Thomas Willeford
Thomas Dean Willeford V (born October 29, 1964) is a steampunk writer, artist, and maker. He is particularly known for his work appearing on television, and for his book Steampunk Gear, Gadgets, and Gizmos.[1] He lives and works in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, doing business as Brute Force Studios.[1][2][3] His steampunk subculture persona, aka "steamsona", is Lord Archibald "Feathers" Featherstone.[3][4]
Early life and education
Brought up in a Victorian house with a "mad scientist" grandfather who worked for DuPont,[5][6] Willeford was educated at University of Maryland, College Park, Shenandoah University, University of Delaware, and University of Oxford.
Work
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/b0/Thomas_Willeford.jpg/220px-Thomas_Willeford.jpg)
In 1988 Willeford became interested in steampunk and began working on creating pieces combining his love of engineering and art.[7] Willeford created the steampunk arm worn by Nathan Fillion in episode 3.4 of the television series Castle.[8][6][9] His work has been displayed at the University of Oxford's Museum of the History of Science,[10] at the Steampunk Bizarre Experiment,[11] the Penn State Berks Freyberger Gallery,[12] at Nemo's Steampunk Art & Invention Gallery[2] and at the Charles River Museum of Industry and Innovation,[13][4] and has been featured in Popular Mechanics.[14] He is a contributor to Bruce Boxleitner's Lantern City[4] and was a judge on Game Show Network's Steampunk'd.[15]
Willeford was a guest curator for the Steampunk U exhibit at the Antique Automobile Club of America (AACA) Museum in Hershey, PA.[16]
Awards and recognition
- Airship Awards 2013 – Community Contributor – Nominee
- Balticon 19 Masquerade – Best Marvel Comic Re-Creation (Nightcrawler)
- Balticon 20 Masquerade – Journeyman Costumer – Honorable Mention
- Balticon 29 Masquerade – Best in Class: Novice
- Balticon 48 Masquerade – Best in Show
- Comic Con International 2014: Costume Contest on the Marvel Stage – One of a Kind: Iron Man 1889
- Darkover VIII Masquerade – Best Presentation (X-Men)
- Eeriecon Masquerade 2002 – Master Class: Best Leatherwork ("Gargoyle Knight")
- EveCon 5 Masquerade – Most Dramatic
- NYClone 1986 Masquerade – Chairman's Appreciation: Re-Creation
- Philcon 50 Masquerade – Craftsman: Most Humorous
- Rovacon 10 Masquerade – Best Comic Book Character
- Starburner 2011 Award for Contributions to Steampunk
- Steampunk Chronicle Readers Choice Awards 2012:[17]
- Best Maker – Individual
- Best Mod Weaponry for Lady Clankington's Little Death Ray
- Best Dressed Male
- Best Non-Goggle Accessory for Superior Replacement Arm
- Best Costume – Individual Original for the Clockwork Girl Outfit
- Best Non-Fiction – Nominee
- Steampunk Chronicle Readers Choice Awards 2013:[17]
- Best Maker – Individual – Nominee
- Most Influential or Inspirational – Nominee
- Steam-Hunk – Nominee
- Steampunk Person to Watch in 2013 – Nominee
- Technicon IV Masquerade – Best In Show
- Unicon 84 Masquerade – Best Recreation
- Numerous International Costumers Guild (ICG) Awards
Bibliography
- Steampunk Gear, Gadgets, and Gizmos: A Maker’s Guide to Creating Modern Artifacts. McGraw-Hill. October 2011. ISBN 0-07-176236-1.
- The Steampunk Adventurer's Guide: Contraptions, Creations, and Curiosities Anyone Can Make. McGraw-Hill. October 2013. ISBN 0-07-182780-3.
Filmography
Television
Year | Title | Role | Notes | Ref(s) |
---|---|---|---|---|
2010 | Castle | Props | Steampunk Arm | [18] |
2010 | Oddities | Himself | [19] | |
2013 | Old Folks Home | Himself | Episode "Blow Off Some Steampunk" | [20] |
2015 | Steampunk'd | Himself | As a judge | [21] |
References
- ^ a b Kelly, James Floyd. "Create Your Own Steampunk Gear, Gadgets, and Gizmos". wired.com. Conde Nast. Retrieved 2013-04-01.
- ^ a b Hornyak, Tim. "Breathing apparatus". cnet.com. Retrieved 2013-04-01.
- ^ a b Pho, Diana M. (2012-09-20). "The Dynamics of Ideology and Consumerism in Steampunk Subculture". In Taddeo, Julie Anne; Miller, Cynthia J. (eds.). Steaming into a Victorian Future: A Steampunk Anthology. Scarecrow Press. ISBN 0-8108-8586-7.
- ^ a b c "Bruce Boxleitner's Lantern City: Contributors". lanterncitytv.com. Retrieved 2013-04-01.
- ^ Strickland, Ashley (14 December 2011). "Thy fearful gadgetry: Steampunk's mad scientists". www.cnn.com. CNN. Retrieved 4 September 2018.
- ^ a b Hatmaker, Julia. "Steampunk in Harrisburg: Thomas Willeford is the midstate's mad scientist". Penn Live. The Patriot-News. Retrieved 2013-04-01.
- ^ "Steampunk Gear, Gadgets, and Gizmos". McGraw Hill. Retrieved 2013-04-01.
- ^ MacFarland, Joe. "Steampunk-ier than Justin Bieber". Ebay Stories. Retrieved 2013-04-01.
- ^ Pinchefsky, Carol. "Fashion's Biggest Trend in 2013–2015 (as Predicted by IBM)? Steampunk". forbes.com. Forbes. Retrieved 2013-04-01.
- ^ "Steampunk: Contraptions + Devices Extraordinaire". Hamptons.com. Retrieved 2013-04-01.
- ^ "The 2010 Steampunk Bizarre Experiment". Steampunk Bizarre 2010. Retrieved 2012-03-07.
- ^ "Freyberger Gallery presents STEAMpunk!". PennState. Retrieved 2013-04-01.
- ^ "Totally Hot Artistic Opportunities". Massachusetts Cultural Council. Retrieved 2013-04-01.
- ^ "Steampunk: Top DIY Costumes from Comic Con 2010". Popular Mechanics. Retrieved 2013-04-01.
- ^ "GSNTV / Steampunk'd / judges". Game Show Network. Retrieved 2016-10-21.
- ^ ""Function Goes Punk": Steampunk U Exhibit". www.aacamuseum.org. Retrieved 2017-03-22.
- ^ a b "Steampunk Chronicle Readers Choice Awards 2012". steampunkchronicle.com. Archived from the original on 2012-09-02. Retrieved 2013-04-01.
- ^ Lamar, Cyriaque. "Buy Nathan Fillion's steampunk cybernetic arm from Castle". io9. Retrieved 2017-03-22.
- ^ "Harrisburg mad scientist: 'If you've got $250,000, I can build you a 50 foot tall robot'". PennLive.com. Retrieved 2017-03-22.
- ^ Watch Odd Folks Home Season 1 Episode – Amazon Video, retrieved 2017-03-22
- ^ "Steampunkd". steampunkd.gsntv.com. Retrieved 2017-03-22.