The PC Case

Alright, to be honest I'm saving this for last because I haven't really designed it yet. The final design will depend a lot on the size and shape of the case I end up using. Of the two cases I have right now, one is too big and the other is too small. It's going to take a lot of tinkering before I decide what I want in it and how the innards will be arranged.

Here's a first-draft sketch of my ideas for the PC case. It looks washed out because it's a pencil sketch on graph paper and not very well done since I was in a hurry. The next sketch will be better and I'll finish it off with darker ink so it will photograph well. I may even get that old scanner out and see if it still works. We'll see how close it is to the finished case when it's done. It's about the size of three small tower cases. The motherboard, power supply, etc. will be in the center but the drives and doors will be on either side, with opening panels on the sides and 1/3 sections that also swing open for access to the various drives. These will be held closed with brass draw-catches like you'd find on a trunk lid.

On the left is a small swing-open cabinet type door which covers the fixed hard drives C, E, F. On the door will be a brass push-plate engraved with the name "Rothermel Informatic Totaliser" the fake-date of 1908. On the inside of the door will be real-time information with actual dates, a web address for Babylon Workshop and my signature (all on antique finished parchment with a wax seal if I think it won't melt in there (maybe red plastic with a higher melting point made to LOOK like a wax seal?). Below that will be a pull-out drawer like a library card-catalog but the right size to house CD jewel cases.

In the center we'll have the antique clock face with clockworks behind it that receives atomic clock time transmissions. Below that will be an internal temperature dial and maybe a volt-meter or some other doodad that tells us some electronic statistics that we don't really need to know; as long as it looks steampunk enough. Beside that will be the key-hole used to power up the computer and the reset button (which I think will be a latch I have that came from a period ice-box). At the bottom of the center section will be a large air-intake fan in the style of a cloth-covered radio speaker grille.

On the right, hidden behind small drawer-fronts, will be the CD DVD and floppy drives with room for future removable media drives (zip, orb, etc.) to be added. At the bottom, another file-card drawer either for more CDs or maybe pens, stamps, note paper, etc.

The whole thing will sit atop four brass lion-paw feet that I already have ready and waiting. On top will be two fan vents blowing warm air up and out of the case. In the center some kind of antique wall sconce light fixture. The case will not only double as a clock but also a desk lamp!

On each of the sides will be two large and sturdy brass handles for picking the whole thing up when it's moved.

Just ideas so far, but since this will be a long time in the works, it gives you something to lust at while I finish up other peripherals first.