1st Place in Derby #89: Dinosaurs, with 965 votes!

Crowds of onlookers thronged the “Mechano-Liths” at the Philadelphia Exposition of 1876, thrilling to every metallic clank of the fearsome beasts. But they got more excitement than they bargained for…

On the afternoon of July 12, a triceratops automaton bolted through the cordon around the show ring, quickly followed by the others. The mechanized dinosaurs wandered the fairgrounds for several hours, taking in the exhibits and trying for the first time a novel new condiment and tonic for female troubles known as “catsup”.

When their mechanisms wound down, their inert bodies were towed out to sea on a barge which was then dynamited, sinking the terrible monsters forever. No human lives were lost during their rampage, but several top hats were brutally trampled.

Wear this shirt: when you and your steampunk droogs are up for a bit of dino-aggro – wait, these mixed references are confusing us.

Don’t wear this shirt: if you have a big gold key sticking out of your back. You’ll stretch it out.

This shirt tells the world: “I don’t wish I’d been born in a different historical era. I wish I’d been born in two different historical eras.”

We call this color: Victorian Blue.

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