mahogany and accentuated with just enough chromed metal detailing (plated with 30 microns of chrome, when the norm on car bumpers was 5 microns). The interior was trimmed in a combination of white and sky blue leather, again with chrome accents. The twin engines ranged from standard smallblock Buick V8s, up to a pair of DOHC V12 Lamborghini engines in one particular Aquarama.
I want one of these boats so much that it hurts!
Brother D said:
Slightly biased...
Did you design/ make it?Swinging back from beautifully designed to beautifully constructed objects for a moment, we encounter the Waltham 17-jewel pocket watch movement. for something that will only be seen once in a blue moon by the jeweller paid to adjust or repair it, the engravings are staggeringly intricate and wonderful to behold. And of course, let us not forget the beauty of the mechanism itself:
Fishtigua said:
Holland & Holland.
I raise you a hand-engraved Longthorne Deluxe:
I'm afraid I'd have to disagree on the Land Rover though. I'm an enormously ardent Land Rover fan, and I agree is is an iconic shape with a legendary toughness. However, even I couldn't argue that it is either stunningly beautiful like a Talbot Lago, or an incredibly intricate piece of highly skilled craftsmanship like the tool chest
s p a c e m a n said:
I gather there is a replica nearing completion in the US?
technodup said:
Technics 1200/1210. First released in 1972, minor updates but essentially the same for 40+ years. Simple design, quality operation and last forever.
Talking of HiFi, you've reminded me of a Bang and Olufsen set I used to have. Even by B&O standards, the BeoMaster 4500 was a particularly sleek and timeless bit of design. It hasn't aged at all in my opinion - it would still look fresh if launched today, yet this system dates from 1989! Operation was via touch-sensitive bits of the front black panel, in which LCD digits illuminated from behind only when required
The BeoCord and BeogramCD units that worked with it looked identical, and had super-stylish one-touch powered lids:
The whole lot could also be controlled with the BeoLink 1000 - a beautifully functional yet aesthetic control that was milled from solid metal, and weighed a ton!
Edited by ChemicalChaos on Saturday 17th May 22:41
Edited by ChemicalChaos on Tuesday 22 December 21:40
4G63T said:
lockheed SR 71
not only because of what it looks like, but how the engines worked at mach 3.2. where the engines were the most efficient as well as fast
The only engines ever designed to run constantly at full afterburner. Also produces one of the most beautiful effects in the jet exhaust - supersonic shock diamonds:
Art0ir said:
Nearly 200 years old. Matching pair of Cuckoo Pistols.
Several hundred levers and screws all hidden within the pistol, allow a mechanical cuckoo bird to pop out the end when the mechanism is wound and the trigger pulled. It flaps it's wings, moves it's beak and moves around the end. Oh and the design means that no single 20 second long tweet and dance is ever the same.
Oh and they're made of gold, laid with enamel, pearls and diamonds.
Video.
Several hundred levers and screws all hidden within the pistol, allow a mechanical cuckoo bird to pop out the end when the mechanism is wound and the trigger pulled. It flaps it's wings, moves it's beak and moves around the end. Oh and the design means that no single 20 second long tweet and dance is ever the same.
Oh and they're made of gold, laid with enamel, pearls and diamonds.
Video.
You win this thread, the forum in general, and the entire internet.
Those are THE most exquisite devices I have ever seen in my entire life!
LordGrover said:
That is stunning. Where can I get me one?
I'm probably too poor to afford it but it'd be nice to know.
ETA I've found nixie clocks, but they don't appear to be quite the same.
I've just been looking as well, I really want one now!!I'm probably too poor to afford it but it'd be nice to know.
ETA I've found nixie clocks, but they don't appear to be quite the same.
Edited by LordGrover on Monday 7th July 15:47
It appears the one in that photo is a custom made one, shown down the page ehre:
http://www.electricstuff.co.uk/nixiegallery.html
There are a multitude of kits on ebay, but they all look horribly cheap and tacky by comparison
Bringing the thread full circle here, just check out this mind-boggling automated cabinet!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MKikHxKeodA
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MKikHxKeodA
Thread revival here!
The last few nights, I've been carefully photocopying my Grandfather's RAF Mechanic's Training Manual from his national service days, before it become too fragile to read. The chapters in it are from the School of Technical Training and date from in the war, and most of it was 10 years and 4 custodians old before he got given it in 1951 - now that's value for taxpayer's money
Anyway, as you'd expect, there are many illustrations of in it, and these really caught my eye. Long before the days of graphic design, somebody somewhere once sat down with a black ink pen, a ruler and a compound curve to produce some of the most intricate and detailed diagrams I've ever seen. They really are beautiful! Here's just 2 examples:
If you zoom to enlarge the second one, even what looks like solid shading on that carburettor cutaway is in fact just very precise, totally symmetrical cross-hatching!
Bit silly looking.
That's the Blastolene (the engineering geniuses and metalwork artists behind Jay Leno's Tank Car) B-702 Roadster, a lovely bit of art-deco tribute. Note that the grille at the front is not chrome strips, but actually cut and polished sheets of glass for added wow-factor (wouldn't want to knock it though!)
The last few nights, I've been carefully photocopying my Grandfather's RAF Mechanic's Training Manual from his national service days, before it become too fragile to read. The chapters in it are from the School of Technical Training and date from in the war, and most of it was 10 years and 4 custodians old before he got given it in 1951 - now that's value for taxpayer's money
Anyway, as you'd expect, there are many illustrations of in it, and these really caught my eye. Long before the days of graphic design, somebody somewhere once sat down with a black ink pen, a ruler and a compound curve to produce some of the most intricate and detailed diagrams I've ever seen. They really are beautiful! Here's just 2 examples:
If you zoom to enlarge the second one, even what looks like solid shading on that carburettor cutaway is in fact just very precise, totally symmetrical cross-hatching!
NDA said:
irocfan said:
Edited by ChemicalChaos on Tuesday 22 December 21:56
ChemicalChaos said:
A beautiful art-deco sculpture of a beautiful aeroplane. These used to be made in the 50s for promotional displays, I've long been trying to track one down to adorn my book case at home:
And I finally found one!http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
Davey S2 said:
The 4.0 Singer flat 6 
If I could afford a Singer I'd have buy another engine just to keep on display.
That is indeed gorgeous If I could afford a Singer I'd have buy another engine just to keep on display.
Edited by Davey S2 on Friday 26th August 20:35
I'm told the ecu and loom for it alone retails at 30k!!
However, how come it seems to have 4 spark plug holes per side?
RDMcG said:
and the Hispano hood ornament:
I was going to post that myself! Im actually developing something of a fetish (for want of a better word) for art deco cast alloy things. I keep thinking about starting a collection of beautiful bonnet ornaments mounted on little plinths - Hispano Suiza, Rolls Royce, Voisin, Jaguar, Dusenberg and Bentley are all prime contenders to get it started!I've also stumbled across this - an alloy sculpture of the VC10, IMO the most beautiful jet airliner even surpassing the Comet. Sadly from what I can ascertain, it was a one off sold at auction a few years ago
Zoon said:
You'd only need to sell one big'un a year to have a pretty comfortable wage, even with say a 50% cost of production and premisesGassing Station | The Lounge | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff