Conrad and the Steamplant by Dustin Cohen. A Vimeo Staff Pick. Wonderful story of an extremely interesting man and his life.

Conrad Milster, Pratt Institute’s* chief engineer, has worked in the Brooklyn power plant nearly his entire adult life. Starting as a mechanic in 1958, he later became one of only four chief engineers in the plant’s 127-year history, taking over the official duties in 1965. He’s been there ever since.

For the last six decades, Milster (now 79 years old) has lovingly maintained the nineteenth century steam engines that provide heat and hot water to Pratt’s campus. “We have our hands full,” says Milster. “If the plant stops in the winter, Pratt stops.”

In addition, Conrad is the person behind the infamous “Pratt Cats,” responsible for the 12-14 felines that wander the campus and call the steam plant home.

An important figure in Pratt’s history, Milster has extended his impact on the Pratt community through a generous gift—the Phyllis and Conrad Milster Endowed Scholarship—that provides scholarships in perpetuity to students in Pratt’s Industrial Design program. The scholarship is named for Milster and his late wife, Phyllis, who passed away in 2011.

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Filmed by Dustin Cohen, Autumn Eakin, and Christine Ng. Edited by Saela Davis. Coloring by Daniel Silverman at MPC. Sound Editing/Re-Recording by Chris Foster. And special thanks to Greencard Pictures, MergeLeft Reps, and Pratt Institute.

See more photos here: http://www.dustincohen.com/STORIES/CONRAD-&-THE-STEAMPLANT/1/thumbs

Happy industrial/steampunk customers.

Vintage telephone electric generator/magneto. Creates static electricity with the turn of a crank.

We really love selling online. It allows us to offer all sorts of amazing, crazy, weird and wonderful objects to buyers all over the world 24/7/365. This small item sold last night so I thought I would share it with you today.

It is an old telephone magneto, crank it and it generates high voltage, low amperage static type electricity. I remember in 7th grade shop class Mr. Hooten had one of these that was a bit larger. It had two cords off of it with metal things to hold on to. When someone would misbehave they had to hold the two electrode things and he would crank it up fast. I remember seeing little kids hands and arms flailing away while he cranked it. We could also all join hands in a circle with one kid holding one electrode and another kid holding the other and Mr. Hooten would crank it and we all got shocked. Mr. Hooten loved doing that. Haha, what fun, those days are long gone.

#industrial #foundobject

Other oddball stuff for sale here

Industrial design, found objects, steampunk assemblage parts.

People all the time ask me about found objects as pieces of art. Look around, look at the world as a series of objects that while made for one purpose exhibit fine design elements. Things don't just magically appear, people design them.

Here is a great look at a 1940's industrial design studio.

We always have a great selections of these kinds of objects. They are sold for people to display or to re-purpose them into steampunk or other found object assemblages. Look at an objects sculptural appeal. Steampunk.

Here is a selection of items we have sold or have in stock now. Imagine the possibilities.