MEDIUM: Table-sized freestanding sculpture
ARTWORK DETAILS & SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS:
A locomotive whose propulsion was by a propeller? Ridiculous? Not at all. The Schienenzeppelin (or rail zeppelin) was an experimental railcar designed and developed by the German engineer Franz Kruckenberg in 1929 (see below). Propulsion was by means of a pusher propeller located at the rear: it accelerated the railcar to 230.2 km/h (143 mph) setting the land speed record for a petrol powered rail vehicle. Only a single example was ever built, which due to safety concerns was dismantled in 1939.
Schienenzeppelin is constructed primarily from an early 1900’s cast iron ‘Protectograph’ check writing machine manufactured by Todd Company. The piece weighs 10 pounds and has a dimension of 18” L x 11” H x 6” W. It incorporates repurposed parts from sewing machines, typewriters, clockworks, and other useful junk.
Two switches control the LED lights and the working fan. The engine compartment contains an illuminated vacuum tube.
