Zipper the Robot

Hello! My name is Zipper, and I am a singing automaton built in 1909 for Seattle's Alaska-Yukon-Pacific Expo. I just love people, so feel free to ask questions, chat, or just look around! ---- ((RP/Character blog for my Steam Powered Giraffe fanbot. For the purpose of RPing and posting pictures/art. You can find main tumblr here: http://exdraghunt.tumblr.com/ ))

[mrmistoffelees]

✪ Pumping Iron ✪

[historicwharf]

George E. Starr 1879-1912

Newell, Gordon R., and Williamson, Joe, Pacific Steamboats, Superior Publishing 1958

The George E. Starr was a faithful sidewheeler which served in the Puget Sound mosquito fleet. 

In her later years working for Joshua Greene’s Puget Sound Navigation Company, she had a reputation for being incredibly slow. A popular waterfront ditty went

"Paddle, paddle, George E. Starr, How we wonder where you are. Leaves Seattle at half past ten. Gets to Bellingham, God knows when!

As you creep across the bight, We can see your masthead light, Out upon the bay so far, Paddle, paddle George E. Starr.”

She also gained fame for her Captain, Yingle Bell Yohnny. During a hard turn, the George E. Starr would list hard enough to bring one paddle wheel out of the water, causing the boat to spin in circles. To solve this problem, the Captain had a cart put on the deck full of anchor chain, and during a hard turn would called out for the deck hands “When I yingle the bell, you move the car.”

In 1921, the George E. Starr was towed to Lake Union and abandoned, where her hulk rotted for many years. 

[historicwharf]

The Steam mothership and the little steam launches. 

[zipper-bot-blog]

Mecto Amore- Robot Burlesque

[zipper-bot-blog]

Gasp, a naked robot.

Showing off after the burlesque show.

Photos by Dolph

[funwithasharpobject]

The M.V. Kalakala, or Flying Bird in Chinook. Once the pride of Washington Ferries, now slowly rusting away in Tacoma.

[mohai]

The ferry Kalakala began service in 1935. Its streamlined design made it internationally famous and popular with visitors and residents alike. The ferry made six daily runs between Seattle and Bremerton, and made summer evening excursions around Puget Sound. Unfortunately, the ferry vibrated badly; it was difficult to handle and expensive to repair. Service ended in 1967, and the ferry became a shore-based seafood processing plant in Alaska. In the 1990s, a group of devoted Kalakala fans dug the old ferry out of the gravel and returned it to Seattle. It was later moved to Tacoma where it awaited restoration. In 2012, it was sold again. Its ultimate fate is not known as of right now.

This 1946 photo shows the Kalakala docked on the waterfront. The ferry’s name means “flying bird” in the Chinook trade language used by traders and Puget Sound native peoples.

Photographer: Webster & Stevens

Image Date: 1946

Image Number: 1983.10.16251.2

To order a reproduction or to inquire about permissions contact us on our website or phone us at 206-324-1126. Please refer to the Image Number and provide a brief description of the photograph.

Original Article

[historicwharf]

Passengers aboard the steamship CITY OF SEATTLE, n.d.

[historicwharf]

Virginia V visits Pacific Fisherman’s shipyard to have her freshly inspected liferafts re-installed. Just in time for Opening day! Remember to come watch the Opening Day parade of boats along the Montlake Cut Saturday May 3rd!

[historicwharf]

Wanderer, a steam tugboat, at a pier, n.d.

Courtesy of Puget Sound Maritime Historical Society

[techn0mancer-deactivated2018061]

let's make this tag fun again...

reblog with the name of your favorite spg song (or the first spg song you heard)

[alyxx-suddenly-reappears]

The first SPG song I ever heard was their cover of Diamonds, but my favorite is definitely On Top of the Universe (from the Live at the Globe album, because damn is the “space burritos” bit funny)

[guatymelon]

The first song I think i heard was Honeybee, favorite currently is I’ll rust with you, because you can’t listen to that song and not want to grab someone and dance

[meyggy]

I’ll Rust with You in a heartbeat. 

[rock-fish-deactivated20201231]

Me And My Baby (Saturday Nights) is absolutely my favorite. Hands down. I listen to it every time it comes on shuffle (unlike some songs, Dancing in the Dark) and I adore it. I will literally be an SPG fan forever, even if I eventually move away from fandom stuff, because of this song.

[ifridiot]

((It’s a tough cut for me ‘tween Me and My Baby and Ghost Grinder. Pretty passionate feels towards both.))

[asktheappraiser]

((I struggle to pick a favorite between Electricity in my Soul and Ghost Grinder. Rust with You is a strong second, though.))

[zipper-bot-blog]

Automatonic Electronic Harmonics was my first and still my favorite!

[historicwharf]

Steamboat FLYER on the Seattle-Tacoma run, 1891

[exdraghunt]

Sakura Con 2014 sun (69)

[zipper-bot-blog]

Explore TRANIMAGING’s photos on Flickr. TRANIMAGING has uploaded 15477 photos to Flickr.

[historicwharf]

Steamer FLYER in dry-dock, 1891-1894

The Steamship Flyer was famous for being one of the fastest steamships on the Puget Sound. The lines of the Flyer were designed so finely that when launched in 1891 she rolled right over. She was then sponsoned out, a second hull wrapped around the first. It was sealed improperly, letting tons of water slosh between the two hulls, but this fact did not seem to impact her incredible speed. 

Serving on the Seattle-Tacoma route, the Flyer traveled the 28 miles in only 90 minutes. She was so prompt it is said that the citizens of Seattle set their watches to the sound of her whistles. 

[historicwharf]

Passenger and freight steamer CONCORDIA, Puget Sound, n.d.

[historicwharf]

Defiance, a Mosquito Fleet steamboat

[automaton-sprocket]

And all the other pictures!