Steampunk Enterprise Desk Lamp, Art by Joe Keller, southwindairbrush.com
The topic of this blog was the request of a friend who is also a writer.
You want to add gadgets to your Steampunk novel, but are you uncertain about how to go about this process? You’re worried that your gadgets lack any originality? Take a deep breath and stop worrying; this is rocket science! And you are in charge of the rocket. You don’t have to have a science degree to write about gadgets. A little research can be your friend here.
Image from chroniclesofharriet.com website
Need inspiration? Spend ten minutes just looking at gadgets online. What sort of gadget are you looking for? Make your search terms as specific as possible. So, say you’re looking for a striking form of transportation for your protagonist.
Suggested List of Locomotion Search Terms: steam, steam-powered, electric, Victorian, Edwardian, motorised, velocipede, bicycle, vehicle, engine, train, flying, lighter-than-air, dirigible, airship, airplane, aeroplane, balloon.
Let’s pick three at random: steam-powered, flying, velocipede. A whole pile of interesting images pop up! Here are three of them:
Steam-powered Copeland high-wheeler
Steam-powered velocipede
Glider designed by George Cayley, British aviator, circa 1852.
Aren’t they lovely? Now imagine a vehicle that incorporates the most interesting features of all three. You pick what features really strike your fancy. Now write down a fulsome description of your imaginary machine (and draw it if you like), and how it works, and what it must feel like to ride in it. And now you’ve sorted your first gadget! Give it a wonderfully bizarre name, and you’re away…
Cogpunk Steamscribe 
The steampunk starship enterprise is my creation. I don’t see my name credited, or permission for such asked . What are you going to do about this?
Please credit me as the builder of this lamp. Joe Keller, southwindairbrush.com
Done, you have full credit. Or, if you prefer, I can remove that image from that blog article.