Thomas Dean Willeford V (born October 29, 1964) is a steampunk writer, artist and maker. He is known for his work appearing on television and for his book Steampunk Gear, Gadgets, and Gizmos.[1] He lives and works in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, doing business as Brute Force Studios.[1][2][3] His steampunk subculture persona is Lord Archibald "Feathers" Featherstone.[3][4]
Brought up in a Victorian house with a "mad scientist" grandfather who worked for DuPont,[5][6] Willeford was educated at University of Maryland, College Park, Shenandoah University, University of Delaware and the University of Oxford.
In 1988, Willeford became interested in steampunk and began working on pieces that combined his love of engineering and art.[7] He created the steampunk arm worn by Nathan Fillion in episode 3.4 of the television series Castle.[6][8] His work has been displayed at the University of Oxford's Museum of the History of Science,[9] at the Steampunk Bizarre Experiment,[10] the Penn State Berks Freyberger Gallery,[11] at Nemo's Steampunk Art & Invention Gallery[2] and at the Charles River Museum of Industry and Innovation,[4][12] and has been featured in Popular Mechanics.[13] He is a contributor to Bruce Boxleitner's Lantern City[4] and was a judge on Game Show Network's Steampunk'd.[14]
Willeford was a guest curator for the Steampunk U exhibit at the Antique Automobile Club of America Museum in Hershey, Pennsylvania.[15]
| Year | Title | Role | Notes | Ref(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | Castle | Props | Steampunk Arm | |
| 2010 | Oddities | Himself | [18] | |
| 2013 | Old Folks Home | Himself | Episode "Blow Off Some Steampunk" | [19] |
| 2015 | Steampunk'd | Himself | As a judge | [20] |
