LIBRAK 1 
 
 UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA 
 DAVIS 
 
Perpetual Motion 
 
 Comprising a History of the Efforts to Attain 
 Self-Motive Mechanism with a Classified, 
 ILLUSTRATED Collection and Explanation 
 of the Devices Whereby it Has Been Sought 
 and Why They Failed, and Comprising Also a 
 Revision and Re- Arrangement of the Informa- 
 tion Afforded by "Search for Self -Motive 
 Power During The 17th, 18th and 19th 
 Centuries," London, 1861, and "A History 
 of the Search for Self-Motive Power from 
 the 13th to The 19th Century," London, 
 1870, by Henry Dircks, C. E., LL. D., Etc. 
 
 BY 
 
 PERCY VERANCE 
 
Copyright 
 By 
 20th Century Enlightenment Specialty Co, 
 
CONTENTS 
 
 For Summarized Table of Contents, see page 358 et seq. 
 
 Page 
 
 Introduction 3 
 
 Preface 7-10 
 
 Introductory Essay 11-21 
 
 CHAPTER I. 
 "Devices by Means of Wheels and Weights 22-67 
 
 CHAPTER II. 
 
 Devices by Means of Rolling Weights and Inclined 
 
 Planes 68-75 
 
 CHAPTER III. 
 Hydraulic and Hydro-Mechanical Devices 76-117 
 
 CHAPTER IV. 
 Pneumatic Siphon and Hydro-Pneumatic Devices. 118-162 
 
 CHAPTER V. 
 Magnetic Devices 163-174 
 
 CHAPTER VI. 
 
 Devices Utilizing Capillary Attraction and Physical 
 
 Affinity 175-194 
 
 CHAPTER VII. 
 Liquid Air as a Means of Perpetual Motion 195-196 
 
6 CONTENTS 
 
 CHAPTER VIII. 
 
 Page 
 Radium and Radio- Active Substances Considered 
 
 as a Conceived Source of Perpetual Motion.. 197-199 
 
 CHAPTER IX. 
 
 Perpetual Motion Devices Attempting Its Attain- 
 ment by a Misconception of the Relation of 
 Momentum and Energy 200-21 1 
 
 CHAPTER X. 
 
 The Alleged Inventions of Edward Sommerset, 
 Sixth Earl and Second Marquis of Worces- 
 ter, and of Jean Ernest Eli-Bessler (Coun- 
 cillor) Orffyreus 212-255 
 
 CHAPTER XL 
 
 Conservation of Energy. A Discussion of the 
 Relation of the Doctrine of Conservation of 
 Energy, and the Possibility of Perpetual Mo- 
 tion 256-269 
 
 CHAPTER XII. 
 
 Will Perpetual Motion Ever Be Accomplished? 
 A Discussion by the Author, with a Review 
 of the Opinions of Eminent Scientists on the 
 Subject 270-357 
 
PREFACE. 
 
 The author has no apology to offer for the 
 production of this book. He has spent his life 
 in environments that have brought him into 
 constant contact with mechanics, artisans and 
 laborers as well as professional men, engineers, 
 chemists and technical experts of various types. 
 He knows a great many men young men, for 
 the most part are constantly working on the 
 old, old problem of Perpetual Motion; that 
 much money, and much time are being spent in 
 search of a solution for that problem which all 
 scientific and technical men tell us is impossible 
 of solution. 
 
 It is believed by the author that a classifi- 
 cation and presentation of selected groups of 
 the devices produced in the past by which it was 
 by the inventor believed, self-motive power had 
 been attained, will save much work in fields 
 already thoroughly exploited. 
 
 So far as the author knows no book on the 
 subject has appeared since 1870. The various 
 encyclopedias published contain articles on the 
 subject, but they are necessarily brief, and not 
 satisfying to young men who have become in- 
 terested in the subject. 
 
 In 1861, Henry Dircks, a civil engineer, of 
 
8 PERPETUAL MOTION 
 
 London, published a work entitled "Perpetuum 
 Mobile; or, Search for Self-Motive Power, Dur- 
 ing the Seventeenth, Eighteenth and Nine- 
 teenth Centuries." The book contains 599 
 pages, and was followed in 1870, by a second 
 series by the same author entitled "Perpetuum 
 Mobile, or a History of the Search for Self- 
 Motive Power from the Thirteenth, to the 
 Nineteenth Century/' In these two books 
 there is amassed a wonderful amount of ma- 
 terial showing on the part of the author dili- 
 gence, great patience and wide and thorough 
 search. 
 
 The author of these works was not en- 
 amoured of his subject, and his books clearly 
 show that he was not writing them because of 
 any interest he had in the subject of Perpetual 
 Motion. On the contrary, they appear to have 
 been written because of a deep detestation en- 
 tertained by the author for the subject of Per- 
 petual Motion, and a contemptuous pity for 
 any one seriously interested in the subject. 
 Mr. Dircks's works may be said to be the works 
 of a scold. His sentiments were deep, and his 
 impulses strong, which accounts for the vast 
 amount of labor he did in the preparation of 
 his books. Those books are now out of print, 
 and it is believed by the author of this book 
 that they may well remain so. They contain 
 
PERPETUAL MOTION 9 
 
 much material that no one would be justified 
 in wading through. The most complicated 
 mechanisms devised by enthusiastic dreamers 
 are shown in the same detail with which the 
 inventors described them in presenting them 
 to the public, or to the patent offices. Little is 
 to be gained by this. 
 
 So complicated are many of the devices 
 that only technically trained engineers could 
 read them understandingly, and few technically 
 trained engineers are now greatly interested 
 in self-motive power devices. We believe that 
 every useful or interesting purpose is served if 
 enough devices are collected, classified and pre- 
 sented to show the various principles relied 
 upon by the inventors; with an explanation of 
 why they failed i. e., wherein the principles 
 relied upon are wrong, and while possibly not 
 out of harmony with any mechanical principles 
 then known, are entirely out of harmony with 
 principles since discovered and now well 
 known. 
 
 In the preparation of this volume a vast 
 amount of the information furnished by the 
 two works of Mr. Dircks has been rearranged, 
 reclassified, and used. 
 
 Everyone who has to any extent, by en- 
 vironmfent, associated with the mass of people 
 who are not technically educated, knows that 
 
10 PERPETUAL MOTION 
 
 the persons who are still interested in the sub- 
 ject of Perpetual Motion, and who still seek its 
 attainment, are not technically trained engi- 
 neers or mathematicians, but for the greater part 
 untrained people of naturally strong mechan- 
 ical sense, and of natural mechanical and 
 mathematical adaptation. 
 
 This book is written for the perusal of that 
 large class of people. It is not designed as an 
 argument either for or against the possibility 
 of the attainment of Perpetual Motion. 
 
 The author is content to classify and 
 present clearly, it is hoped the leading en- 
 deavors that have been known in that field of 
 effort, and to explain tfieir failure. 
 
 It is believed by the author that the perusal 
 of the present volume by anyone whose mind 
 has been attracted by the subject of Perpetual 
 Motion will result in an enlightenment, and, 
 it is also believed, will have a tendency to di- 
 rect his mind from a struggle with theories 
 long ago exploded, and may result in directing 
 his efforts to things practical, and not without 
 hope of attainment. 
 
 This work is offered only to minds mecfian- 
 ically or mathematically inclined. It is not 
 even Hoped that it will interest people who 
 prefer fiction to fact, nor people who read sim- 
 ply for idle entertainment. 
 
INTRODUCTORY ESSAY 
 
 Perpetual Motion as used in this book is 
 to be taken in its conventional, and not in its 
 strict literal sense. The strict literal analysis 
 of the two words implies unceasing motion. 
 Of this we have many illustrations the tides, 
 the waves of the ocean, the course of the earth 
 around the sun, and in the movements of all 
 heavenly and astronomical bodies. In fact, it 
 is difficult to conceive in a strictly scientific 
 sense of any substance having an entire ab- 
 sence of motion. 
 
 Perpetual Motion as used in this book 
 means what it is usually understood to mean 
 Self-Motive Power a machine that furnishes 
 the power to keep its parts going as a ma- 
 chine. In this sense Perpetual Motion has 
 always engaged the minds of many, many peo- 
 ple and what is more natural? As soon as a 
 boy begins to take an interest in moving parts 
 of machinery, vehicles, locomotives, and what 
 not, he perceives that the application of power 
 results in the motion of bodies, and again that 
 bodies in motion are productive of power. A 
 wheel moved by^muscular, or other mechanical 
 power, is made by machinery to elevate water, 
 and elevated water can be made in descending 
 to run machinery. The windlass, or other 
 
12 PERPETUAL MOTION 
 
 wheel, turned by applied force, lifts buckets 
 from wells raises stone, and elevates heavy 
 bodies, if desired. Heavy bodies descending 
 can be, and are used through means of ma- 
 chinery to make machinery run. 
 
 A great many similar illustrations could 
 be given. What, then, is more natural than 
 that a boy with an active mind who is at all 
 mechanically turned, as most boys are, begins 
 to wonder why, if wheels lift stones, and if 
 stones descending make wheels run, cannot a 
 machine be made that will lift stones, or other 
 weights, and in turn be run by the descent of 
 the lifted stones, or other weights? Why, if 
 the turning of wheels lift water, and if descend- 
 ing water makes wheels go, should not an 
 adaptation be made by which the same machine 
 will elevate water, and be run by the descent 
 of the elevated water? 
 
 That it cannot be done is now the con- 
 sensus of opinion of all technically trained 
 mechanics, but, that it can not be done, and why 
 it can not be done, is sure not to occur to the 
 boy, nor to the man who has only a strong 
 natural mechanical sense to guide him, and has 
 not the advantage of technical training. 
 
 Again, it is well known that many, many 
 men have spent considerable sums of money 
 and given hours and hours, and days, and 
 
 
PERPETUAL MOTION 13 
 
 months, and years of close and careful thought, 
 and experiment to the production of a machine 
 that will accomplish Perpetual Motion, and 
 that many have announced to the world that 
 they had succeeded in its accomplishment, but 
 that all their devices so far have turned out 
 failures. 
 
 It is to no purpose to tell the Perpetual 
 Motion worker that he is seeking to attain the 
 impossible; that the attainment of self-motive 
 power has been demonstrated to be an impos- 
 sibility. He will answer, or, at 
 
 reason to himself that many things once pro- 
 nounced impossibilities and claimed to be so 
 demonstrated, have since been attained. The 
 Perpetual Motion worker is usually a person 
 of active intelligence, and being enamoured of 
 mechanical projects is likely to read extensively 
 along mechanical lines, and knows as every 
 well-informed person knows, that there are 
 many instances in the history of the discovery 
 and development of the most important me- 
 chanical inventions and scientific discoveries 
 where the persistent efforts of so-called enthu- 
 siastic dreamers and cranks finally triumphed 
 over the settled and conventional "impossibil- 
 ities" of dignified scientists. 
 
 When, less than a century ago, it was 
 proposed to propel a ship across the Atlantic 
 
14 PERPETUAL MOTION 
 
 ocean by steampower, Ignatius Lardner, a 
 scientific teacher, lecturer and interpreter of 
 real note and merit wrote a book "demonstrat- 
 ing" the physical impossibility of a vessel carry- 
 ing enough fuel to propel itself through that 
 distance of water. The book was actually 
 printed, but was scarcely off the press until the 
 first steamship had successfully crossed the 
 Atlantic with steampower, and steamed tri- 
 umphantly into port. 
 
 After communication by electric telegraph 
 was well established and had been in successful 
 commercial use for decades, it was proposed to 
 converse by long distance over a wire. The 
 idea was hooted and declared impossible, and 
 it did seem so, and yet today, there is scarcely 
 a farm house in the nation but what has an 
 instrument by which the occupants can talk 
 over wires not only to their near-by neighbors, 
 but to remote cities. 
 
 Prof. Samuel P. Langley, less than two 
 decades ago undertook in a thoroughly scien- 
 tific manner to accomplish what is called 
 "heavier than air flight." His scientific ideas 
 on the subject were entirely correct, but he 
 did not have the advantage of engine refine- 
 ment as it is known today, by which high 
 energy development can be attained with an 
 engine or motor of small weight. Neverthe- 
 
PERPETUAL MOTION 15 
 
 less, Prof. Langley succeeded in flying a con- 
 siderable distance, and in fact, made a number 
 of successful demonstrations of the physical 
 possibility of heavier than air flight. Prof. 
 Simon Newcomb, who is to be ranked as the 
 greatest astronomer, mathematician and scien- 
 tist the United States has ever produced, and 
 with the possible exception of Benjamin Frank- 
 lin, the most original thinker along scientific 
 lines, wrote an article which was published 
 generally in scientific journals, in which he 
 warned Prof. Langley of the folly of his at- 
 tempts, not claiming, however, the scientific 
 impossibility of heavier than air flight, but 
 claiming that it could never be of any real prac- 
 tical value; that the instability of the air, etc., 
 limited flight by man to a daredevil show per- 
 formance. A child then born would now be 
 scarcely grown, and yet, aeroplanes are in use 
 in every civilized country in the world for ob- 
 servation and military purposes, and even for 
 carrying mail to places not otherwise easily 
 accessible. 
 
 Thousands of flights are undertaken every 
 day with the confident expectation of a suc- 
 cessful trip and return. How many, many 
 boys and mechanics, prior to the achievement 
 of human flight, have been attracted by the 
 problem, only to have their ambitions and 
 
16 PERPETUAL MOTION 
 
 dreams discouraged and suppressed by being 
 told that the scientific world knows that human 
 flight is impossible "God made man to walk 
 on the ground, and the birds to fly, and if 
 Nature had intended that we should fly we 
 would have been equipped with wings," and 
 probably to be dubbed "Darius Green," as a 
 reminder of the inglorious fate of the pseudo 
 hero of that name in Trowbridge's clever and 
 immortal poem about Darius Green and his 
 Flying Machine. 
 
 The announcement of the discovery of 
 rays by means of which views may be made 
 and photographs taken through substances 
 supposedly opaque to all light rays was scouted 
 as a ridiculously visionary dream ; but the dis- 
 coverers were not dismayed by scout and 
 ridicule, but persisted in their dreams and en- 
 thusiasm. There is not a village of any con- 
 siderable size in the civilized world but has 
 its X-Ray Machine by which foreign substances 
 in the flesh may be viewed and photographed 
 and located with exactitude, fractures exam- 
 ined and all surgical operations aided to the 
 benefit and health and recovery of the sick and 
 wounded. Mankind is the recipient of the 
 benefits resulting from the fact that enthu- 
 siastic cranks were not deterred by ridicule and 
 supposed demonstrations of their folly. 
 
PERPETUAL MOTION IT 
 
 The above are only a few of the many like 
 instances recorded in scientific progress. While 
 not accurately true, and while less true during 
 the last two decades than formerly, it is, never- 
 theless, a general truth that scientific progress 
 has been made in spite of, and in the face of 
 discouragement and ridicule from the multi- 
 tudes who were destined to be benefited by 
 the discoveries made by the persistent so-called 
 cranks. 
 
 These facts are all well known to the Per- 
 petual Motion enthusiast. It is, therefore, of 
 no avail to tell him that the scientific world 
 has pronounced his aspirations and attempts 
 but dreams, and that Perpetual Motion work- 
 ers are by the scientific world denominated 
 cranks. 
 
 If it be admitted that Perpetual Motion is, 
 as scientific men tell us, a chimerical dream, it 
 is still to be very greatly doubted if the world 
 at large is to be benefited by dissuading minds 
 from working on the problem. There is no 
 doubt that many persons who have become 
 more intensely interested in mechanics by 
 thinking and working on the problem of Per- 
 petual Motion, have thereby been lead to study 
 more and more generally into mechanical sub- 
 jects, and became not merely tyros, but useful 
 men in various mechanical pursuits. Many 
 
18 PERPETUAL MOTION 
 
 doubtless have followed mechanical subjects to 
 which they were introduced by labors toward 
 Perpetual Motion, to the making of useful and 
 valuable inventions and discoveries. 
 
 Notwithstanding the fact that a countless 
 number of devices for the attainment of Per- 
 petual Motion have been proclaimed and ex- 
 hibited, it is to be supposed that those actually 
 proclaimed and brought to light constitute but 
 an infmitesimally small proportion of those 
 actually made. It is to be supposed that the 
 Perpetual Motion worker has some sense, and 
 that the great majority of them before pro- 
 claiming his apparatus would want to know 
 himself that it was not a failure, and would not, 
 when ushered before the public, bring upon 
 him humiliation and jeers. It is to be believed 
 that in nearly every instance the produced de- 
 vice was tested before being proclaimed and 
 ushered into the light of day. It goes without 
 saying that all that were so tested were fail- 
 ures, and were never heard of except by the 
 inventor and a very few intimate friends or 
 co-laborers. Those that have been heralded 
 to the world represent only that small propor- 
 tion where over-confidence in the operation, or 
 a disregard for the truth, or some other unex- 
 plainable something caused the inventor and 
 
PERPETUAL MOTION 19 
 
 his friends to make the announcement and dis- 
 closure of the device before the test. 
 
 It is almost impossible to conceive of a 
 person of any intelligence exposing himself to 
 the ridicule resulting from the failure of a 
 pompously heralded device, when a simple test 
 would have saved the exposure, and yet the 
 civilized world has been filled with Perpetual 
 Motion devices proclaimed and heralded with 
 trumpet blast, which, when tested, "didn't 
 work." 
 
 It is not, however, the purview, or purpose 
 of this book, to incite people to work on the 
 problem of Perpetual Motion, neither is it its 
 purview or purpose to dissuade them from it. 
 
 In the works of Mr. Dircks, mentioned in 
 the preface of this work, the devices for Per- 
 petual Motion are classified somewhat with 
 reference to the time each was produced. In 
 some instances with reference to whether or 
 not patents were applied for and obtained, or 
 as to the source of information concerning 
 them. 
 
 A careful examination of the devices pre- 
 sented in Mr. Dirck's two works, and of those, 
 information concerning which has been ob- 
 tained elsewhere, leads the author to believe 
 that nothing is to be gained by an attempted 
 classification along those lines. 
 
20 PERPETUAL MOTION 
 
 In countless instances Perpetual Motion 
 seekers of different races and living in separate 
 countries, and, indeed, on different continents, 
 centuries apart, have sought the attainment of 
 Perpetual Motion by practically the same de- 
 vices, and inventor after inventor has brought 
 forth alleged inventions depending upon pre- 
 cisely the same underlying mechanical prin- 
 ciple. 
 
 The author has attempted to classify the 
 various devices presented in this book accord- 
 ing to the underlying mechanical principles 
 upon which the inventor chiefly relied for the 
 success of his invention. Even this classifica- 
 tion is extremely difficult and not well dis- 
 tinguished. Many of them, indeed most of 
 them, depend for their success upon more than 
 one mechanical principle, and the classifications 
 thereby inevitably intermingle and overlap 
 what otherwise would be their distinguishing 
 boundaries. Still it is believed by the author 
 that it is the best that could be adopted, and 
 that no better or clearer classification is pos- 
 sible than the one here presented. 
 
 The various devices are classified by the 
 author under the following heads: 
 
 Devices by Means of Wheels and Weights. 
 
 Devices by Means of Rolling Weights and 
 Inclined Planes. 
 
PERPETUAL MOTION 21 
 
 Hydraulic and Hydro-Mechanical Devices. 
 Pneumatic Siphon and Hydro-Pneumatic 
 Devices. 
 
 Magnetic Devices. 
 
 Devices Utilizing Capillary Attraction and 
 Physical Affinity. 
 
 Liquid Air as a Means of Perpetual Mo- 
 tion. 
 
 Radium and Radio-Active Substances Con- 
 sidered as a Conceived Source of Perpetual 
 Motion. 
 
 Perpetual Motion Devices Attempting Its 
 Attainment by a Misconception of the Relation 
 of Momentum and Energy. 
 to which is added 
 
 "A Discussion of the Alleged Inventions 
 of the very eminent Edward Sommer- 
 set, Sixth Earl and Second Marquis of 
 Worcester, and Jean Ernest Eli-Bess- 
 ler Orffyreus. 
 Also 
 
 "A Discussion by the Author of the 'Doc- 
 trine of Conservation of Energy, and 
 Its Relation to the Possibility of Per- 
 petual Motion/ " 
 And 
 
 "A Discussion by the Author of 'Will 
 Perpetual Motion Ever Be Accom- 
 plished ?'" 
 
CHAPTER I 
 
 DEVICES BY MEANS OF WHEELS AND 
 WEIGHTS 
 
 Wilars de Honecort 
 
 While attempts at Perpetual Motion are 
 as old as the human race, not many of the more 
 ancient devices have been preserved, either by 
 engraving or by explanation. 
 
 Among the very earliest of these attempts 
 of which we have detailed information is the 
 device of Wilars de Honecort. He was an 
 architect, and lived in the thirteenth century. 
 The information is preserved in "A Sketch 
 Book" by him which was deposited and re- 
 mains in the Ecole des Chartes at Paris. About 
 the middle of the nineteenth century comments 
 were published in France on this ancient device. 
 Some of these were translated into English. 
 The following account is an extract from a 
 translation made by Professor Willis, of Cam- 
 bridge. 
 
 "Many a time have skilful workmen tried to 
 contrive a wheel that shall turn of itself: here is a 
 way to make such a one, by means of an uneven 
 number of mallets, or by quicksilver" 
 
 Wilars de Honecort presents to us a de- 
 
PERPETUAL MOTION 23 
 
 vice for a perpetual motion; it is not clear 
 whether he intends to claim the contrivance of 
 it, or whether he had met with it in the course 
 of his travels. It differs very little from a well- 
 known contrivance for this purpose which has 
 been so often published, and its fallacy so fully 
 explained in popular books, that it is unneces- 
 sary to dwell at length upon the mechanical 
 principles which it involves. It is extremely 
 curious in this place, because it shows the great 
 antiquity of the problem, the solution of which 
 has wasted the time, the brains, and the means 
 of many an unhappy artisan or philosopher. 
 
 In the drawing we have now before us, the 
 two upright posts, which are framed together 
 and skilfully braced so as to ensure their steadi- 
 ness, support between them a long horizontal 
 axle, to the centter of which is fixed a wheel 
 with four spokes. The absence of perspective 
 in this drawing makes the wheel appear as if 
 it were parallel to the frame, instead of being, 
 as it is, at right angles to it. 
 
 Seven mallets, or arms, each loaded with 
 a heavy weight at the end, are jointed at equal 
 distances to the circumference of the wheel, so 
 that those which happen to have their joints 
 below the diameter of the wheel will hang 
 freely down, but if the wheel be turned round by 
 hand or otherwise, the weights of those which 
 
24 PERPETUAL MOTION 
 
 are on the ascending side will, in succession, 
 rest on its circumference, and will, in that posi- 
 tion, be carried over the highest part of the 
 wheel and downwards on the descending side, 
 until the arms that bear them are brought into 
 a vertical position ancl a little beyond it, and 
 theri the weight will fall suddenly over and rest 
 on the opposite position on the circumference of 
 the wheel, until its further descent enables it 
 to dangle freely as before. The effect of this 
 mechanism upon the position of the weights 
 is not truly represented, for the upper mallet 
 has fallen over too soon. In the modern form 
 of this contrivance a pin, or stop, is introduced, 
 by which the mallet, when it falls over, is com- 
 pelled to rest so that its arm shall point to the 
 center of the wheel, and thus the descending 
 weight be held at a greater distance from the 
 center than when ascending. It is extremely 
 probable that this difference is a mere error of 
 the artist, for the drawing has the appearance 
 of having been made from a model of the wheel 
 at rest; a condition in which, of course, it would 
 always be found, unless moved by some ex- 
 ternal 'force. The inventor seems to have 
 thought that the action above described would 
 always place four weights on the descending 
 side, and leave but three on the ascending side, 
 each weight as it rises to the top being intended 
 
PERPETUAL MOTION 25 
 
 to leap suddenly over to the descending side, 
 in the manner just explained; or perhaps, as 
 M. Lassus suggests, the contriver imagined 
 that the blows given to the wheel in succession 
 by the falling mallets would help it forward. 
 
 ^ 
 
 It is surprising that although the slightest 
 model would show the failure of devices of this 
 class to persons incapable of mathematical rea- 
 soning, yet such machines have been seriously 
 proposed in books, and are continually recon- 
 trived by ingenious workmen. The allusion 
 to quicksilver in the manuscript shows that 
 
26 PERPETUAL MOTION 
 
 Wilars was acquainted with the well-known 
 contrivance described in the books already re- 
 ferred to, in which portions of that metal in- 
 closed in channels are used instead of the fall- 
 ing weights. 
 
 A Repetition of Wilars de Honecort's Plan 
 
 This device was brought forth in 1831 in 
 England, and illustrates what we say in the 
 Introductory Essay to the effect of inventors 
 
 working on the same plan in different parts of 
 the earth and centuries apart. 
 
PERPETUAL MOTION 27 
 
 We are unable to give the inventor's name. 
 He was a correspondent to Mechanics' Maga- 
 zine, and the description furnished by the in- 
 ventor as published in Mechanics' Magazine, 
 is as follows: 
 
 Description. A A A is a ring of thin wood ; 
 B B B, several spokes, movable round the fixed 
 points C C C, and only allowed to move one way 
 by the construction of the openings D D D; 
 E E E, heavy weights fixed to the ends of the 
 spokes. 
 
 From the position in which the wheel is at 
 present, it is evident that the weights on the right- 
 hand side (1 and 2) acting at a greater distance 
 from the center than those (4 and 5) on the other 
 side, will cause that side to descend until the spoke 
 1 reaches the position 3, when it will exert no 
 moving influence, but by which time the weight 8 
 will have fallen into the position 1, when a similar 
 effect will take place, and so on with the rest. 
 
 Leonardo da Vinci 
 
 It is with a mingled feeling of sorrow and 
 exaltation that we note the Perpetual Motion 
 labors of the great Leonardo da Vinci. Of all 
 of the men who ever gave the subject more 
 than a passing notice he is the most famous. 
 
 Leonardo da Vinci was an Italian, born in 
 1452, and died in 1519. He was the illegitimate 
 
28 PERPETUAL MOTION 
 
 son of Florentine, lawyer. His mother has 
 been variously described as a peasant, and as 
 of gentle birth. Little about her is known. 
 The father belonged to a family of lawyers, 
 and never repudiated the son, but took him, 
 educated him, and cared for him. It is well 
 for the world that he did, for Leonardo da Vinci 
 has perhaps contributed more to art and learn- 
 ing in the world than any other single individ- 
 ual that ever lived. He was a painter, a sculp- 
 tor, an architect, a musician, a mechanician, 
 engineer and natural philosopher. Each sub- 
 ject in art or science that he touched he not 
 only mastered, but improved and embellished. 
 He painted the original of the well-known pic- 
 ture of the Christ and His twelve Apostles, 
 known as the "Last Supper," or the "Last Sup- 
 per of Our Lord." This, and Mona Lisa, are 
 perhaps the paintings by which he is known to 
 the greatest number of people, and are con- 
 sidered by many connoisseurs the highest per- 
 fection in art ever attained by mortal man. 
 
 But, as painter and sculptor, he is to be 
 regarded as among the greatest, if not the very 
 greatest that ever lived. In art he ranks be- 
 side, if not ahead of Michelangelo and Raffael, 
 and yet they are known only as artists, while 
 he was preeminent in both art and science. The 
 work he did in natural science was entirely 
 
PERPETUAL MOTION 29 
 
 original and emanated from an inherent initia- 
 tive and originality, and as a scientist, he is 
 entitled to rank below only Newton, Gallileo 
 and Copernicus, and very few others. In all 
 the history of the world he is the only man of 
 whom it can be said that he attained the apex 
 of eminence in both art and science. 
 
 The information concerning Leonardo da 
 Vinci's devices for obtaining Perpetual Motion 
 is extremely meager. There does not seem to 
 be extant any detailed explanation of just how 
 he expected his different designs to work. 
 
 All that is known concerning his efforts 
 is sufficiently illustrated by the following cuts 
 and language from Dircks: 
 
 Fig. i may be taken as a scheme belonging 
 to the fifteenth century. It seems to be placed 
 at the head as a simple or elementary design 
 for future improvement. It is a chambered 
 drum wheel, containing balls or weights, which, 
 being always farthest from the center on one 
 side, as compared to the other, are expected to 
 keep the wheel constantly rotating. 
 
 Fig. 2. Failing in this scheme, the inven- 
 tor next offers one with weighted levers, which 
 are to fall outwards on one side, but to fall in- 
 wards on the opposite side, the weight at the 
 same time sliding up the lever when vertical 
 at the bottom, so as to be nearer the center 
 throughout on the ascending side. But how 
 
30 
 
 PERPETUAL MOTION 
 
PERPETUAL MOTION 31 
 
 the weight is to be made to ascend at the bottom 
 remains to be shown. 
 
 Fig. 3. The difficulty of elevating the 
 weight would appear to have suggested its im- 
 mersion in a trough of water, as here shown. 
 The weights seem to be attached to some con- 
 trivance to float them upwards; but we are per- 
 plexed, and so no doubt was da Vinci, how to 
 sink them, or being sunk, how to render them 
 again buoyant by any self-motive process. 
 
 Fig. 4. It would appear as though the dif- 
 ficulties observable in Fig. 3 were attempted 
 to be met here, in a plan which evidently com- 
 bines several views of the case, yet without 
 removing the main difficulty; for although the 
 weight at the end of the long arm may be quite 
 capable of sinking in the liquid, we still inquire, 
 How is it ever to be raised again? 
 
 Fig. 5 seems to be an incomplete sketch, 
 and a mere variation on the preceding designs, 
 with the addition either of machinery below to 
 be worked by it, or to give it motion. Possibly 
 it was proposed to have a magnet at the bottom 
 of the vessel. 
 
 Fig. 6 appears to be two designs in one 
 sketch. On one side we have long single 
 levers, with a single weight at their ends, and a 
 weight between each at the periphery; on the 
 other end, double or forked levers and double 
 weights. Its mixed character renders it prob- 
 able that it was merely some preliminary 
 sketch. 
 
 The great value of the present exhibition 
 
32 PERPETUAL MOTION 
 
 of these early contrivances of misdirected me- 
 chanical ingenuity consists in the convincing 
 evidence which they afford, that all young in- 
 ventors who occupy themselves in the search 
 for self-motive machines, do little more than 
 reproduce the blunders of a past age. After a 
 lapse of five centuries modern inventors often 
 become patentees of contrivances which are 
 only more complicated than the assumed-to-be 
 overweight wheel of Wilars de Honecort, or 
 the six similar ones of Leonardo da Vinci. 
 But such has hitherto been the ignorance of 
 mechanics on this subject, that Fig. i of the 
 annexed diagrams has frequently been adduced 
 by writers on the subject, as the veritable wheel 
 invented by the Marquis of Worcester, in the 
 seventeenth century! 
 
 A. Capra's Device 
 
 In 1678, A Capra, of Italy, revived the an- 
 cient, but still favorite scheme that dates back 
 to the 13th century. (See page 22 ante.) He 
 illustrates his idea with the following figure 
 and the following comment: 
 
 On the wheel A (of the facsimile engrav- 
 ing opposite), which must be hung well equi- 
 poised between two uprights, are appended 
 counter-weights, eighteen in number, all pre- 
 cisely at the same distance from each other, 
 and all exactly of the same weight. The coun- 
 
PERPETUAL MOTION 
 
 33 
 
 ter-weights are provided with a small ring by 
 which they are hung. 
 
 Whilst the counter-weights B are farther 
 
 from the center C of the wheel, they weigh 
 more than the counter-weights I, because these 
 are low and nearer to the center C of the wheel, 
 so that the counterweights B descend and the 
 
34 PERPETUAL MOTION 
 
 weight I drops; and whilst the weight B is al- 
 ternately descending and the weight I ascend- 
 ing, the wheel will revolve continually. But 
 it must be understood that it is necessary to 
 make the wheel perfectly true in equilibrium, 
 so that it do not weigh more on one side than 
 on the other on account of the counter-weights. 
 
 The Device of Dixon Vallance. England, 1825 
 
 This inventor was certain he had over- 
 taken and captured the ever-illusive Perpetual 
 Motion. He gives a description of his happi- 
 ness and his machine in the following effusively 
 joyous language: 
 
 The annexed drawing shows how I have 
 at length taken this enticing jilt (perpetual 
 motion), though after a long' and weary 
 chase 
 
 Through pleasant and delightful fields, 
 
 Through barren tracts and lonely wilds; 
 
 'Mongst quagmires, mosses, muirs and 
 marshes, 
 
 Where deil or spunkie never scarce is ! 
 
 By chance I happened on her den, 
 
 And took her when she didna ken. 
 
 W W W W represents a wheel with 
 twelve hollow spokes, in each of which there 
 is a rolling weight or ball. C C C C is a chain 
 passing over two pulleys P P. There is an open- 
 ing round the wheel from the nave to the cir- 
 
PERPETUAL MOTION 
 
 35 
 
 cumference, so as to allow the chain to pass 
 freely and to meet the weights. The weights 
 are met by the chain as the wheel revolves, 
 and are raised from the circumference till they 
 are at last brought close to the nave, where 
 they remain till, by the revolution of the wheel, 
 
 they are allowed to roll out to the circumfer- 
 ence. By this arrangement the weights are, 
 on one side of the wheel, always at the circum- 
 ference, so that that side is more powerful than 
 the other, which causes the wheel continually 
 to revolve. F F F F is the frame of the ma- 
 
36 PERPETUAL MOTION 
 
 chine; M M M M the mortices for joining the 
 two sides of the frame by cross rails. The 
 arrows point out the direction in which the 
 wheel turns. I am, yours, &c., Dixon Vallance. 
 Liberton, Lanarkshire, Nov. 10, 1825. 
 
 Furman's Device 
 
 Strange as it may seem, the patent office 
 of the U. S. government as late as 1884 and 
 1886, received and filed, seriously considered 
 and granted Letters Patent on Perpetual Mo- 
 tion Devices as appears from the description of 
 Furman's Device following, and from Schirr- 
 meister's "Mechanical Movement/' and Enbom 
 & Anderson's "Improvement in Pumps," ap- 
 pearing on pages 38 and 76 respectively, supra. 
 
 These were not denominated Perpetual 
 Motion Devices by the inventors, but the speci- 
 fications show them to be simply that and 
 nothing more. 
 
 July 15, 1884, George H. Furman, of 
 Rochester, Ohio, U. S. A., was granted U. S. 
 Patent No. 301979, on 
 
 "A New and Improved Motor." 
 
 The essentials are sufficiently shown by 
 the following excerpt from the specifications 
 and the following figure. We have omitted 
 Figure 2, mentioned in the specifications: 
 
PERPETUAL MOTION 37 
 
 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE. 
 
 George H. Furman, of Rochester, Ohio. 
 
 MOTOR. 
 
 Specification forming part of Letters Patent 
 
 No. 301979, dated July 15, 1884. 
 Application filed March 6, 1884. (No model.) 
 
 The action of the motor is as follows : A 
 suitable quantity of the small weights d being 
 placed in the outer drum, F, through the door 
 /, the machine being at rest, they will accumu- 
 late at the lower part of the drum F in the 
 pockets c' c'. Now, to run the machine a per- 
 son will apply his hands to the rim H and re- 
 volve the outer drum, F, in the direction of the 
 arrow shown in Fig. 1. This movement of the 
 outer drum will cause the weights d to be car- 
 ried in the pockets c' c f to the upper side of the 
 drum, at which point they will roll from the 
 pockets c' c f into the pockets b b of the inner 
 drum, G, where their weight will cause the drum 
 G and shaft E to revolve. As the pockets b of 
 the inner drum pass below the shaft E they empty 
 the weights into the troughs c' of the outer wheel, 
 F, to be again carried above the shaft and dropped 
 
38 
 
 PERPETUAL MOTION 
 
 into the pockets b, so that the inner wheel, G, and 
 shaft E will be revolved continuously. 
 
 Schirrmeister's Mechanical Movement 
 
 July 6, 1886, Charles Schirrmeister, of 
 Brooklyn, Kings County, State of New York, 
 U. S. A., obtained Letters Patent No. 345077, 
 on a new and useful 
 
 "Mechanical Movement. " 
 
 The essentials of the patented device ap- 
 pear from the following excerpts from the spec- 
 ifications, and the following figures accom- 
 panying the specifications. (Figs. 2, 3 and 4 
 we do not show.) 
 
PERPETUAL MOTION 
 
 39 
 
 JY 
 
 
40 
 
 PERPETUAL MOTION 
 
 The object of my invention is to furnish a 
 cheap and simple means for imparting mechan- 
 ical power; and I accomplish this by means of 
 a series of radial arms placed at right angles to 
 and projecting from the axis of motion where 
 power is first applied, and so arranged that each 
 arm is in a different vertical plane, said arms 
 being weighted at each end with a ball of metal. 
 Some of these arms are also made hollow and 
 inclose sliding or rolling weights, which move 
 
 back and forth as the axis revolves, and the mo- 
 tion is still further re-enforced by a series of 
 springs which are attached to the axis by a 
 lever and eccentric. 
 
 Taking the simplest form of my device, I 
 illustrate the same by the accompanying draw- 
 ings, in which 
 
 Figure i is a side elevation of the entire 
 apparatus. Fig. 2 is a sectional view showing 
 the hollow arm with a rolling weight. Fig. 3 
 is an end view showing the operation of a re- 
 enforcing spiral spring. Fig. 4 is a detailed 
 
PERPETUAL MOTION 41 
 
 view showing still further the method of re- 
 enforcing motion by springs. Fig. 5 is a view 
 of the driving-pulley with its hollow arms. 
 
 Similar letters refer to similar parts in the 
 several views. 
 
 A is the axis to which the power first im- 
 parting motion is applied. 
 
 N are the bearings supporting the same. 
 
 B is the driving-pulley attached to said 
 axis, and from which motion is imparted by 
 means of the driving belt b to any point desired. 
 
 C are the hollow arms of the driving-pul- 
 ley B. 
 
 D are the solid arms radiating from the 
 axis A. 
 
 E are the hollow arms radiating from the 
 axis A. 
 
 F are the solid balls or weights secured to 
 the ends of the arms D and E. 
 
 a are the sliding or rolling weights, which 
 are inclosed within the hollow arms C and E. 
 
 c are the slots cut into the hollow arms E, 
 to relieve the air-pressure formed by the back- 
 ward and forward motion of the weights a. 
 
 G are springs so arranged as to expend 
 their force upon the axis A by means of the 
 connecting rods H, both attached to the springs 
 and one attached to the axis A by means of the 
 eccentric I and the other to the wheel J at one 
 end of the axis. 
 
 K is a balanced lever, upon which the 
 springs G may rest, said lever being supported 
 at each end upon the springs L. 
 
42 PERPETUAL MOTION 
 
 M is a crank attached to one end of the 
 axis A, and serves to show the place and man- 
 ner in which the power may be applied. 
 
 The manner of constructing and operating 
 my invention is as follows: The entire ap- 
 paratus is made of steel or iron, and the shaft, 
 bearings, arms, springs and connecting-rods 
 are of ordinary form. The main or driving 
 pulley is cast with four hollow arms, in which 
 round weights are inclosed, which move back 
 and forth within the arms when the wheel is 
 set in motion. The solid arms, as well as the 
 hollow arms, which are used in addition to 
 those forming a part of the driving-pulley, are 
 arranged by means of set-screws a suitable dis- 
 tance apart upon the axis and in different per- 
 pendicular planes, so as to give steadiness in 
 motion. A thread is cut upon each end of these 
 arms, and the fixed weights are then screwed 
 on. When the shaft or axis revolves, the 
 weights which move toward the ends of the 
 arms above the center accelerate the motion, 
 and the momentum of the machine aids in over- 
 coming the resistance caused by the weights, 
 which are below the center. At the same time 
 the revolution of the eccentric and crank-pin 
 upon the axis depresses the connecting-rods, 
 which in turn depress the springs, which, being 
 released as soon as the eccentric and crank-pin 
 have reached their lowest point, contribute a 
 lifting power to overcome the resistance above 
 mentioned. As shown in the drawings, these 
 
PERPETUAL MOTION 43 
 
 springs joined to the connecting-rods may be 
 supported and assisted by other springs. 
 
 The power is applied by hand, operating 
 upon a crank at the end of the axis, or may be 
 imparted by steam, hot air, electricity, or in 
 any other known method, and is conducted to 
 any desired point by means of the belt b. 
 
 Having fully described my invention, what 
 I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters 
 Patent, is : 
 
 i. The combination, in apparatus for in- 
 creasing mechanical power, of an axis, as A, 
 supported upon bearings N, with a driving- 
 pulley, as B, having hollow arms, as C, with 
 movable weights, as a, and radial arms, both 
 solid and hollow, the latter having movable 
 weights, together with fixed weights attached 
 to the end of each arm, all substantially as and 
 for the purpose described. 
 
 Ferguson's Device 
 
 James Ferguson was an eminent Scotch 
 mechanician and astronomer. He was born in 
 1710, and died in 1776. He was reared in very 
 humble circumstances, and is known as the 
 Peasant Boy Philosopher. A most interesting 
 story of his life was written by Henry Mayhew, 
 and published in England in 1857, entitled 
 "The Story of the Peasant Boy Philosopher." 
 
 He prepared astronomical tables of great 
 value and lectured on astronomical and me- 
 
44 PERPETUAL MOTION 
 
 chanical subjects. His lectures were edited by 
 a no less eminent man than Sir David Brewster. 
 While Perpetual Motion seemed to have re- 
 ceived considerable time and attention from him, 
 and while his writings show that he examined a 
 great many mechanical devices, he seems all the 
 
 time to have entertained serious doubt of the pos- 
 sibility of a machine having self-motive power. 
 However, in 1770, he devised a machine for the 
 purpose of producing Perpetual Motion. It 
 does not appear that he ever offered the ma- 
 chine to the public, or sought publicity for it. 
 
PERPETUAL MOTION 45 
 
 A description of it is to be found in his Common 
 Place Book in the University Library, Edin- 
 burg. The description there furnished is as 
 follows : 
 
 The axle at A is placed horizontally, and 
 the spokes B, C, D, etc., turn in a vertical posi- 
 tion. They are jointed at s, t, u, etc., as a com- 
 mon sector is, and to each of them is fixed a 
 frame as R, S, T, etc., in which the weights 
 7, 8, 9, I, 2, etc., have liberty to move. When 
 any spoke as D is in a horizontal position, the 
 weight I in it falls down and pulls the part b 
 of the then vertical spoke B straight out, by 
 means of a cord going over the pulleys K and 
 k to the weight I. The spoke C c was pulled 
 straight out before, when it was vertical, by 
 means of the weight 2, belonging to the spoke 
 E e which is in the horizontal position D d; and 
 so of all the others on the right hand. But 
 when these spokes come about to the left hand, 
 their weights 4, 5, 6 fall back, and cease pulling 
 the parts f, g, h, i; so that the spokes then 
 bend at their joints X, y, z, and the balls at 
 their ends come nearer the center A, all on the 
 left side. Now, as the balls or weights at the 
 right hand side are farther from the center A 
 than they are on the left, it might be supposed 
 that this machine would turn round perpetu- 
 ally. I have shown it to many who have de- 
 clared it would; and yet for all that, whoever 
 makes it, will find it to be only a mere balance. 
 I leave them to find out the reason. 
 
46 
 
 PERPETUAL MOTION 
 
 B. Belidor's Device 
 
 This device was incubated in the brain of 
 an American. His name is unknown. We 
 have denominated it "B. Belidor's Device," not 
 because B. Belidor was the inventor, but be- 
 cause the account of the invention was fur- 
 
 nished by him. This device seems to the au- 
 thor to have possessed originality, though, of 
 course, it failed to work for reasons clearly 
 apparent. 
 
 An account of it was given in the Journal 
 of Franklin's Institute, Philadelphia, in 1828. 
 
PERPETUAL MOTION 47 
 
 The article contributed by B. Belidor is as 
 follows: 
 
 Even the pursuit after perpetual motion, 
 hopeless as it is, may not be considered en- 
 tirely vain, in occasionally leading to useful 
 modifications of machinery. As an instance of 
 this, I here submit to you a plan suggested by 
 an ingenious friend of mine, several years ago, 
 as in the diagrams annexed, Fig. i, a perpendic- 
 ular, and Fig. 2 a horizontal view. 
 
 A A, two vertical wheels, placed diag- 
 onally, and revolving on the axes X X. The 
 levers B B and C C are hinged at the peripheries 
 of the wheels. By rotation the arms B B are 
 projected from the center of motion, while the 
 arms C C are drawn in. 
 
 It is plain that a series of arms as shown 
 in Fig. 2, will produce an eccentric motion, 
 causing the weights at their ends apparently 
 to preponderate on the side B. BELIDOR. 
 
 Desagulier's Proposition on the Balance 
 
 This so-called problem is of doubtful classi- 
 fication. The author of the problem did not 
 claim that the discovery of the problem dis- 
 closes any means for attaining Perpetual Mo- 
 tion, and, yet, it is apparent that if the author 
 of the problem was correct in his solution of it, 
 Perpetual Motion was thereby already within 
 his grasp. The difficulty about it all is that 
 while the problem is quite interesting, the 
 
48 PERPETUAL MOTION 
 
 author's solution shows that he was not fa- 
 miliar with even fundamental mechanics. The 
 name of the author was J. T. Desagulier, LL.D., 
 F. R. S. He was a minister of the gospel, but 
 evidently gave considerable attention to me- 
 chanical questions. He is mentioned in chapter 
 X of this work. 
 
 Rev. Desagulier presented two problems 
 of the balance. One he calls "A Proposition on 
 the Balance, not taken notice of by Mechanical 
 Writers, explained and confirmed by an Ex- 
 periment/' The article under this heading is 
 as follows : 
 
 In the last papers I published in "Philosoph- 
 ical Transaction" against this perpetual motion, 
 described in No. 177, I intreated the author to 
 permit me to say nothing as to what alterations he 
 might make in his engine, resolving to leave it 
 to others to show him that upon that prin- 
 ciple all he can do signifies nothing. But I 
 find since, in the "Nouvelles de la Republique" 
 for December last, that he still persists to urge 
 some new contrivances, which being added, he 
 conceives his engine must succeed. To this I 
 answer, that I undertook only to shew that his 
 first device would faile, which yet I should 
 scarce have done if I had thought a dispute of this 
 nature could have lasted so long. To come, 
 therefore, to the point where he saith that this 
 engine may well succeed without alteration, 
 because he hath tryed with liquors put into 
 
PERPETUAL MOTION 
 
 49 
 
 2 
 
 i 
 
50 PERPETUAL MOTION 
 
 bellows immersed in water; I again say that I 
 grant him the truth of the experiments, but 
 deny the consequences he would draw from 
 them. I have already given the reasons of my 
 dissent, which this gentleman is not pleased to 
 understand. But to end all controversies, he 
 may please to consult Mr. Perrault, De la Hire, 
 or any other at Paris well known to be skilled 
 in hydraulicks, and I doubt not but he will find 
 them of the same opinion with Mr. Boyle, Mr. 
 Hook, and other knowing persons here, who all 
 agree that our author is in this matter under a 
 mistake. 
 
 A Proposition on the Balance, not taken notice 
 of by Mechanical Writers, explained and 
 confirmed by an Experiment. 
 
 A B is a balance, on which is supposed to 
 hang at one end, B, the scale E, with a man in 
 it, who is counterpoised by the weight W hang- 
 ing at A, the other end of the balance. I say, 
 that if such a man, with a cane or any rigid 
 straight body, pushes upwards against the 
 beam anywhere between the points C and B 
 (provided he does not push directly against B), 
 he will thereby make himself heavier, or over- 
 poise the weight W, though the stop G G hin- 
 ders the scale E from being thrust outwards 
 from C towards G G. I say likewise, that if 
 the scale and man should hang from D, the 
 man, by pushing upwards against B, or any- 
 where between B and D (provided he does not 
 push directly against D), will make himself 
 
PERPETUAL MOTION 51 
 
 lighter, or be overpoised by the weight W, 
 which before did only counterpoise the weight 
 of his body and the scale. 
 
 If the common center of gravity of the 
 scale E, and the man supposed to stand in it, 
 be at k, and the man, by thrusting against any 
 part of the beam, cause the scale to move out- 
 wards so as to carry the said common center of 
 gravity to k x, then, instead of B E, L / will be 
 come the line of direction of the compound 
 weight, whose action will be increased in the 
 ratio of L C to B C. This is what has been 
 explained by several writers of mechanics; but 
 no one, that I know of, has considered the case 
 when the scale is kept from flying out, as here 
 by the post G G, which keeps it in its place, as 
 if the strings of the scale were become in- 
 flexible. Now, to explain this case, let us sup- 
 pose the length B D of half of the brachium 
 B C to be equal to 3 feet, the line B E to 4 feet, 
 the line E D of 5 feet to be the direction in 
 which the man pushes, D F and F E to be re- 
 spectively equal and parallel to B E and B D, 
 and the whole or absolute force with which the 
 man pushes equal to (or able to rise) 10 stone. 
 Let the oblique force E D (= 10 stone) be re- 
 solved into the two E F and E B (or its equal 
 F D) whose directions are at right angles to 
 each other, and whose respective quantities 
 (or intensities) are as 6 and 8, because E F and 
 B E are in that proportion to each other and to 
 E D. Now, since E F is parallel to B D C A, 
 the beam, it does no way affect the beam to 
 
52 PERPETUAL MOTION 
 
 move it upwards; and therefore there is only 
 the force represented by F D, or 8 stone, to 
 push the beam upwards at D. For the same 
 reason, and because action and reaction are 
 equal, the scale will be pushed down at E with 
 the force of 8 stone also. Now, since the force 
 at E pulls the beam perpendicularly downwards 
 from the point B, distant from C the whole 
 length of the brachium B C, its action down- 
 wards will not be diminished, but may be 
 expressed by 8 X B C; whereas the action up- 
 wards against D will be half lost, by reason of 
 the diminished distance from the center, and 
 
 BC 
 is only to be expressed by 8 X ; and when 
 
 2 
 
 the action upwards to raise the beam is sub- 
 tracted from the action downwards to depress 
 it, there will still remain 4 stone to push down 
 
 BC 
 the scale ; because 8 X B C 8 X = 4 B C 
 
 2 
 
 Consequently, a weight of 4 stone must be 
 added at the end A to restore the sequilibrium. 
 Therefore a man, &c., pushing upwards under 
 the beam between B and D, becomes heavier. 
 Q. E. D. 
 
 On the contrary, if the scale should hang 
 at F, from the point D, only 3 feet from the 
 center of motion C, and a post G G hinders the 
 scale from being pushed inwards towards C, 
 then, if a man in this scale F pushes obliquely 
 against B with the oblique force above men- 
 
PERPETUAL MOTION 53 
 
 tioned, the whole force, for the reasons before 
 given (in resolving the oblique force into two 
 others acting in lines perpendicular to each 
 other) will be reduced to 8 stone, which pushes 
 the beam directly upwards at B, while the same 
 force of 8 stone draws it directly down at D 
 towards F. But as C D is only equal to half 
 of C B, the force at D, compared with that at 
 
 B, loses half its action, and therefore can only 
 take off the force of 4 stone from the push up- 
 wards at B ; and consequently the weight W 
 at A will preponderate, unless an additional 
 weight of 4 stone be hanged at B. Therefore, 
 a man, &c., pushing upwards under the beam 
 between B and D, becomes lighter. 
 
 The other problem presented by Rev. 
 Desagulier is denominated by him "An Ex- 
 periment explaining a Mechanical Paradox, 
 that two bodies of equal weight suspended on a 
 certain sort of balance do not lose their equilib- 
 rium by being removed, one farther from, the 
 other nearer to, the center." 
 
 The article concerning this problem is as 
 follows : 
 
 If the two weights P W hangs at the ends 
 of the balance A B, whose center of motion is 
 
 C, those weights will act against each other 
 (because their directions are contrary) with 
 forces made up of the quantity of matter in 
 each multiplied by its velocity; that is, by 
 the velocity which the motion of the balance 
 turning about C will give to the body sus- 
 
54 
 
 PERPETUAL MOTION 
 
PERPETUAL MOTION 55 
 
 pended. Now, the velocity of a heavy body is 
 its perpendicular ascent or descent, as will ap- 
 pear by moving the balance into the position 
 a b, which shews the velocity of P to be the 
 perpendicular line e a, and the velocity of B 
 will be the perpendicular line b g; for if the 
 weights P and W are equal, and also the lines 
 e a and b g, their momenta, made up of e a 
 multiplied into W, and b g multiplied into P, 
 will be equal, as will appear by their destroying 
 one another in making an equilibrium. But 
 if the body W was removed to M, and sus- 
 pended at the point D, then, its velocity being 
 only / d, it would be overbalanced by the body 
 P, because / d multiplied into M would produce 
 a less momentum than P multiplied into b g. 
 
 As the arcs A a, B b, and D d, described by 
 the ends of the balance or points of suspension, 
 are proportionable to their sines e a, g b, and 
 d j y as also the radii or distances C A, C B, and 
 C D; in the case of this common sort of bal- 
 ance, the arcs described by the weights, or their 
 points of suspension, or the distances from the 
 center, may be taken for velocities of the 
 weights hanging at A, B, or D, and, therefore, 
 the acting force of the weights will be reciprocally 
 as their distances from the center. 
 
 Scholium. The distances from the center 
 are taken here for the velocities of the bodies, 
 only because they are proportionable to the 
 lines e a, b g, and / d, which are the true velocities ; 
 for there are a great many cases wherein the 
 velocities are neither proportionable to the dis- 
 
56 PERPETUAL MOTION 
 
 tances from the center of motion of a machine, 
 nor to the arcs described by the weights or 
 their points of suspension. Therefore, it is not 
 a general rule that weights act in proportion 
 to their distances from the center of motion; 
 but a corollary of the general rule that weights 
 act in proportion to their velocities, which is 
 only true in some cases. Therefore, we must 
 not take this case as a principle, which most 
 workmen do, and all those people who make 
 attempts to find the perpetual motion, as I have 
 more amply shewn in the Phil. Trans., No. 369. 
 But to make this evident even in the bal- 
 ance, we need only take notice of the following 
 experiment : A C B E K D is a balance in the 
 form of a parallelogram passing through a slit 
 in the upright piece N O standing on the pedes- 
 tal M, so as to be moveable upon the center 
 pins C and K. To the upright pieces A D and 
 B E of this balance are fixed at right angles the 
 horizontal pieces F G and H I. That the equal 
 weights P W must keep each other in sequi- 
 librio, is evident; but it does not at first appear 
 so plainly, that if W be removed to V, being 
 suspended at 6, yet it shall still keep P in 
 sequilibrio, though the experiment shews it. 
 Nay, if W be successively moved to any of the 
 points i, 2, 3, E, 4, 5, or 6, the aequilibrium will 
 be continued ; or if, W hanging at any of those 
 points, P be successively moved to D, or any 
 of the points of suspension on the cross-piece 
 F G, P will at any of those places make an 
 sequilibrium with W. Now, when the weights 
 
PERPETUAL MOTION 57 
 
 are at P and V, if the least weight that is 
 capable to overcome the friction at the points 
 of suspension C and K be added to V, as u, the 
 weight V will overpower, and that as much at 
 V as if it was at W. 
 
 From what we have said above, the reason 
 of this experiment will be very plain. 
 
 As the lines A C and K D, C B and K E, 
 always continue of the same length in any posi- 
 tion of the machine, the pieces A D and B E 
 will always continue parallel to one another, 
 and perpendicular to the horizon. However, 
 the whole machine turns upon the points C and 
 K, as appears by bringing the balance to any 
 other position, as a b e d; and therefore, as the 
 weights applied to any part of the pieces F G 
 and H I can only bring down the pieces A D 
 and B E perpendicularly, in the same manner 
 as if they were applied to the hooks D and E, 
 or to X and Y, the centers of gravity of A D 
 and B E, the force of the weights (if their 
 quantity of matter is equal) will be equal, be- 
 cause their velocities will be their perpendicular 
 ascent or descent, which will always be as the 
 equal lines 4 / and 4 L, whatever part of the 
 pieces F G and H I the weights are applied to. 
 But if to the weight at V be added the little 
 weight u, those two weights will overpower, 
 because in this case the momentum is made up 
 of the sum of V and u multiplied by the com- 
 mon velocity 4 L. 
 
 Hence follows, that it is not the distance 
 C 6 multiplied into the weight V which makes its 
 
58 PERPETUAL MOTION 
 
 momentum, but its perpendicular velocity L 4 
 multiplied into its mass. Q. E. D. 
 
 This is still further evident by taking out 
 the pin at K; for then the weight P will over- 
 balance the other weight at V, because then 
 their perpendicular ascent and descent will not 
 be equal. 
 
 The Rev. Dr. Desagulier was evidently a 
 man of scientific turn and capacity. It is unusual 
 to find ministers deeply interested in scientific 
 matters, and yet, he seems to have been. The net 
 result of his experiments can be succinctly stated 
 as follows : 
 
 In the first problem there is no change in 
 the distance of the center of gravity from the 
 support, and, therefore, there could be no dis- 
 turbance of the equilibrium. 
 
 In the second problem there is a change in 
 the distance in the center of gravity from the 
 support, and there must have been a disturbance 
 of the equilibrium. 
 
 John Haywood's Device 
 
 In 1790, John Hay wood, of Long Acre, 
 Middlesex, draftsman and mechanic, obtained 
 British patent on: 
 
 "A machine for working mills and engines 
 without the aid of fire, water, or wind, or in aid 
 of all or any of those or any other powers." 
 
 The specification describes the device as 
 follows: 
 
PERPETUAL MOTION 
 
 59 
 
 "The machine acts on a rotative principle, 
 or, in other words, has a revolving circular or 
 circulating motion round an axis, center, or 
 
 (Fig. I.) 
 
 centers. It may be made or constructed of any 
 materials or matter whatsoever, so it be of suffi- 
 cient strength to sustain the power of 'action 
 when applied to any mill, engine, or machine to 
 
60 PERPETUAL MOTION 
 
 which action or motion can or may be com- 
 municated by a wheel. The size or dimensions 
 of this machine are by no means confined, but 
 may be varied or altered as circumstances may 
 require. 
 
 "References to the drawings of the ma- 
 chine hereunto annexed: Fig. i is the section 
 of the machine. A, A, B, a cranked or double 
 center, fixed to the stand or frame D by the 
 bolts E. C, C, the wheel which turns or revolves 
 round that part of the cranked center mark 
 A. F, levers which turn or revolve round the 
 cranked center B. G, G, rollers or weights 
 which revolve in the circular guides or grooves 
 by means of the leavers F. H, H, circular 
 grooves or guides which are affixed to the inner 
 sides of the wheel. N.B. the distance from A 
 to B is the radius in all cases to determine the 
 space between the center of the guide or groove 
 H and the center of the roller or weight G. The 
 distance of the two concentric circles which 
 form the guides or grooves H must be equal to 
 the diameter of the roller or weight G. I, I, 
 springs which stop the rollers or weights G 
 from returning when at the horizontal diameter 
 of the wheel. K, weights, which may be in- 
 creased or diminished at pleasure. L, ledges 
 which connect the sides of the wheel together. 
 N. B. By fixing cogs or teeth on the rim of the 
 wheel, so as to connect it with any mill, machine, 
 or engine to which motion can be given by a 
 wheel, the power of this machine may be com- 
 municated." 
 
PERPETUAL MOTION 61 
 
 Explanation of the Failure of the Preceding 
 Wheels and Weights Devices 
 
 It must not be presumed that the preceding 
 devices shown in this chapter constitute any con- 
 siderable part of the Wheels and Weights Devices 
 that have been constructed through the hope of 
 attaining Perpetual Motion. Of all the means 
 whereby Perpetual Motion has been sought 
 wheels and weights have been by far the most 
 prolific. There is scarcely a village or a rural 
 community in the civilized world that cannot 
 point out its Perpetual Motion worker, and 
 he generally starts with wheels and weights, 
 though often, after long labor and final failure 
 with wheels and weights, he still exploits other 
 attractive fields of hopeless endeavor. Of the 
 devices of that kind, accounts of which have ap- 
 peared in scientific journals, or application for 
 patents upon which have been made, and, in- 
 deed, patents often granted, it would be possible 
 to write a book of thousands of pages, but to do 
 so would be to no purpose. 
 
 It is believed by the author that the preced- 
 ing devices are sufficient to illustrate, and show 
 the controlling features of all the various me- 
 chanical contrivances for the utilization of wheels 
 and weights as a means of Self-Motive Power. 
 Countless others could be shown of more or less 
 complicated mechanism, but an examination 
 
63 PERPETUAL MOTION 
 
 would disclose the fact that each gets back to 
 some combination of parts well illustrated in the 
 preceding. Also, in endeavoring to express why 
 all wheels and weights devices have failed to 
 work, each essential point of weakness is dis- 
 closed in the preceding. Now, why have they 
 failed to work, and wherein are they inherently 
 wrong and unscientific? 
 
 A cursory examination of the preceding de- 
 vices shows that each depends ultimately on the 
 supposition : 
 
 1. That a descending weight elevates an 
 equal weight through a distance equal to the 
 descent, and at.the same time overcomes the fric- 
 tional resistance of mechanism, both ascent and 
 descent being measured on perpendicular lines, or 
 
 2. That weights affixed to an axis and 
 caused to have a longer leverage on the desce^d- 
 ing side than on the ascending side, and conse- 
 quently the downward pull on the long lever side 
 is supposed to be greater than the downward pull 
 or resistance on the short lever side of the axis. 
 
 If the fallacy of these supposed principles is 
 explained and fully understood, it disposes, and 
 disposes effectually, of the possibility of obtain- 
 ing Perpetual Motion by means of wheels, 
 weights and the force of gravity. 
 
 It should be remembered that a wheel is a 
 
PERPETUAL MOTION 
 
 63 
 
 lever, or rather it is a continuous series of levers 
 nothing more nothing less. 
 
 We first refer to the figure shown in A. 
 Capra's device, page 33 ante. The left side of 
 this wheel is, of course, supposed to be the de- 
 scending side on which the weights are farthest 
 from the center of the wheel. It is apparent that 
 
 only five weights are having any leverage advan- 
 tage whatever, while a much greater number are 
 being made to ascend. The advantage which a 
 few of the weights have by virtue of the leverage 
 pulling downward is always exactly counterbal- 
 anced by an increased number of weights being 
 drawn upward. It should be borne in mind that 
 the direction of the force of gravity is toward 
 
64 PERPETUAL MOTION 
 
 the center of the earth, and not in the direction 
 of the motion of the wheel, except at the extreme 
 left side of the wheel. 
 
 Again, consider the figure appearing on 
 page 63. It is manifest that the weights on the 
 right hand are further out, and have a lever- 
 age advantage of the weights on the left hand 
 side, but it is also manifest that there is, and al- 
 ways must be, a greater number of weights on 
 the left hand side. The greater leverage of the 
 weights on one side is exactly balanced by the 
 greater number of weights on the other side. 
 
 For a further illustration, take the figure 
 shown on sheet 65, ante. The weight "1" has a 
 distinct advantage over weight "5." Weight "2" 
 has a distinct advantage over weight "6." But 
 here we have only three weights : 1, 2 and 8, tend- 
 ing to pull the wheel from left to right, whereas 
 there are five weights, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7, tending to 
 prevent its going to the right. 
 
 In other words, if weights 1, 2 and 8 were 
 removed, it is clear that the wheel would turn 
 back to the left by reason of the action of the 
 weights 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7. Here again the leverage 
 advantage which weights have descending is 
 counterbalanced by the increased number of 
 weights on the opposite side acted on by the force 
 of gravity, tending to prevent the descent of those 
 having the greater leverage. 
 
PERPETUAL 'MOTION 
 
 65 
 
 All the simpler devices failed, of course, to 
 work. The more complicated devices are simply 
 efforts to overcome the elementary principles that 
 prevented the simpler devices from working. 
 Among these that of Dixon Vallance (see page 
 34, ante), is best adapted to illustrate the folly 
 
 and the fallacy of these various devices to over- 
 come elementary principles. 
 
 We here refer to the figure appearing on 
 page 35, ante, shown in connection with Dixon 
 Vallance's Device. The obvious purpose was to 
 
66 PERPETUAL MOTION 
 
 keep all the weights close to the hub, except those 
 depended upon to produce continuous motion by 
 their greater leverage. 
 
 To the untrained and untechnical person it 
 would perhaps not be manifest at first just why 
 the Vallance machine failed to work. Here is 
 its failure : Weight "c" must be raised toward the 
 hub of the wheel. To raise that weight requires 
 the application of force. That force must be 
 supplied. The belt "cc" would work more freely 
 if it were not elevating a weight, and the force 
 required from "w" to turn the wheel so as to 
 elevate the weight at "c" is counterbalanced by 
 the resistance the weight "c" offers to being 
 raised, and consequently to the motion of the belt 
 and in turn to the progress of the wheel. 
 
 It should always be remembered that, omit- 
 ting friction, the energy exerted by a descending 
 body is the perpendicular distance of its descent 
 multiplied by its weight. For, notwithstanding 
 what its course may be from an elevated point to 
 a lower point the energy accumulated in the de- 
 scent is still the product of the perpendicular dis- 
 tance and the mass, or weight. 
 
 In all of these devices it is apparent that 
 every weight is brought back by some force from 
 the lowest point it reaches to the same elevation 
 from which it started to descend. It is axioma- 
 tic, therefore, that the perpendicular ascent is 
 
PERPETUAL MOTION 67 
 
 equal to the perpendicular descent. The ascend- 
 ing weight and the descending weight are, of 
 course, the same. Therefore, the product of the 
 weight and the perpendicular distance of ascent 
 is exactly equal to the product of the weight and 
 the perpendicular distance of descent. Hence, 
 there is an exact balancing of energies, and no 
 motion results. Any motion imparted by wind, 
 water or steam will, if the moving force be with- 
 drawn, soon be overcome by unavoidable friction, 
 and a state of rest follows. There can be no 
 doubt that any attempt to attain Self-Motive 
 Power by means of wheels, weights, levers, and 
 the force of gravity must result in failure. The 
 thing itself is physically impossible. 
 
 In addition to what is above stated, read 
 carefully Chapter XI, on Conservation of En- 
 ergy; also read Chapter XIV, entitled "The 
 Seeming Probability of Effecting a Continual 
 Motion by Solid Weights in a Hollow Wheel or 
 Sphere" at page 290 of this book. 
 
CHAPTER II 
 
 DEVICES BY MEANS OF ROLLING 
 WEIGHTS AND INCLINED PLANES 
 
 Device by Mercury in Inclined Glass Tube and 
 Heavy Ball on Inclined Plane 
 
 Neither the inventor's name nor his nativity 
 can we give. An account of the invention was 
 furnished by a correspondent to Mechanics' 
 Magazine in 1829. The account is as follows : 
 
 Jo the curious who delight in mechanical in- 
 tricacies, to whom ingenuity of contrivance is the 
 goal for which they run, nothing seems to afford 
 and require such endless resources as that most 
 puzzling thing perpetual motion. The unfor- 
 tunate name "perpetual motion," if changed for 
 "mechanical experiment," would eventually, per- 
 haps, remove the real cause of censuring it, by the 
 different idea of the object aimed at. 
 
 I now beg leave to offer some account of a 
 combination of movements, which, from its orig- 
 inality, and seeming to possess every requisite for 
 retaining it in action, may possibly be acceptable. 
 
 This diagram shows a side view. On the 
 stand A are raised two supports B, each having 
 a center hole at a, to receive the axle of the bal- 
 anced apparatus, consisting of C, a glass tube 
 
PERPETUAL MOTION 
 
 69 
 
 containing a portion of mercury G; and D, a 
 grooved scaleboard, in which a ball, E, can roll 
 backwards and forwards. F F are two jointed 
 levers, which are to serve, when struck by the 
 ball, to reverse the position of the compound bal- 
 ance : the whole centred at a, the tube at b, and 
 the grooved board at c. In its present position, 
 the mercury (it is supposed), having flowed to 
 the end C, will depress D, and cause the ball E 
 
 to roll to D, and depress the end G F D ; and so 
 on continually. 
 
 Series of Inclined Planes 
 
 This scheme is of English origin, and was 
 promulgated in 1864. The name of the inventor 
 is unknown, but he described his invention in a 
 communication to a scientific publication in the 
 following language: 
 
tt> PERPETUAL MOTION 
 
 The accompanying diagram represents a 
 series of inclined semi-tubes connected together 
 in the form of a rectangle. 
 
 The ball A, is placed at the top of an incline 
 in such a position that it shall descend to B, at 
 which point it will have sufficient velocity or 
 gravity to carry it up the ascent to C ; and so sup- 
 posing the inclines and ascents to be endless, the 
 repetition of the movement must be also endless. 
 I think it is not unreasonable to suppose that a 
 perpetual movement of the ball will take place, 
 
 from the fact that the velocity imparted to it by 
 its first descent is sufficient to carry it from A to 
 C, those two points being at the same level. I 
 think the only thing to guard against is the ball 
 rushing over the point C, and thus accelerating 
 the velocity at each descent. The incline on road 
 upon which the ball runs can be made either cir- 
 cular, square, octagonal, or, in fact, almost of 
 any form. 
 
PERPETUAL MOTION 71 
 
 Device by Oscillating Trough and Cannon 
 
 Balls 
 
 (Name of inventor unknown) 
 
 An adaptation from a "Perpetual Pump" 
 substituting cannon-balls for water. 
 
 An account of this invention was published 
 in London in 1825, in the language of the inven- 
 tor, who says: 
 
 The description of the perpetual pump has 
 suggested to me whether the long-sought "per- 
 petual motion" may not be found by a simple me- 
 chanical alteration of that machine, and substi- 
 tuting a cannon-ball as a primum mobile, in lieu 
 of the Water, not always obtainable. I would 
 recommend that in the bottom of the trough be 
 inserted at each end two dropping-boards, of a 
 triangular form, moving on an axis at one corner, 
 one of which falling below the level of the trough 
 at the elevated end, the other shall be raised by 
 the stop affixed to the standard-post, which, 
 throwing the ball again back to the former end, 
 shall depress that, until the same process is re- 
 peated in perpetual activity. 
 
 DESCRIPTION. Fig. 1. A, the trough, 
 swinging on an axis at B. C, the cannon-ball, 
 raised by one of the dropping-boards, D, whilst 
 the other falls through the opening at E, into the 
 trough. F, the support or stop, raising the drop- 
 
72 
 
 PERPETUAL MOTION 
 
 ping-board D. The center of the trough ought 
 to be pierced, leaving the sides as a support to the 
 ball, which ought not to be wider than the ball 
 may travel freely through. 
 
 Fig. 2. D D, the dropping-boards, which 
 pass through the center so as to leave a sufficiency 
 of the trough as a resting place for the ball to 
 give a momentum, and depress the trough, pre- 
 
 viously to its being again raised by the dropping- 
 board. 
 
 We meekly venture to call the attention of 
 this inventor, if he is still living, and to any 
 others who may be working along the same line, 
 that to our certain knowledge water is more gen- 
 erally obtainable than cannon-balls. We, there- 
 fore, suggest the use of water instead of 
 cannon-balls. 
 
PERPETUAL MOTION 73 
 
 Unpublished Incline Plane and Weights De- 
 vices Noted by the Author 
 
 Except the preceding three devices the au- 
 thor does not remember ever to have seen re- 
 ported in any book, patent, application for patent, 
 or report, the account of a device for obtaining 
 self-motive power by means of weights and in- 
 clined planes, and yet, it is believed by the author 
 from the use that has been made of inclined 
 planes and rolling weights in demonstrating me- 
 chanical principles by many natural philosophers, 
 and also from devices that have from time to time 
 been brought to the attention of the author dur- 
 ing thirty years last past, that the inclined plane 
 with rolling weights has been a fertile field of 
 folly among Perpetual Motion seekers. 
 
 On a number of occasions the author has 
 been asked to view and inspect mechanical devices 
 of that kind, which it was claimed by the con- 
 fident inventor and his friends "would surely 
 "work when just one little thing could be over- 
 come/' The praseology was sometimes varied a 
 little from the preceding quotation, but the sub- 
 stance was always there. 
 
 In one instance the device attracted the en- 
 thusiastic attention and elicited breathless inter- 
 est from a doctor and surgeon of much more than 
 ordinary skill and intelligence in his profession, 
 and was hopefully regarded by a number of other 
 
74 PERPETUAL MOTION 
 
 persons who had had schooling advantages and 
 were supposed to be versed in the rudiments of 
 mechanics, and, it would seem to the author, 
 ought at first sight to have perceived the fallacy 
 and hopelessness of the inventor's dreams. 
 
 All of these claimed inventions relying on 
 the inclined plane with rolling weights were so 
 nearly alike in the principle involved that all may 
 be illustrated by the following explanation : 
 
 The above figure shows a vertical section of 
 a device that illustrates the controlling principle 
 in all of these devices. It is manifest that the 
 balls between A and C are hanging equally be- 
 tween A D and C D, the points of suspension 
 A and C being in a horizontal line. It is also 
 manifest that there will be a greater number of 
 balls on the sloping incline A B than on the 
 sloping incline B C. The Perpetual Motion 
 seeker has always argued to himself that the 
 four balls between A and B should pull stronger 
 to the left at B than the two balls between B and 
 
PERPETUAL MOTION 75 
 
 C can pull. Sometimes this device has been 
 varied whereby the balls would roll freely down 
 the incline from B to A and then roll back toward 
 C down another incline where they would be sup- 
 posed to strike a lever and impel a ball from C 
 to B, which ball would then roll down the incline 
 B A, and so on indefinitely. 
 
 The error of all this lies in the fact that the 
 four balls between B and A will not elevate the 
 two balls between B and C for the reason that 
 they are on a less inclined slope. As we would 
 ordinarily state it, B C is a "steeper" incline. 
 One ball between B and C by force of gravity 
 pulls stronger toward C than one ball on B A 
 will pull toward A. It is manifest, therefore, 
 that an equilibrium requires a greater number of 
 balls on B A than B C. 
 
 B A is longer and accommodates a greater 
 number of balls than can be accommodated on 
 B C. The number of balls that can be accom- 
 modated on the respective sides is always found 
 to be such that the small number of balls between 
 B C pull in the aggregate toward C the same as 
 the greater number of balls between B and A 
 pull toward A, and thus equilibrium is established. 
 
 It is manifest, therefore, that with the pull 
 from B toward C equal to the pull from B toward 
 A, the mechanism finds its balance and motion 
 , ceases. This is true of all similar devices. 
 
CHAPTER III 
 
 HYDRAULIC AND HYDRO-MECHAN- 
 ICAL DEVICES 
 
 Enbom & Anderson's Pump 
 
 June 13, 182 U. S. Patent, No. 2595 14 was 
 granted to Andro Enbom and John A. Anderson, 
 of Augusta, Kansas, U. S. A., on 
 
 "Improvements in Pumps." 
 
 It seems probable that the inventors did not 
 suspect, and that the patent office examiners did 
 not discover that the device had in the claimed 
 "Improvement" the essentials of self-motive 
 power. An examination of the specifications 
 clearly shows, however, that the claim of the in- 
 ventors that "the water lifted by the pump is 
 caused in its passage over the wheel A 2 to give 
 power to the same and thus lessen the labor re- 
 quired/' presupposes the principle of self-motive 
 power. The following figure taken from the 
 specifications and the following excerpt from the 
 specifications illustrate the intended operation : 
 
 The operation is substantially as follows: 
 By the application of power to the crank a revolu- 
 tion is given to the main shaft A, and by means 
 of this the pump-handle is properly actuated 
 through the intermediate mechanism described. 
 The water lifted by the pump is discharged 
 
PERPETUAL MOTION 
 
 77! 
 
 through the spout e' to the buckets of the wheel 
 a 2 , and by these is delivered to the trough F. By 
 means of the construction described the water 
 lifted by the pump is caused, in its passage over 
 the wheel a 2 , to give power to the same, and thus 
 lessen the labor required to produce a given result. 
 We suggest to the inventors that if instead 
 
 Tig.l 
 
 of elevating the water to the place of discharge 
 E' they discharge it at the level of the trough 
 "F" they will lessen the distance of elevation and 
 will save many times the energy that can be real- 
 ized by the descent of the water from the level 
 of E' to the level of "F." 
 
78 PERPETUAL MOTION 
 
 Device of "Ed. Vocis Rationis" 
 
 In 1831 Mechanics' Magazine printed an ar- 
 ticle contributed by a correspondent who signed 
 himself "Ed. Vocis Rationis." He claimed to 
 have invented a very powerful Perpetual Motion 
 Machine. 
 
 His enthusiasm is as interesting as his device 
 is absurd. We give the article as published in 
 full: 
 
 I propose to endeavor to show how my plan 
 of perpetual motion could be applied to practical 
 and useful purposes. With a view to this, I give 
 the prefixed sketch, with the following descrip- 
 tion of its construction and use : Let A represent 
 the side-wall or gable-end of a house, from 40 to 
 50 feet in elevation ; B, a cistern, filled with water, 
 having an orifice near its bottom, and another 
 
PERPETUAL MOTION 79 
 
 open at the top, for the ready escape of waste 
 water, as before ; C, a reservoir, so far filled with 
 water as not to come in contact with the bottom 
 of the water-wheel D, which, being an undershot 
 wheel, may, of course, be of such radius as is 
 suitable for the power required to raise the water. 
 Let E be another cistern, filled with water, equal 
 to and provided with orifices as in cistern B, both 
 orifices together discharging water faster than it 
 escapes from the lower orifice of the cistern B ; 
 F, two (or more, as the case may require) pumps, 
 or expressing-fountains, supported against the 
 walls by ties d d, and having their cylinders in- 
 serted in the reservoir C, and their lower suckers 
 fixed at a little less than 32 feet above the surface 
 of the fluid in the reservoir C. These express- 
 ing-fountains discharging their water into the 
 cistern E a trifle faster than it escapes from its 
 lower orifice, at an elevation of at least 33 or 34 
 feet above the surface of the water in the reser- 
 voir C, will afford space for water-wheels, sup- 
 ported against the wall by the upright K, say 
 three water-wheels, G H I, of at least eight feet 
 in diameter each, or two only of greater diameter. 
 The upper wheel G being an undershot one, if not 
 of greater radius than four feet, which it might 
 be, may have its axle fixed at an altitude of at 
 least 30 feet, and allowing the space of a foot 
 between each water-wheel for the troughs a and 
 b, which collect and convey the water from wheel 
 to wheel, will give a space of 22 feet, occupied by 
 the three water-wheels, leaving 10 feet for the 
 descent of the water by the trough c to the cistern 
 
80 PERPETUAL MOTION 
 
 B (which may be four or five feet in depth), and 
 thence to the reservoir C, which may be three or 
 four feet in depth ; also the cistern E may be four 
 or five feet in depth, and all of other correspond- 
 ing dimensions ad libitum. To produce the mo- 
 tion, remove the plugs or stoppers from the lower 
 orifices of the cisterns E and B ; the water rush- 
 ing from the latter turns the great water-wheel 
 D, which works the expressing-f ountains into the 
 upper cistern E; from the orifices of which, the 
 water escaping turns the undershot wheel G 
 (which may be of larger diameter, if required) ; 
 whence being collected by the spout a, it shoots 
 over and turns the wheel H; being collected by 
 the spout b } it turns the overshot wheel I ; whence 
 being collected by the spout c, it is conveyed into 
 the cistern B, from thence to the waterwheel D, 
 and, finally, into the reservoir C, from which it 
 is raised again by the fountains into the upper 
 cistern E ; and so on as long as you please, or as 
 long as the whole keeps in repair and in good 
 order. The apparatus may, with facility, be 
 stopped for convenience at any time without fear 
 of derangement, because the fountains carrying 
 water faster than it escapes from the lower ori- 
 fices, the cisterns will be always full ; and it may 
 be again set in motion with equal facility. With 
 the above proviso, it cannot stop till the prevail- 
 ing natural causes which gave it motion viz., 
 the pressure of the atmosphere and the descent of 
 water, which in their nature and tendency are of 
 themselves perpetual shall be diverted. Thus 
 you may have the power, free and disposable, of 
 
PERPETUAL MOTION 81 
 
 three water-wheels in perpetual motion, to be ap- 
 plied to such useful purposes of machinery within 
 the building as its inmates may require. A sup- 
 ply of water-mills might be thus provided in any 
 situation in the center of the metropolis or other 
 large towns in places subject to a deficiency of 
 rivulets suitable for mills on the common system. 
 Neither would there be any necessity for resort- 
 ing to rivers, or raising immense buildings upon 
 their banks; wherever there was a convenient 
 house, it might be readily appropriated with little 
 further expense than machinery. 
 Yours, etc., 
 
 ED. "Vocis RATIONIS." 
 Jan. 10, 1831. 
 
 Bockler's Plates 
 
 In 1662 George Andrew Bockler published 
 a work on mechanics. The work is replete with 
 fine drawings. Not a great deal of space is de- 
 voted to Perpetual Motion devices, but the fol- 
 lowing three plates which are numbered ISO, 151 
 and 152 in his work are shown as Perpetual Mo- 
 tion devices. 
 
 These devices do not appear to have been the 
 inventions of Bockler himself, but are devices 
 noticed by him. They are not explained with any 
 considerable detail 
 
 Figure 150 is "A Water Screw," and it is 
 stated that the inventor intends it for a Perpetual 
 Motion device, and it is further stated that he has 
 
PERPETUAL MOTION 
 
 FIG. iso. 
 
PERPETUAL MOTION 83 
 
 scarcely worked out his purpose. The author 
 states that the excellence consists in the propor- 
 tion and distribution of the wheel, balls and 
 weights, and says further that he does not de- 
 scribe it in detail, and that it is his intention to 
 publish at a future time a separate treatise on 
 Perpetual Motion in which this and other similar 
 machines will be considered. 
 
 He gives the first as Fig. 150, "A Water- 
 screw/' the purpose of which is not quite so ob- 
 vious as to be understood at the first view of the 
 figure ; for the inventor intimates that he intends 
 it for a perpetuum mobile. He has, however, 
 scarcely worked out his purpose, as we may, 
 nevertheless, say without any prejudice to the 
 inventor. Nor will we here describe how the ex- 
 cellence of this work consists in the proportion 
 and distribution of the wheel, and the balls or 
 weights, because it is our intention to publish, at 
 a future time, a separate treatise on the per- 
 petuum mobile, in which we shall consider this 
 and several similar machines. 
 
 Figure 151 is "A Water Screw," having a 
 grindstone for cutlery. The author remarks 
 concerning this machine as follows : 
 
 This machine also is intended for a per- 
 petuum mobile. The inventor discharges water 
 from the reservoir A, by the canal B, on the 
 water-wheel C, which turns the open screw-cylin- 
 der D, by means of the toothed wheel E, the cog- 
 wheel F, the spoked wheel G, together with the 
 
PERPETUAL MOTION 
 
 Pro. 15!v 
 
PERPETUAL MOTION 85 
 
 cylinder H, and the spoked wheel I, whilst this 
 spoked wheel I, catching the small cog-wheel L, 
 together with the cylinder M, and the handle R, 
 turns the small spoked wheel of the screw-cylin- 
 der H, and the screw-cylinder itself, and thus 
 draws up again the water discharged from the 
 reservoir A through the spiral screw Q. In 
 order to render this machine useful, a couple of 
 grindstones are placed on the cylinder D. Con- 
 cerning this machine, it is particularly to be con- 
 sidered, whether a sufficient amount of water can 
 be raised again, as has been frequently remarked 
 before about similar works. 
 
 Figure 152 is said to represent "A Double 
 Water Screw, with Double Pump," and the au- 
 thor observes: 
 
 This machine is, on the whole, similar to the 
 preceding ones. The water is discharged from 
 the round or square reservoir A, by B, on the 
 water-wheel C. A continual supply of water for 
 the water-wheel is provided as follows: The 
 crown wheel H is fixed on the upright cylinder 
 M, and is turned by the revolutions of the cylin- 
 der, whilst it turns at the same time the upper 
 wheel L, which, acting on the spokes of the double 
 screw K, K, draws up sufficient water by I, I, and 
 then, as stated, discharges it by B, on the wheel C. 
 
 The machine may be rendered useful by fur- 
 nishing the cylinder D with the double crank E, 
 to drive the two pistons of the tubes F, F, which 
 lift the water through the pipes G, G, into the 
 reservoir N, whence it may be carried off for 
 service. 
 
86 
 
 PERPETUAL MOTION 
 
 PIG. 
 
PERPETUAL MOTION si 
 
 John Linley's Hydraulic Device. 1831 
 
 An account of this was published in 1831 in 
 Mechanics' Magazine, and is as follows: 
 
 32. Perpetual Water-wheels and Pumps 
 (vol. 14, 1831). A correspondent gives a de- 
 scription of a plan which he says he believes to 
 be entirely original, and not without consider- 
 able claims to plausibility, thus: 
 
 Let abed represent a wooden cistern, or 
 trough, half filled with water; E F G, three 
 overshot water-wheels, supported by the up- 
 right piece; K is another cistern, or trough, 
 filled with water up to the dotted lines; P is a 
 syphon to convey water from the lower to the 
 upper cistern K; R is a beam supported from 
 
88 PERPETUAL MOTION 
 
 the cistern; S T U are moveable cranks at- 
 tached to the horizontal shafts through the 
 center of the water-wheels each crank has a 
 connecting-rod to the beam R; V W are two 
 curved spouts to convey water from one wheel 
 to another. It may be well here to premise 
 that each water-wheel has a pump and beam, 
 as only one is seen in the section. 
 
 Now, in order to put the machine in mo- 
 tion, it is only necessary to draw a portion of 
 water from the syphon over the wheel E, which 
 immediately revolves, consequently the pump 
 L M draws water from the lower to the upper 
 cistern K. Now, the water passing over the 
 wheel E is collected by means of the curved 
 spout V, and is conveyed upon the middle 
 wheel F, which also gives motion to another 
 pump, and draws in like manner. Again, the 
 water passing over the middle wheel, is col- 
 lected as before by another curved spout W; 
 consequently, the lower wheel is put in action, 
 accompanied with another pump. Hence it is 
 obvious that three water-wheels and three 
 pumps are worked by one stream of water from 
 the syphon. What more is required to per- 
 petuate its motion? John Linley. 
 
 Wicker Sheffield, May 28, 1830. 
 
 Device of Author of the "Voice of Reason" 
 
 In 1831 a contributor who signed himself 
 Author of the "Voice of Reason/' furnished to 
 the scientific journals of England an account of 
 what he claimed was a Perpetual Motion Device 
 
PERPETUAL MOTION t 89 
 
 invented by him. It should be said to his credit 
 that he claimed no surplus power for his device 
 only that it would run itself. He, in fact, stated 
 that his machine could not perform more than 
 the simple operation of pumping its own water. 
 
 The principle upon which he relied is suffi- 
 ciently shown by the following figure, and the 
 following excerpt from the contributed article : 
 
 Observing that persons no less distinguished 
 than Bishop Wilkins, the Marquis of Worcester, 
 etc., have amused themselves with such things as 
 perpetual motion, it may be some apology for a 
 humble individual residing as I do in a very re- 
 tired part of the country scarcely within reach 
 of much society to confess that by way of a 
 little rational amusement and relief to the mind, 
 I have at times, amid a variety of other investiga- 
 tions and inventions, amused myself amongst the 
 rest, with this of perpetual motion. The result 
 I will, with your permission, lay before your read- 
 ers. That I trespass upon your pages, you are 
 indebted to your correspondent, Mr. Linley, 
 whose invention I thought might partially lead 
 to an anticipation of one of my own, a model of 
 which I constructed a short time ago. The sys- 
 tem which first came to my mind, as likely to 
 lead to the accomplishment of perpetual motion, 
 was that of the syphon; experimenting with 
 which, opened discoveries that might prove useful 
 in hydrostatics. Amongst these was a mode of 
 equalizing the horizontal surface of the water in 
 two separate vessels of different altitudes. The 
 
90 
 
 PERPETUAL MOTION 
 
 following sketch will afford an idea of my inven- 
 tion. 
 
 Let A be a vessel, having two orifices, one at 
 the bottom of it, a, and the other open at the top 
 for waste water b, filled to the brim. B, a reser- 
 voir, so far filled with water as not to come in 
 contact with the bottom of the great wheel C, 
 whose axle turns in the wood c, attached to the 
 side of the reservoir ; d, a crank fixed to the axle 
 of the great water-wheel, which turning moves 
 up and down the rod e, attached to the beam E, 
 which works the pump D, having its cylinder in- 
 serted in the reservoir B ; /, an upright attached 
 to the upper vessel A, to form a support for the 
 beam E ; the whole, together with the cylinder of 
 
PERPETUAL MOTION 91 
 
 the pump, being supported and tied together by 
 the woodwork g g g. 
 
 To produce the motion, draw the plug from 
 the orifice a, from which the water gushing out 
 with considerable force will immediately turn the 
 water-wheel, which communicating motion, by 
 the crank d and rod e, to the beam E, will cause 
 the pump D to be worked, the water from the 
 spout passing into the upper vessel A. Now, the 
 cylinder of the pump, if one only be used, must 
 be of suitable dimensions, or the velocity of its 
 movement so increased by means of a multiply- 
 ing-wheel as to enable it to discharge water into 
 th upper vessel A faster than the same escapes 
 through the lower orifice a; consequently, the ves- 
 sel A will soon overflow from the capacious open- 
 ing at b, to which a trough is attached, which col- 
 lecting the waste water, causes it to descend also 
 upon the circumference of the water-wheel ; thus 
 contributing to its movement, and at the same 
 time tending to preserve an uniform supply of 
 water in the reservoir for the continued action of 
 the pump. Hence you have a perpetual motion, 
 so long as the whole keeps in repair and in good 
 order, which is all that can be expected of any 
 perpetual motion, constructed as it must be of 
 perishable materials. 
 
 But of what use are all the perpetual motion 
 machines, if they can perform no other work 
 than that of keeping themselves in motion ? For 
 it is evident, in the case of my machine, that if I 
 wish to increase the power of the wheel, fixed as 
 it is in size, radius, etc., I must increase the jet of 
 
92 PERPETUAL MOTION 
 
 water, and consequently the pumps must be made 
 of corresponding dimensions, or exert a corre- 
 sponding increase of force or velocity to replace 
 the water ; so that it is evident, neither Mr. Lin- 
 ley's machine nor mine, in their present fixed 
 state, can perform more than the simple operation 
 of pumping their own water. 
 
 And this is the case with all the perpetual 
 motion machines I have ever observed they can 
 exert no useful or disposable power beyond that 
 of keeping up an equilibrium, or getting beyond 
 the point of equilibrium. 
 
 Yours, etc., 
 AUTHOR OF THE "VOICE OF REASON." 
 
 An Italian Device 
 
 In 1825 there was published in London in 
 Mechanics' Magazine the account of a very an- 
 cient invention by an Italian. He had written an 
 account of his invention in Latin. It had been 
 translated and furnished to Mechanics' Maga- 
 zine by a correspondent of that Magazine. The 
 communication so furnished as published is as 
 follows : 
 
 The underwritten is translated from an 
 ancient Latin book * * * (entitled "De 
 Simia Naturae," Autore Roberto Fludd), which 
 treats of every science known at the time it was 
 published, and largely of the science of mechanics. 
 What followed I have extracted merely to show 
 that the discovery of the perpetual motion was as 
 
PERPETUAL MOTION 
 
 93 
 
 nearly attained then, perhaps, as it is now. I 
 
 am, &c., P. 
 
 Of another useful invention for raising water 
 easily, by the which a certain Italian ven- 
 tured to boast that he had discovered the 
 Perpetual Motion. 
 DESCRIPTION OF THE INSTRUMENT. A is 
 
 an exhauster, or pump. 
 
 B, a little wheel placed at the bottom of the 
 exhauster, about which pestils, or circular flaps 
 
94 PERPETUAL MOTION 
 
 of prepared leather, revolve lightly, so that they 
 rise easily: they are connected by crooked iron. 
 C C C, pestils, or circular leathers, by means 
 of which the water is raised in the pump. 
 
 D, a wheel, by which the said circular 
 leathers are raised up. 
 
 E, a pinion, moving the wheels D and B. 
 
 F is a wheel, continued from the wheel G, 
 whose teeth the pinion E propels circularly. 
 
 H, a pinion moving the wheel G. 
 
 USE OF THE INSTRUMENT. This instrument 
 is classed with those of the first sort, on which 
 account it is absolutely necessary for a multitude 
 * of purposes, because it bears upward a large 
 quantity of water with the least labor; for the 
 number of wheels is not variable ; but the length 
 of the receiver A is about the proportion of 35 
 feet, and its breadth one foot and one-third. The 
 concavities of it should be made exactly round, 
 that they may not lose any water by contracting 
 in their ascension; the concavity of the pump, 
 therefore, should be perfectly round. The great 
 water-wheel should be 24 feet diameter, and the 
 wheel G 20 feet. 
 
 The Italian, deceived by his own thoughts, 
 conceived that as much water would be raised 
 by this pump as would keep the wheel perpetually 
 in motion ; because he said that more force was 
 required at the extremity of this machine than at 
 the centre ; but because he calculated the propor- 
 tions of power wrong, he was deceived in practice. 
 
PERPETUAL MOTION 95 
 
 P. Valentine Stansel's Device. Prior to 1657 
 (Exact date not known) : 
 
 A, B, C is a large cistern of water, above 
 which is another cistern D, E, which is supplied 
 from the lower cistern by the pump X, operated 
 by the water-wheel M, N, the crank L of which 
 is attached by a rod K to the horizontal beam H, 
 I, K, which swings at H, from the side of the 
 upper cistern, as shown at F, G, H. The force- 
 
 FlG.t. 
 
 pump X, on the depression of the plunger O, 
 causes the water to rise up the vertical pipe P, Q, 
 R, S, and thence discharge itself into the cistern 
 D, from which a small portion is allowed to es- 
 cape through the short pipe T, V, whence it falls 
 on the water-wheel, and so on continuously. 
 
96 
 
 PERPETUAL MOTION 
 
 Vogel's Device 
 
 In 1847, A. F. Vogel, of Leipzig, invented 
 what he called 
 
 "Hydrostatic General Mobile." 
 It was described at the time in a pamphlet, 
 
PERPETUAL MOTION 97 
 
 and its operation is sufficiently illustrated by the 
 following annexed figure and explanation: 
 
 A water-wheel, A, B, C, D, raising the water 
 by means of which it is to be operated. This is 
 effected, he supposes, by the wheel acting at A, 
 by the pressure of one of six pins D, on a vertical 
 rod, attached to a horizontal beam, working on 
 a centre, and its opposite end being secured to the 
 pump-rod of the barrel M, N. The projector has 
 an idea that by means of flaps, which close the 
 cells of the wheel as they pass under rollers at B, 
 while at C there is a similar contrivance to open 
 the flaps and let out the water, and therefore by 
 its retention on the descending side it will become 
 more effective in turning the wheel. 
 
 A Water Wheel-Driven Pump 
 
 This device is claimed by the writer to be an 
 adaptation of Rangely's Patent Roller Pump. A 
 description by the writer, whose name is not 
 given, was published in Mechanics' Magazine, 
 1823, in the following language: 
 
 I think it possible to produce a self-moving 
 power by such a machine as that, a drawing of 
 which is now prefixed. From its very simple con- 
 struction, a very brief description is necessary. 
 A represents a pump immersed in a reservoir B ; 
 the pump is worked by the rotary motion of the 
 water-wheel C, which is four feet in diameter. 
 On the shaft of the water-wheel is the drum- 
 wheel D, working by a small cord the wheel E, 
 on the axis of the pump discharging the water by 
 
98 
 
 PERPETUAL MOTION 
 
PERPETUAL MOTION 99 
 
 the pipe F into a reservoir G over the water- 
 wheel. In this reservoir is a cock to regulate the 
 quantity of water to be discharged on the wheel. 
 The wheel on the shaft of the water-wheel being 
 nine inches diameter, and the wheel on the axis 
 of the pump three in diameter, the latter will con- 
 sequently make three revolutions for one of the 
 water-wheel. As the pump is not required to 
 turn with great velocity, the speed might be 
 regulated by the quantity of water thrown on 
 the water-wheel, the latter being four feet in 
 diameter, and the wheel on its shaft nine inches ; 
 consequently the radius or arm of the wheel, has 
 near 4>4 powers to counteract the friction of the 
 axis of the pump and water-wheel, and of a fine 
 cord passed over the wheels D and E. If neces- 
 sary, the friction of the machine might be still 
 farther reduced by the axes of the pump and 
 water-wheel being made to run in gudgeons with 
 friction rollers. 
 
 The pipe H is intended to convey the surplus 
 water from the reservoir over the wheel to the 
 reservoir below. 
 
 The pump might easily be turned by a cog- 
 wheel ; but this is unnecessary, as the cord pass- 
 ing over the drum-wheels will do equally well, 
 and is, besides, a more simple method. 
 
 "A Journeyman Mechanic's" Device 
 
 The gentleman, whose real name is unknown, 
 but who styled himself "A Journeyman Me- 
 chanic/' made an invention, an account of which 
 appeared in "Mechanics' Magazine," in 1831. It 
 
100 PERPETUAL MOTION 
 
 was an attempted adaptation of the wellknown 
 principles of Barker's Mill. 
 
 The inventor undoubtedly thought he had 
 successfully solved the long sought problem of 
 Self-Motive Power, and he benevolently and 
 graciously offered to contribute his valuable in- 
 vention to the world, having "no wish to profit by 
 monopoly/' 
 
 We cannot but contrast the plenary benevo- 
 lence of his heart with the mechanical paucity of 
 his head. He describes his invention with the 
 following language and figure : 
 
 The inventor offers the accompanying 
 sketch, with description of an Hydraulic Mover, 
 for communicating power to machinery, and re- 
 cently invented by him : 
 
 A is a hollow cylinder or pipe, forming the 
 upright shaft of a mill on Barker's well-known 
 and effective centrifugal principle. 
 
 B B, the lateral pipes from ditto ; a a, the jets 
 of water, whose centrifugal force gives the mo- 
 tion. 
 
 C, beam to support the machinery, built at 
 each end into the wall D D. 
 
 E E, two cog-wheels to communicate the 
 motion to 
 
 P, the rod of a pump (on Shalder's prin- 
 ciple), which derives its supply from the well into 
 which the water from the pipes is conducted, 
 which it raises to 
 
PERPETUAL MOTION ioi 
 
 H, a cistern into which one end of a syphon, 
 I I, is introduced, the other end of which is 
 soldered with an air-tight joint into the top of 
 pipe A, to which it thus supplies the water which 
 is continually running from the pipes B B, pro- 
 
 
 ducing a constant motion which may be given 
 by carrying the horizontal rod F through the wall 
 D, to machinery for any purpose. And, if the 
 statement in the pamphlet on Hydrostatics, by 
 
102 PERPETUAL MOTION 
 
 the Society for the Diffusion of Useful Knowl- 
 edge, as to the effect of Barker's Centrifugal 
 Mill, be correct, the power gained must be very 
 great. 
 
 The advantages of the invention are obvious. 
 The whole of the machinery for a large factory 
 may be contained underground, which, indeed, 
 will be the most desirable situation for it, and 
 valuable room will thus be saved ; the expense of 
 erection will not be great ; and the saving in coals, 
 &c., necessary for a steam-engine of the like 
 powers, will be immense. I might, perhaps, have 
 secured much benefit to myself by taking out a 
 patent for the discovery, but I have no wish to 
 profit by monopoly. All I desire is, that it may 
 be recollected that the machine was invented by 
 one who is 
 
 A JOURNEYMAN MECHANIC. 
 
 James Black's Device 
 
 In 1858, James Black, Machine Maker, of 
 Edinburgh, Scotland, applied for a British patent 
 on 
 
 "An improved mode or means of obtaining, 
 applying, and transmitting motive power/' 
 
 The expected operation is sufficiently illus- 
 trated by the following figure and excerpt from 
 the specifications : 
 
 A face plate or disc is fixed on an axis, and 
 has formed in it a number of wipers, eccentrics, 
 
PERPETUAL MOTION 
 
 103 
 
 or curved paths, which 
 receive (in the space 
 taken out) a pulley or 
 roller, free to revolve 
 on its own axis, and at- 
 tached to an adjustable 
 lever in equal balance 
 With the desired lift or 
 pressure. On rotary 
 motion being communi- 
 cated to the plate (by a band or otherwise), the 
 pulley or roller moves round the eccentrics or 
 paths, imparting a rocking motion to the lever 
 (similar to the action of a beam), wherefrom 
 motion may be transmitted or applied, as desired, 
 or converted by suitable appliances into any de- 
 scription of motion. 
 
 In connection herewith, a pump may be set 
 in a tank of water, and a tank added above ; on 
 the same shaft with the face plate is a water- 
 wheel driven by the water from above; when it 
 passes the centre, the water falls into the lower 
 tank and is pumped up again; whatever weight 
 of water is in each stroke is equalized by a bal- 
 ance weight on the lever ; the number of eccentrics 
 and size of water-wheel may be increased to cor- 
 respond with the quantity of water required to 
 secure a desired power. 
 
 One means of imparting rotary motion from 
 my arrangement is by attaching at the end of the 
 lever a crank and connecting rod of same radius 
 as the lift of the lever, carried over the centre by 
 a fly wheel. 
 
104 PERPETUAL MOTION 
 
 The invention is applicable to the actuating 
 of pumps, mincing machines, and other ma- 
 chinery, instruments, and apparatus, and to parts 
 thereof ; to propelling on land and water, and to 
 various motive purposes. 
 
 Fig. 1 is an elevation, showing an arrange- 
 ment for obtaining power according to my inven- 
 tion. X is the general framework of the appa- 
 ratus ; A, a disc or plate, mounted on a shaft E, 
 and formed with curved paths B ; the same shaft 
 E also carries a water-wheel W, provided with 
 vanes or blades w w, as is usual; C is a roller, 
 working in the paths B, and connected to a lever 
 D, attached to rods d d of pumps G G. G 1 is a 
 balance weight at the further end of the lever, 
 which is supported in the bearing /; H H are 
 tanks fixed below the water-wheel, and I is a 
 tank set above it ; i i are supply pipes, for con- 
 veying the water from tanks H H to the tank I ; 
 j j, escape water pipes. The water falling from 
 the tank I on the wheel W, drives that wheel in 
 the usual manner ; and when it passes the centre, 
 the water falls into the lower tanks H, from which 
 it is pumped up again into the upper tank I by the 
 pumps G, actuated by the levers E, driven by the 
 rollers C, in the pathways B of the face plate A, 
 as the latter is caused to revolve by the revolution 
 of the water-wheel W on the same shaft with it, 
 thus producing a continuous motive power. 
 
 Archimedean Screw and Liquid 
 
 This device was made public by a communi- 
 cation from a correspondent to "Mechanics' 
 
PERPETUAL MOTION 105 
 
 Magazine" in England, in 1823. The device is 
 described as follows : 
 
 A is the screw turning on its two pivots G G ; 
 B is a cistern to be filled above the level of the 
 lower aperture of the screw with mercury (which 
 I conceive to be preferable to water on many ac- 
 
 counts, and principally because it does not adhere 
 or evaporate like water) ; C is a reservoir, which, 
 when the screw is turned round, receives the 
 mercury which falls from the top; D is a pipe, 
 which by the force of gravity conveys the mercury 
 from the reservoir C on to (what, for want of a 
 better term, may be called) the float-board E, 
 fixed at right angles to the centre of the screw, 
 and furnished at its circumference with ridges 
 
106 PERPETUAL MOTION 
 
 or floats to intercept the mercury, the moment 
 and weight of which will cause the float-board 
 and screw to revolve, until, by the proper inclina- 
 tion of the floats, the mercury falls into the re- 
 ceiver F, from whence it again falls by its spout 
 into the cistern G, where the constant revolution 
 of the screw takes it up again as before. 
 
 To overcome this (the power of the fluid in 
 the screw to turn it backwards), I thought of 
 placing a metallic ball, or some mercury, on the 
 ledge above the floats (as at H in the drawing), 
 of just so much weight, and no more, as would 
 exactly neutralize this backward endeavor; 
 whether or no this would increase the difficulty 
 of raising the mercury in the screw I cannot say, 
 having never tried the experiment. 
 
 John Sims's Problem. 1830 
 John Sims, a Welshman, furnished the fol- 
 lowing suggested device to "Mechanics' Maga- 
 zine" in 1830: 
 
 Let us suppose an apparatus to be con- 
 structed of the description represented in the an- 
 nexed engraving: a is a water cistern, whence 
 water is to be raised by the pump b, to supply the 
 cistern; c d is a small pipe with a stop-cock at e, 
 which lets the water from cistern c into a strong 
 water-tight bellows /. The bellows have no valve, 
 but a cock g to let out the water into cistern a; h 
 is a weight, and i a rack on the top of the bellows 
 which works in the cogs on the axle of the large 
 
PERPETUAL MOTION 
 
 107 
 
 cog-wheel /; ; turns the little cog-wheel k, that 
 gives motion to the arm I, and works the pump- 
 handle m; n is an upright rod on the end of the 
 lever o, which rod has a turn at p and q for the 
 top of the bellows to press against in ascending 
 and descending. The water being let into the 
 
 bellows from the pipe d, will cause the top of the 
 bellows, with the weight and rack, to ascend till 
 the former reaches and presses p, which will move 
 the lever o and the arm or rod r ; by which means 
 the stop-cock e of the pipe will be shut, and the 
 cock g opened, and the water let in from the bel- 
 
108 PERPETUAL MOTION 
 
 lows into the cistern a. The top of the bellows 
 will now descend till it comes down and presses 
 the turn q, which will again shut the cock g and 
 open e, on which the water will again flow from 
 the pipe into the bellows, and cause the top with 
 the rack to ascend. 
 
 Now it is generally known that the power of 
 an hydrostatic bellows is thus calculated : 
 
 As the area of the orifice or section of the 
 pipe, 
 
 To the area of the bellows : 
 
 The weight of water in the pipe is, 
 
 To the weight the bellows will sustain on the 
 top-board. 
 
 We will suppose, therefore, the pipe d to be 
 10 feet high, with a bore equal to 1 square inch, 
 which would give 120 cubic inches, and about 4)4 
 Ibs. of water. Let us suppose, also, the boards 
 of the bellows to be 20 inches square, which gives 
 400 square inches. When the water is let from 
 the pipe into the bellows, there will be a pressure 
 of 4% Ibs. on every square inch, which on the 
 whole will amount to 1,700 Ibs. Now take half of 
 this force and place it on the top of the bellows ; 
 there will then be a working power of 850 Ibs. up 
 and down, and allowing the bellows to raise one 
 foot, it will contain about 20 gallons of water. 
 Now the question is, will not the machinery, with 
 a moving power of 2 feet and 850 Ibs., raise 20 
 gallons of water 10 feet, which would, of course, 
 cause the motion to be perpetual? JOHN SIMS. 
 
 Pwllheli, North Wales, Dec. 11, 1829. 
 
PERPETUAL MOTION 109 
 
 The foregoing device brought from another 
 correspondent the following : 
 
 Had Mr. Sims gained the power exerted by 
 the descending weight on his bellows, he would 
 have been fortunate indeed ; but it unfortunately 
 happens that its returning power (or an equiva- 
 lent) was expended in raising it. 
 
 With respect to his question, whether a cir- 
 culation of water would be kept up by the ar- 
 rangement, I answer, no; as the velocities will be 
 in the inverse ratios to the forces, and the de- 
 scending column of 120 inches must expend itself 
 forty times to raise the ascending one to the 
 height of twelve inches, as proposed : 
 
 10 ft. or 120 in. X 40 = 4,800, lifting force 
 or power. 
 
 400 in. X 12 = 4,800, opposing force, resist- 
 ance, or weight. 
 
 Here is an equilibrium, and nothing gained 
 to overcome friction or the weight of the atmos- 
 phere on the piston of the pump. Were it possible 
 to annihilate both friction and atmospheric 
 weight, even then, unless the power exceed the 
 weight, the power would not be a moving,one. 
 
 A Perpetual Pump, by an Unknown Inventor 
 
 In Volume I of "Mechanics' Magazine/' 
 1823, appears an account by a correspondent of a 
 Perpetual Motion device which is illustrated by 
 the figure, and the quotations following : 
 
 a b c d is the section of the reservoir, &c., 
 showing the wheel, the pump, &c. A B is an 
 
110 
 
 PERPETUAL MOTION 
 
 overshot water-wheel; C D the working beam; 
 E the pump ; F a pipe from the top of the pump, 
 through which the water was to fall upon the 
 wheel ; C G an arm, communicating, by means of 
 a crank attached to an horizontal shaft through 
 the centre of the wheel, motion to the lever or 
 working beam, and so raising water from the 
 reservoir by means of the pump ; H I the water. 
 It was supposed that the water which had fallen 
 upon the wheel into the reservoir would be raised 
 by means of the pump, fall through the horizontal 
 pipe, and so produce a continued rotary motion. 
 
 The persistence of Perpetual Motion work- 
 ers is amusingly illustrated by the inventions of 
 William Willcocks Sleigh and Burrowes Will- 
 cocks Arthur Sleigh. Their devices were so ex- 
 tremely complicated and not susceptible of being 
 understood, and hence are mentioned rather than 
 shown in this work. 
 
 In 1845, William Willcocks Sleigh, a doctor 
 
PERPETUAL MOTION 111 
 
 of medicine and surgery, of Chiswick, Middlesex, 
 England, applied for and obtained British Patent 
 on what he called 
 
 "A Hydro-mechanic apparatus for produc- 
 ing motive power." 
 
 He took out other patents on hydro-mechan- 
 ical devices in 1853, 1856, and 1860. Then in 
 1864, his son, Burrowes Willcocks Arthur Sleigh 
 took out two patents on similar devices, and then 
 in 1866, still another patent. 
 
 The specifications for each of the above men- 
 tioned patents are lengthy and detailed. The in- 
 ventors evidently had the greatest confidence in 
 their efforts, though surely they never put them 
 to actual test. They seemed to have been me- 
 chanically stupid, and incapable of correct me- 
 chanical thinking, but their efforts were so tire- 
 less and so earnest that we submit that the Sleigh 
 family had done its full, fair share in the efforts 
 to accomplish Self-Motive power. 
 
 Equally amusing are the efforts of James 
 Smith of Seaf orth, Liverpool, and Sidney Arthur 
 Chease, Liverpool, gentlemen: These two co- 
 laborers applied for British patents on four dif- 
 ferent Hydro-mechanical devices one in 1858, 
 two in 1863, and one in 1865. On three they 
 obtained patents, and on the other one provincial 
 protection. One of them seems to have been a 
 capitalist, and the other one a machinist. Their 
 
112 PERPETUAL MOTION 
 
 models were complicated beyond understanding, 
 and apparently they were laboring in the dark 
 without intelligent plan. They seemed to have 
 thought that when a complicated mess of ma- 
 chinery parts and fluid were assembled Perpetual 
 Motion must somehow result. 
 
 Nothing could be gained by setting forth 
 their inventions fully, but their labors were so 
 great, and their efforts so intense that we feel 
 like preserving their names from oblivion, and 
 hence we give them mention here. 
 
 Why Hydraulic and Hydro-Mechanical De- 
 vices for Obtaining Perpetual Motion 
 Failed to Work 
 
 Next to wheels and weights, the use of 
 liquids in a hydraulic, hydrostatic, or hydro-me- 
 chanical manner have been sought to be utilized 
 by Perpetual Motion seekers as a means of ob- 
 taining energy from the machine not supplied to 
 the machine. The foregoing are only a few of 
 the many devices of that kind, but they are the 
 most simple of those that have been brought to 
 light, and consequently better illustrate the man- 
 ner in which it has been sought to utilize the 
 interesting properties of liquid pressure and mo- 
 bility in the solution of the problem. 
 
 An examination of the preceding devices 
 discloses that in each case the inventor sought by 
 
PERPETUAL MOTION 113 
 
 the energy of the descent of a liquid to elevate 
 through the same distance of ascent the same or 
 a greater quantity of the same liquid, or in some 
 cases to obtain from the pressure of a liquid a 
 greater force than is required to expand a bag, 
 bellows or vessel, submerged the same distance 
 below the level. 
 
 The impossibility of all of these schemes is 
 apparent from the same reasoning that is applied 
 to illustrate and show the impossibility of obtain- 
 ing Perpetual Motion by the use of wheels, 
 weights, levers and the force of gravity. 
 
 In each case the basic idea and error .was in 
 supposing that by some possibility the descent of 
 a liquid through a given distance could be made 
 to deliver more energy than would be required 
 to elevate the same quantity of liquid the same 
 distance. As a matter of fact, the descent of a 
 liquid, the same as any other weight, through a 
 given distance represents exactly the amount of 
 energy necessary to elevate the same weight of 
 liquid through the same distance measured verti- 
 cally. Some loss by friction of the liquid in the 
 containing tubes is inevitable as well as from 
 friction in the working parts of the mechanism. 
 Therefore, as this loss continues, some outside 
 energy must be supplied. If all friction could be 
 eliminated (which is an impossibility) and if the 
 liquid were started in motion, the motion would 
 
114 PERPETUAL MOTION 
 
 be constant, but no energy could be taken from it 
 for running other machinery without reducing 
 the motion. 
 
 There have been many arguments on this 
 subject. We select one which was elicited by the 
 publication in "Mechanics' Magazine" of an ac- 
 count of the device of the author of the "Voice 
 of Reason." This argument was published in 
 "Mechanics' Magazine" in 1831, and is as fol- 
 lows: 
 
 I am induced to make an attempt to demon- 
 strate the utter impossibility, under any circum- 
 stances, of making a water-wheel that will supply 
 itself instead of having any surplus power. 
 
 The accompanying drawing represents part 
 of an overshot wheel in section, the buckets only 
 part filled, by which the whole of the water ex- 
 pended continues to act through a greater portion 
 of the circumference than it otherwise would do. 
 The area of the vertical section of the complement 
 of water to each bucket is made 40 inches ; and 
 taking the breadth of the wheel at, say 28 2-3 
 inches, gives 40 Ibs. as the weight of water in 
 each bucket; therefore, as there are 12 buckets 
 containing 40 Ibs. each, No. 13 30 Ibs., and No. 
 14 only 20 Ibs., altogether making a total of 530 
 Ibs. acting on the wheel at the same time; to 
 show clearly all the effect that can be expected 
 from this, I have divided the horizontal radius 
 into a scale of 40 equals parts .(there being 40 Ibs. 
 in each bucket) ; and from the gravitating centre 
 of the fluid contained in each is drawn a per- 
 
PERPETUAL MOTION 115 
 
 pendicular to the scale, where the effective force, 
 or weight in each bucket, may be read off as on 
 the arm of a common steelyard. The weights 
 will be found as follows, viz : 
 
 No. Lbs. No. Lbs. 
 
 1 2iy 2 .. 8 40 
 
 2 26}4 .. 9 
 
 3 30^ .. 10 38 
 
 4 3324 .. 11 
 
 5 36^4 .. 12 32^ 
 
 6 38^4 .. 12 21 
 
 7 39% .. 14 12 
 
 It is therefore quite evident that, although 
 we have 530 Ibs. acting on one side of the wheel, 
 a column of water weighing 446 Ibs. reacting at 
 the same distance from the centre, on the oppo- 
 site side, will exactly balance the whole 530 Ibs. 
 contained in the buckets ; so that about a sixth of 
 the expenditure rests on the axis without pro- 
 ducing any useful effect, and the wheel so loaded 
 must remain in a state of rest. Now, in spite of 
 friction and the vis inertia of matter, if we sup- 
 pose the wheel at work, it can raise only 446 Ibs. 
 at the expense of 530 Ibs. ; but even if it could raise 
 the whole 530 Ibs., we should then be but little 
 nearer the mark, for we must remember that the 
 gravitating centre of our power falls through a 
 space of only 8 ft. 11 in., while the water must be 
 raised at least 1 1 ft. before it could be laid on and 
 delivered clear of the wheel. 
 
 As a further means of coming at the end I 
 had in view at the commencement of this letter, 
 
116 
 
 PERPETUAL MOTION 
 
PERPETUAL MOTION 117 
 
 I will conclude with a simple rule for calculating 
 the quantity of water a wheel of this kind will 
 raise : Multiply the number of pounds expended 
 in a minute by the height or diameter of the 
 wheel in feet, divide the product by the height 
 (also in feet) of the reservoir to be filled, and two- 
 thirds of the quotient will be the answer required. 
 Example, for the wheel above described, making 
 six revolutions per minute: 
 
 42 buckets on wheel. 
 6 revolutions per minute. 
 
 252 buckets filled per minute. 
 40 the weight of water in each bucket. 
 
 10080 Ibs. expended per minute. 
 10 feet height of wheel. 
 
 11) 100800 momentum, dividing by 11 feet as 
 the height of reservoir. 
 
 3)9163.636 divided by 3. 
 
 3054.545 multiplying by 2. 
 2 
 
 6109.09 answer in Ibs. 
 
 So that for every 1008 gallons expended on the 
 wheel, we only gain sufficient power to supply 611 
 nearly. 
 
 See also Chap. XV, Bishop Wilkin's Work, appearing at 
 page 297 et seq. supra. 
 
CHAPTER IV 
 
 PNEUMATIC, SIPHON AND HYDRO- 
 PNEUMATIC DEVICES 
 
 The Hydrostatical Paradox 
 
 Next to the wheel with levers and weights, 
 we believe this simple Hydrostatical Paradox has 
 more frequently occurred to mechanical and 
 scientific tyros as a means whereby it was hoped 
 to attain Perpetual Motion. There is no record 
 that we know of of the name of anyone who has 
 ever attempted it, and, yet, the instances are 
 doubtless myriads. 
 
 The author believes he has heard dozens of 
 young persons mention it as a means of obtain- 
 ing a continuous flow of water. 
 
 In 1828, Niel Arnott, M. D., published the 
 third edition of his "Elements of Physics, or Nat- 
 ural Philosophy." At page 141 under the sub- 
 ject of "Mechanics" he comments generally on 
 the subject of Perpetual Motion, and says : 
 
 What an infinity of vain schemes some of 
 them displaying great ingenuity for perpetual 
 motions, and new mechanical engines of power, 
 etc., would have been checked at once, had the 
 great truth been generally understood, that no 
 form or combination of machinery ever did or 
 ever can increase, in the slightest degree, the 
 quantity of power applied. Ignorance of this is 
 
PERPETUAL MOTION 119 
 
 the hinge on which most of the dreams of me- 
 chanical projectors have turned. No year passes, 
 even now, in which many patents are not taken 
 out for such supposed discoveries; and the de- 
 luded individuals, after selling perhaps even their 
 household goods to obtain the means of securing 
 the supposed advantages, often sink in despair, 
 when their attempts, instead of bringing riches 
 and happiness to their families, end in disappoint- 
 ment and utter ruin. The frequency and eager- 
 ness and obstinacy with which even talented indi- 
 viduals, owing to their imperfect knowledge of 
 this part of natural philosophy, have engaged in 
 such undertakings, is a remarkable phenomenon 
 in human nature. 
 
 At page 270 in treating on "Hydrostatics," 
 he says : 
 
 A projector thought that the vessel of his 
 contrivance, represented here, was to solve the re- 
 nowned problem of the perpetual motion. It was 
 goblet-shaped, lessening gradu- 
 ally towards the bottom until it 
 became a tube, bent upwards at 
 c, and pointing with an open ex- 
 tremity into the goblet again. 
 He reasoned thus: A pint of 
 water in the goblet a must more 
 than counterbalance an ounce 
 which the tube b will contain, and must therefore 
 be constantly pushing the ounce forward into the 
 vessel again at a, and keeping up a stream or cir- 
 culation, which will cease only when the water 
 
120 PERPETUAL MOTION 
 
 dries up. He was confounded when a trial 
 showed him the same level in a and in b. 
 
 Pickering's Device 
 
 In 1858, Peter Pickering, Landed Proprietor 
 of Danzig, Prussia, applied for a British pat- 
 ent on 
 
 "An Atmospheric Engine." 
 It may be described as follows : 
 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, are cylinders 18 feet long or high 
 and 3 feet diameter, so that the surface of each 
 piston has 1,296 square inches acting with an 
 
 atmospheric pressure 
 of 15 Ibs. to the square 
 inch, causes a pressure 
 of 19,440 Ibs. to each 
 cylinder (saying noth- 
 ing of friction, which 
 will be accounted for 
 later) ; 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 
 pistons of each cylin- 
 der, as they must be placed when the engine 
 begins to work ; 6, 7, 8, 9, causing a vacuum under 
 each piston (as they have for the first time been 
 brought into their present situation by main 
 force), afterwards, when the engine is permitted 
 to start, they will regulate themselves; No. 10 
 lies flat on the bottom of the cylinder; 11, 12, 13, 
 14, 15, piston rods acting on shaft No. 16; 17, 
 wheel to communicate the engine's power to the 
 machinery of the engine itself; 18, wheel to com- 
 municate the engine's power to the wheel or pro- 
 
PERPETUAL MOTION 121 
 
 pelling screw of a ship, manufactory, locomo- 
 tive, etc. 
 
 Stuckey's Device 
 
 In 1842, William Henry Stuckey, Esquire, 
 of St. Petersburgh, applied for a British patent 
 on 
 
 "A Pneumatic Engine for Producing Motive 
 Power." 
 
 His specifications describe his alleged inven- 
 tion as follows: 
 
 Fig. 1 is a front view of my said pneumatic 
 engine, partly in section. A 1 and B 1 two hori- 
 zontal cylinders, united at their inner extremities 
 a, a, which rotate on gudgeons that have their 
 bearings C, C, in the upright standards D, D ; A 2 
 and B 2 two pistons which work to and fro in these 
 cylinders; E 1 and E 3 two hollow arms or tubes 
 which radiate from the cylinder A 1 , and E 2 , E 4 , 
 two similar arms or tubes which radiate in oppo- 
 site directions from the cylinder B 1 , each cylinder 
 having an open communication with the arms or 
 tubes attached to it. F 1 , F 2 , F 3 , and F 4 , four other 
 cylinders, affixed to a circular ring R, R, open at 
 top to the atmosphere, and open at bottom to the 
 radial tubes E 1 , E 2 , E 3 , E 4 , connected with them 
 at their outer extremities. G 1 , G 2 , G 3 , G 4 , pistons 
 working in the cylinders F 1 , F 2 , F 3 , and F 4 , and H 1 , 
 H 2 , H 3 , and H 4 , caps screwed on to the flanges of 
 the cylinders. The different parts described form 
 a wheel, which, on being set in motion, rotates on 
 the gudgeons in the bearing C, C. The motion is 
 produced as follows : I adjust the wheel so that 
 
122 
 
 PERPETUAL MOTION 
 
 the tubes E 1 and E 3 shall be in a vertical position ; 
 and pour into the tube E 1 , through the cylinder 
 F 1 , withdrawing the piston G 1 , as much mercury 
 or other suitable fluid body (previously deter- 
 mined by calculation) as will fill the tube from 
 the point of its connection with the inner cylinder 
 A 1 up to the bottom (a, a,) of the outer cylinder 
 F 1 , The mercury thus introduced flows into the 
 cylinder A 1 at the back of the piston A 2 , and 
 
 presses that piston for- 
 ward to the extremity 
 of its range, the piston 
 G 1 being then restored 
 to its place in the cylin- 
 der F 1 , and pressed 
 close down on the 
 mercury in the tube 
 E 1 . I next turn the 
 wheel till the tubes E 2 
 and E 4 are in a vertical 
 position, by which turning the mercury therein is 
 forced into the tube E 3 , flowing down which it 
 drives the piston G 3 of the cylinder F 3 forward to 
 the extremity of its range, leaving a vacuum in 
 the cylinder A 1 at O, equal to the difference be- 
 tween the heights from which the mercury de- 
 scends in the tubes E 1 and E 3 . I then fill the tube 
 E 2 and cylinder B 2 with mercury, to the same ex- 
 tent and in the same way as I previously filled the 
 tube E 1 and cylinder A 1 , after which I turn the 
 wheel till the tubes E 1 and E 3 are once more in a 
 vertical position, whereby I produce a vacuum 
 in each pair of tubes, and their intermediate cyl- 
 
PERPETUAL MOTION 123 
 
 inder, to the degree of the difference before ex- 
 plained. To the four tubes there are attached four 
 cocks K 1 , K 2 , K 3 , K 4 , which, after the vacua have 
 been obtained, are closed ; and to the four rods of 
 the pistons of the outer cylinders F 1 , F 2 , F 3 , F 4 , 
 there are attached four hanging or balance 
 weights L 1 , L 2 , L 3 , L 4 , in such manner that they 
 shall co-operate with the atmospheric pressure on 
 the said vacua in giving rotation to the wheel. 
 M 1 , M 2 , M 3 , M 4 , are jointed levers, by which these 
 weights are connected at one end with the pistons 
 G 1 , G 2 , G 3 , G 4 ; and N 1 , N 2 , are cords or bands, by 
 which they are suspended at the other end from 
 standards P, P, projecting from the ring R, and 
 bearing pulleys, over which the cords or bands 
 pass, each cord or band serving to suspend the two 
 weights which are opposite to each other, for 
 which purpose it is passed internally across the 
 wheel and over the exterior of one of the cylinders 
 A 1 or B 1 . The cords or bands are attached to 
 the weights at the lower ends thereof, and pass 
 over small pulleys close to the points of connec- 
 tion, so that the cords or bands, when pulled, may 
 act the more effectually on the weights. It will 
 be readily understood that when any two of the 
 tubes are in a vertical position, and the mercury 
 or other suitable fluid has descended to the bot- 
 tom of the lower tube, its pressure on the piston 
 of the outer cylinder G 1 , or G 2 , or G 3 , or G 4 , will 
 cause the weight connected with that piston to 
 turn inwards towards the centre of the wheel, by 
 which movement a strain is exerted on the con- 
 necting cord or band N 1 or N 2 , which throws up 
 
124 PERPETUAL MOTION 
 
 the opposite weight at top, and causes it to force 
 down the piston of the top cylinder, or the surface 
 of the mercury in the upper tube, whereby any 
 excess of pressure at the bottom of the lower tube 
 is transferred to the top piston, where it acts in 
 aid of the atmospheric pressure on the vacua ob- 
 tained in manner aforesaid. The four cocks K, 
 have regulating rods connected to them in the way 
 common in steam and other engines, so that as 
 each tube comes into a vertical position the cock 
 attached to it is opened, and as it passes from that 
 position towards the horizontal, is shut, so that 
 the mercury always retains its proper position in 
 the tubes or cylinders, and is acted on by the pres- 
 sure of the atmosphere at those points only where 
 such pressure can be of service. The power of 
 this wheel will be, of course, in proportion to the 
 vacua produced in manner aforesaid, and to the 
 altitude of the columns of mercury employed. 
 The inner cylinders might be dispensed with, and 
 the tubes be made to communicate directly with 
 each other, but I prefer, for most purposes, the 
 arrangement which I have before described, with 
 the two intermediate cylinders A 1 , B 1 ; where the 
 inner cylinders are dispensed with, I make use of 
 eccentrics instead of the joined levers before de- 
 scribed, to enable the weights to turn to the extent 
 of about half a circle. The number of tubes also 
 need not be limited to four, but increased to any 
 convenient extent. 
 
 Prof. George Sinclair's Device 
 
 This device was invented by George Sinclair, 
 
PERPETUAL MOTION 125 
 
 who was a professor of philosophy at Glasgow 
 University. He died in 1696. In 1669 he pub- 
 lished a work on Pneumatics, and in that work 
 claimed to have discovered Perpetual Motion. 
 Explanations of his device consumed eighteen 
 pages of a Latin work on Pneumatics. It very 
 absurdly depended for its operation upon the de- 
 livery of water from the short leg of a siphon, 
 
 instead of the long leg. The figure illustrates 
 the contemplated operation. 
 
 Jacob Brazill's Device 
 
 In 1839 Jacob Brazill, of Deptford, Kent, 
 Governor of Trinity Ground, applied for a Brit- 
 ish patent on 
 "Improvements in Obtaining Motive Power." 
 
 In his application he describes his alleged 
 invention as follows: 
 
 My invention consists in a certain arrange- 
 
126 PERPETUAL MOTION 
 
 ment or combination of mechanism wherein the 
 atmospheric air is employed as the impelling 
 agent, being brought to bear in such a manner as 
 by exerting a constant urging pressure, to pro- 
 duce a continuous rotary motion, and applies to 
 all the purposes where a prime mover is required. 
 Fig. 1 is an end view of the apparatus a, a, 
 are the bearings, top and bottom, for the vertical 
 
 shaft b, which bearings 
 are to be so constructed as 
 to produce the least pos- 
 s ^" e amount of friction, 
 c is a large drum fur- 
 
 nished with radial P lates 
 
 or fans, some of the plates 
 being so arranged as to 
 slope down towards the 
 bottom plate, thus forming, as it were, a series of 
 boxes decreasing in their transverse dimensions 
 as they approach the boss. This drum is to be 
 put in motion by means of a current of air di- 
 rected through the pipes d and e, from the two 
 pairs of double bellows / and g. h is a worm 
 fixed on the vertical shaft by means of a tighten- 
 ing screw, or in any other convenient way, taking 
 into the worm wheel i on the horizontal crank- 
 shaft j, supported in bearings k, k. The cranks 
 /, /, work the bellows by connecting rods m, m; 
 n is a spur wheel taking into a pinion o, on the 
 axle of which is a winch handle p, for starting the 
 apparatus. 
 
 What I claim as my peculiar right is, the 
 impulsion of a current of air against the fans of 
 
PERPETUAL MOTION 127 
 
 a drum (as that at r) through pipes, as at d and 
 e, for the purposes of a motive power, together 
 with a certain arrangement of mechanism, by 
 means of which the action first induced shall be 
 kept up. 
 
 Laserson's Device 
 
 In 1860 Marc Antoine F. Mennons, of Paris, 
 applied on behalf of Louis Diodor Laserson of 
 Moscow, Russia, for, and obtained, a British 
 patent on 
 
 "Certain Improvements in the Production 
 of Motive Power, and in the Apparatus Con- 
 nected Therewith." 
 
 He described the essentials of his device as 
 follows : 
 
 The invention consists in the application of 
 the ascensional force of air or gases developed 
 under water to the generation of motive power, 
 and in the combination of apparatus, by means of 
 which the power thus produced is accumulated, 
 transmitted and applied. The principal element 
 of this combination is a wheel or disc (shown in 
 plan and section, Figs. 1, 2), the dimensions of 
 which are proportioned to the power required. 
 On the circumference of this wheel are fixed at 
 equal distances a given number (say sixteen) of 
 flexible air reservoirs a, communicating with an 
 equal number of tubular passages b, which open 
 in the nave c. In the length of the fixed shaft 
 d, on which this wheel is mounted, are formed 
 two cylindrical cells E by which the air is ad- 
 
128 
 
 PERPETUAL MOTION 
 
 mitted to and discharged from the flexible reser- 
 voirs a by the tubular passages b, with which 
 they correspond. The hydro-atmospheric wheel 
 thus mounted and immersed to the required depth* 
 in a suitable reservoir as in f, is placed in com- 
 munication by its hollow shaft with an air-com- 
 pressing apparatus of any convenient form, which 
 in its turn is connected with the shaft of an ordi- 
 nary hydraulic wheel. The latter being set in 
 motion acts on the forcing apparatus, by which a 
 
 FIC.t. 
 
 jet of compressed air is thrown into the hollow 
 shaft of the hydro-atmospheric wheel by the entry 
 cell corresponding with the orifices of the fourth 
 quadrant or lowest immersed section of the lat- 
 ter. The air injected following the tubular pas- 
 sages within its range enters and inflates the cor- 
 responding flexible reservoirs, which thus acquir- 
 ing an ascensional force proportioned to their 
 displacing capacity and degree of immersion, 
 carry forward the wheel in their movement to- 
 
PERPETUAL MOTION 129 
 
 wards the surface. On reaching the water line 
 the tubular passage come into communication by 
 the nave orifices with the discharge cell of the 
 fixed shaft, and give egress to the air compressed 
 in the flexible reservoirs, which collapse simul- 
 taneously with the inflation of the succeeding 
 series by which they have in the meantime been 
 replaced in the fourth quadrant. The latter fol- 
 lowing the ascensional movement of their prede- 
 cessors give place to a third series, and collapse 
 in the same way on passing the surface, so that 
 each air reservoir on re-entering the water in the 
 continued revolution of the wheel presents com- 
 paratively little resistance until it arrives at the 
 turning point, when the communication with the 
 entry cell of the axle being again established the 
 movements above described are reproduced. The 
 force thus developed by the hydro-atmospheric 
 wheel, which represents about three times that 
 of the prime motor, may be at this stage applied 
 to the required transmissions of movement. 
 When natural watercourses are not to be had 
 within a reasonable distance of the locality in 
 which the force is to be applied, it becomes neces- 
 sary to replace them by an artificial fall. 
 
 Von Rathen and Ellis's Device 
 
 In 1866 Anthony Bernhard Baron Von 
 Rathen and George Henry Ellis, both of London, 
 applied for and obtained British patent on 
 
 "A New or Improved Mode of Constructing 
 a Motive-power Wheel Whereby to Obtain 
 
130 PERPETUAL MOTION 
 
 Permanent Motion by the Application of Com- 
 pressed Air or any other Elastic Fluid." 
 
 In the specifications for patent the essentials 
 of their invention are described as follows : 
 
 This invention may be considered supple- 
 mentary to an invention of the Baron Von Rathen 
 of an elementary motive-power engine, for which 
 a patent has been granted to him, No. 818, and 
 dated March 23, 1865, and consisting in a newly- 
 discovered plan for the construction of a motive- 
 power wheel or engine, on the principle that the 
 motor, consisting of compressed air or other elas- 
 tic fluid, is maintained in permanent activity and 
 without removal or renewal, and the useful re- 
 sistance of the air in the chambers is on the sur- 
 face of a fixed cylinder, the motion is regular and 
 direct, the wheel rotating on its fixed central axis. 
 
 The nature of our present invention consists 
 principally in our providing, instead of that a 
 motive-power wheel having its axis upon fixed 
 bearings in an eccentric position and turning in 
 an oscillating cylinder. The motor being brought 
 through a hollow shaft, or any convenient chan- 
 nel, is introduced into one or more closed cham- 
 bers formed upon the longest arm of the power 
 wheel for the purpose of driving it round ; by this 
 means, according to the uniform pressure of the 
 elastic fluid upon all surfaces, we obtain not only 
 a continuous but an additional degree of driving 
 power from the leverage given by the position of 
 the wheel. There is, as shown in Fig. 1 of the 
 
PERPETUAL MOTION 131 
 
 accompanying drawing, a fixed arm or driving 
 rod fixed upon the cylinder by which to impart 
 motion to a crank, piston, or other apparatus. 
 We propose to obtain the motor by pumps worked 
 by or in connection with the power wheel, and 
 having other suitable and necessary appliances 
 for regulating, storing, transmitting, and manip- 
 ulating the force supplied to or communicated 
 by the power wheel, as have been described, to be 
 applied with the plan for working the elementary 
 motive-power engine hereinbefore referred to. 
 
 Fig. 1 is a vertical section of the power wheel 
 revolving inside and moving the oscillating cylin- 
 der. 
 
 A 1 and A 2 are air-tight chambers, the former 
 being the driving chamber and the latter intended 
 to check or counterbalance its wedging or binding 
 effect upon the cylinder, owing to the extra lever- 
 age obtained and the pressure upon the surface 
 of the rod B, the wheel will revolve in that direc- 
 tion by the action of the elastic force which finds 
 its useful resistance on the internal surface of the 
 cylinder C. D 1 , D 2 , D 3 , D 4 , are packings to ren- 
 der the two chambers air-tight and to afford bear- 
 ings for the four arms of the wheel upon the 
 cylinder ; E, E, are two tubes for conducting the 
 motor into the chambers, and F is the axle, upon 
 which the wheel is firmly fixed and driven round 
 with it. 
 
 Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the power wheel. 
 F is the hollow shaft or axle through which the 
 motor passes from the pumps or reservoir in con- 
 nection therewith, and upon which the wheel 
 
132 
 
 PERPETUAL MOTION 
 
 rotates ; G is the rod or arm fixed at one end to 
 the cylinder C, and attached at the other end by a 
 joint or coupling H to the rod I, acting within a 
 
 cylinder to give motion to the piston K ; L is one 
 of the side covers of the power wheel, and N the 
 support or framework for the wheel. 
 
 Richard Varley's Device 
 
 In 1797 Richard Varley, of Damside, Lan- 
 cashire, England, a merchant, applied for and ob- 
 tained a British patent on 
 
 "A New Perpetual Moving Power." 
 
 His device is explained by the following 
 excerpt from his application: 
 
 "My invention consists of a method of apply- 
 ing the weight of the atmosphere upon a wheel in 
 any other fluid, and by that means destroying its 
 spring or reaction, the manner of doing which I 
 
PERPETUAL MOTION 133 
 
 describe as follows, agreeable to the drawing 
 (Fig. 6) annexed: 
 
 "A is a circular vessel, made of copper or any 
 other substance, capable of containing water, and 
 
 (Fig. 6.) 
 
 a 
 
 covered with a top part so as to be perfectly air- 
 tight. B is a wheel placed in the inside of the 
 vessel, with its axle perpendicular, the uppermost 
 part of which comes through the top of the vessel, 
 
134 PERPETUAL MOTION 
 
 and is made to work air-tight ; the lower end runs 
 in a step within the vessel, and no part of the 
 wheel is to touch the vessel but its axis. C is a cyl- 
 inder placed firmly upon the wheel. D is the pis- 
 ton, suspended by a chain to a strong spring fixed 
 on the wheel. This spring is to be made of such 
 strength as that when the whole weight of the 
 atmosphere is upon the piston the air will only 
 move it about one inch down. E is the tube lead- 
 ing from the axle, which is hollow from the top to 
 the level of the wheel, so as to admit the external 
 air by this tube to the piston D, which piston is a 
 circular vessel, made air-tight, and exactly fits 
 the cylinder. There is a joint in the tube E at F, 
 which is made air-tight by leathers, so that when 
 the piston descends the tube may give way to it. 
 G is a small tube leading from the bottom of the 
 cylinder to the center of the axle, and from thence 
 brought out at the end of it, and by which the air 
 is extracted from the cylinder by means of an air 
 pump and a vacuum formed in it. On the top 
 part or any other convenient place of the vessel, 
 are fixed two cylinders or tubes of a proportional 
 size to the cylinders on the wheel, one of which 
 is a condensing cylinder, by means of a screw and 
 piston, and by which the water in the vessel may 
 be compressed ; the other has its piston suspended 
 at the bottom, and the top part of the cylinder 
 being filled with air as the other piston is screwed 
 down this rises, and condenses the air in the cylin- 
 der, the spring of which keeps the water in the 
 vessel pressed to all parts alike ; and when the air 
 is extracted from the cylinder C and the piston D 
 
PERPETUAL MOTION 135 
 
 is forced down by the external atmosphere into 
 the cylinder, this pressure is continued, and the 
 condensed air expands in proportion and prevents 
 any tendency to a vacuum being formed, which 
 would cause a cohesion of all the parts. By this 
 means the external air is suspended upon the 
 wheel by the chain, the same as a weight, and the 
 spring of the atmosphere being taken from the 
 cylinder there is nothing to oppose this weight, 
 there being no spring in water; and this power 
 may be increased in proportion to the size and 
 number of cylinders on the wheel and its diam- 
 eter." 
 
 Siphon and Funnel Device 
 
 This was the work of an Englishman whose 
 name is unknown. An account of it appeared in 
 "Mechanics' Magazine," 1828, in the following 
 language: 
 
 a is a circular glass vessel 1 foot 6 inches 
 diameter ; b b a tube fixed thereunto ; c c are fun- 
 nels containing valves ; d, a float of hollow cop- 
 per, or any light substance ; e, an open mouth ; f, 
 an open vessel filled with mercury as high as the 
 dotted line. 
 
 It is well known that several experiments 
 were made by M. Venturi, Sir Isaac Newton, etc., 
 demonstrating that a vessel shaped thus 
 
136 
 
 PERPETUAL MOTION 
 
 will emit water with a much greater rapidity than 
 a vessel shaped thus 
 
 say, with more than a third as much speed. I 
 propose, then, to have the mouth of the vessel a 
 
 1 
 
PERPETUAL MOTION 137 
 
 of the former shape, being the natural form of 
 flowing water. The vessel a, and tube b, must 
 be completely filled with mercury, by means of the 
 funnels c c, which will also contain mercury. In 
 order to set the fluid in motion, the valve in the 
 large vessel c is to be raised; the mercury (which 
 was hitherto held up by a greater weight of at- 
 mosphere) will instantly run out of the mouth e, 
 and must be suffered to do so till the mercury in 
 c is level with the dotted line; by this time the 
 mercury in a will have obtained a momentum 
 which will be more than equivalent to the pressure 
 of the atmosphere: consequently, the mercury 
 will run out of the large vessel a, till it falls as 
 low as the dotted line ; the float d, resting on the 
 mercury, of course, falls with it, opens the valve, 
 and admits a proportionable quantity of mercury 
 through the tube b, driven by the pressure of the 
 atmosphere (the height from the mercury in f, 
 to the top of the tube b, being only 26 inches, 
 which is 2 inches less than what the atmosphere 
 will at all times raise mercury in a vacuum). 
 
 By this means will there not be a continual 
 circulation of mercury? 
 
 Orchard's Vacuum Engine 
 
 In 1826 there was published in "Mechanics' 
 Magazine," London, a communication from a Mr. 
 Orchard, concerning an invention he considered 
 himself as having made. The account is pub- 
 lished in his own words, and is as follows: 
 
 A is an iron reservoir nearly filled with mer- 
 
138 
 
 PERPETUAL MOTION 
 
 cury; B, a tube twenty-four inches long, having 
 its lower end inserted in that reservoir ; and C and 
 D, two cocks for the convenience of filling the 
 tube B. From this another tube M proceeds at 
 
 right angles, to the vessel G. In this latter tube 
 is the cock F, to admit of, or shut off, a communi- 
 cation between the tube and the vessel G. This 
 communication being closed, the tube B is care- 
 
PERPETUAL MOTION 139 
 
 fully filled with mercury ; after which the cock D 
 is closed and the cap E screwed on. 
 
 The vessel G is to be filled with mercury 
 through the cock H, the pipe I being open to allow 
 of the escape of air. When this vessel has been 
 filled, the cock H should be closed and its cap 
 screwed on; and the pipe I be also closed by a 
 valve, which is to be pressed tight by the cap on 
 the head of the pipe. I is a vent-pipe, open at the 
 top. The space represented by the double lines 
 is a panel of thick plate glass having two horizon- 
 tal lines described on its surface, whereby the 
 attendant may observe the quantity of mercury 
 within the vessel. 
 
 The cock F being closed, a quantity of mer- 
 cury must be allowed to run out of the vessel G, 
 equal to the space 1, 2,^3, 4, which space will be- 
 come a vacuum. If, therefore, the cock L be 
 then opened, to allow of the discharge of a cer- 
 tain quantity of mercury on the wheel, and the 
 cocks C and L also opened, the mercury will con- 
 tinually rise from the reservoir A into the vessel 
 G, and thence be discharged on the wheel, whence 
 it will again fall into the vessel A, to keep up the 
 supply. The cock F must be so adjusted as to 
 admit into the vessel G a quantity of mercury 
 equal to that which is discharged by the cock L. 
 This can be -ascertained and regulated by means 
 of the panel of glass above described. 
 
 The specific gravity of mercury being 7 l /2 
 ounces, it is evident that but a small quantity of 
 it is required to turn the wheel, which has no 
 friction but that of the axis on which it turns. 
 
140 
 
 PERPETUAL MOTION 
 
 Robert Copland's Device 
 
 In 1819 Robert Copland applied for a British 
 patent on 
 
 "A New or Improved Method or Methods of 
 Gaining Power by New or Improved Combina- 
 tions of Apparatus, Applicable to Various Pur- 
 poses." 
 
 His specifications describe in great detail his 
 invention in the following language : 
 
 Figure 1 is a view of a machine by which I 
 purpose to derive a disposable force or power 
 from the action, weight or pressure of the atmos- 
 phere, through the medium 
 of the column of water or 
 other heavy liquid descend- 
 ing on one side of the en- 
 closed vertical wheel, and 
 from thence through the 
 centrifugal wheel, being re- 
 turned into the same reser- 
 voir from which the pres- 
 sure of the atmosphere 
 raises it to be again de- 
 livered on the top of the 
 vertical wheel to supply the discharge on the de- 
 scending side, arising from the centrifugal force 
 communicated to it by the rotary velocity of the 
 centrifugal wheel, and the pressure of the de- 
 scending column over-balancing the reaction or 
 resistance of the atmosphere at the discharging 
 apertures of the centrifugal wheel. Thus a small 
 
PERPETUAL MOTION 141 
 
 quantity of water or other liquid (according to 
 the size of the machine required) being continu- 
 ally returned onto the top of the vertical wheel 
 by the pressure or action of the atmosphere, and 
 acting by its unbalanced gravity or impetus in its 
 descent, will produce a disposable force or power 
 of any required magnitude, by increasing the size 
 or number of the machines, provided the height 
 the fluid is required to be raised is not quite so 
 high as the column which the atmosphere, when 
 lightest, will raise of that fluid, and allowing for 
 the requisite velocity on the vertical wheel. In 
 Fig. 1, A is the feeding pipe through which the 
 fluid is raised by the pressure or action of 
 the atmosphere on the fluid in the lowest 
 reservoir in which the lower end of the 
 pipe is immersed, closed by a cock, sliding 
 plate, valve or shutter, to allow the machine 
 to be filled at the commencement, and which 
 may be under the surface of the fluid, also 
 to keep it air-tight. The other end is inserted 
 air-tight into the top reservoir, or by a curve, as 
 shown by the dotted line a, joined to pipe C, and 
 delivering upon the vertical wheel, without any 
 top reservoir. In this case, if water is used, the 
 highest part of the bend or curve inside should 
 not exceed thirty feet above the level of the water 
 in lowest reservoir. B is the top reservoir, the 
 lowest internal part of which should never exceed 
 twenty-nine or thirty feet above the water in 
 lowest reservoir, but it will admit the top of the 
 reservoir, if wished, to be rather higher than 
 when the curved tube a only is used. It must be 
 
142 PERPETUAL MOTION 
 
 quite air-tight, and supported as convenient. C 
 is a pipe, joined air-tight to top reservoir, or form- 
 ing part of A, a, C. C is a movable flap of 
 strong leather, or other substance, which may be 
 joined to the lowest part of C, where the water is 
 delivered so high on the wheel and where floats 
 with hinges are used on the wheel to prevent its 
 going down on the ascending side ; but not neces- 
 sary when water is delivered lower on the wheel. 
 D, D, D, D, is the fixed and immovable water- 
 way, and the fixed case or cover (of the vertical 
 wheel), of which it is a part, joining also the 
 stuffing boxes, through which the axle of the 
 vertical wheel moves air-tight, thus entirely en- 
 closing and surrounding every part of the wheel 
 but the projections of the axle, and allowing the 
 float boards and wheel just to turn freely in it 
 without touching in any part except the axle in 
 turning in the packing of the stuffing boxes ; the 
 float boards are fastened on to the iron rim or 
 sole of the vertical wheel by very strong hinges or 
 movable joints just within the fixed waterway D. 
 E is a pipe or pipes joined air-tight to the fixed 
 cover or case enclosing the vertical wheel where 
 the water is to be taken off it, having their lower 
 ends inserted air-tight also into the bottom of the 
 fixed and immovable top of the centrifugal wheel 
 in such a direction that they may deliver the water 
 into the moveable waterway of the centrifugal 
 wheel as near as possible in the same direction as 
 the water circulates in the wheel. F, F, is the 
 centrifugal wheel, of any diameter convenient, 
 according to the size of the machine, placed hori- 
 
PERPETUAL MOTION 143 
 
 zontally above the fluid in the lowest reservoir, 
 so as to move on its axis as near as possible to 
 the surface of the fluid without touching it, hav- 
 ing an immovable cover or top, leaving a hollow 
 waterway round the rim, into which the fluid is 
 discharged from E in the direction of the wheels' 
 motion. G, G, are the discharging apertures of 
 the centrifugal wheel. H, H, is the surface of 
 the fluid in I, I, the lowest reservoir, containing a 
 sufficient quantity of water when the machine is 
 put to work, to allow the bottom of feeding pipe 
 A to be immersed in it at least two feet below the 
 surface, or a greater depth may be given to that 
 part of the reservoir under the mouth of pipe A, 
 forming a sort of well in which A may be in- 
 serted any required depth, better to exclude any 
 particles of air or bubbles mixed with the water 
 nearer its surface from ascending in pipe A. This 
 reservoir should be large enough to contain the 
 whole of the water used before the machine is 
 filled. K, K, are the ends of the axle of vertical 
 wheel outside of the stuffing boxes of the fixed 
 case, and are the only parts of the vertical wheel 
 seen, and turning air-tight through the packing 
 or stuffing boxes, or in any other manner the ex- 
 ternal air is entirely excluded from the vertical 
 wheel when at work; e is an air-tight cock to 
 discharge the air out of the machine when filling. 
 L is an aperture into top reservoir, or into highest 
 part of pipe A, a when no top reservoir, closed 
 air-tight by a screw cap ; by this the whole ma- 
 chine is filled in every part with the fluid used 
 before it can be set to work, the bottom of pipe A 
 
144 PERPETUAL MOTION 
 
 and apertures G (as well as cock to bottom of pipe 
 E when required) being previously closed. P is 
 part of the axle on which the centrifugal wheel 
 revolves. Before the machine can be put to work 
 everything being previously arranged as directed, 
 the apertures at G and bottom of A (and at E if 
 required also), must be closed by sliding plates, 
 valves, cocks, or other methods, as most con- 
 venient, and every part of the machine must be 
 rilled with the water or fluid used by the aperture 
 L, or any other convenient method by which the 
 highest parts may be filled, the air allowed to dis- 
 charge by opening E and O, the latter to be shut 
 as soon as the centrifugal wheel is filled, and the 
 cock at E closed where required, when the water 
 is above it a little, e continuing open so as to allow 
 the air to be entirely discharged from every part, 
 which being done, and the machine entirely filled 
 with water, this cock and aperture L must be 
 carefully closed ; having then fixed upon the most 
 convenient method for giving the required assist- 
 ance to set the machine to work, by giving the 
 centrifugal wheel motion, and assisting it till ar- 
 rived at the velocity fixed, it must be put in motion 
 and the apertures G opened; after it has got a 
 little into motion, and as soon as the velocity of 
 the wheel has given a centrifugal force to the 
 water sufficient to overbalance the slight differ- 
 ence in the height of the feeding and descending 
 columns, the pipe A must be opened ; a discharge 
 from the apertures G will now take place, which 
 is supplied from top reservoir B over the loaded 
 side of vertical wheel, where, by its gravity and 
 
PERPETUAL MOTION 145 
 
 impetus acting on the float boards, it causes the 
 wheel to turn till it descends, so as to be dis- 
 charged through E, on the rim or waterway W, 
 of the centrifugal wTieel, which it strikes with the 
 velocity of its descent in nearly the direction of 
 the wheel's motion, and is discharged through 
 apertures G into the water contained at com- 
 mencement in lower reservoir I, from whence this 
 discharge is again supplied by the pressure of the 
 atmosphere, returning it through pipe A into top 
 reservoir, or through a, C, and the part intended 
 of the vertical wheel. As the velocity of the 
 centrifugal wheel is accelerated, the velocity of 
 the descending column over the vertical wheel 
 will also be accelerated, and, consequently, the 
 vertical wheels, when having arrived at their re- 
 spective fixed velocities, the assisting force being 
 no longer necessary, may be withdrawn, and the 
 centrifugal wheel may now receive what assist- 
 ance is required to support its velocity from the 
 vertical wheel through the connecting shafts and 
 wheelwork, or in any other manner. 
 
 Eaton's Perpetual Siphon. London. 1850 
 
 The account of this is taken from Dircks's 
 great work, mentioned in the preface, and is as 
 follows : 
 
 This is a plan proposed by Mr. Eaton in 
 1850, and consists in providing two water cisterns 
 A, B ; the short leg of a siphon C enters the upper 
 cistern, and terminates in three escape pipes, 
 capable of being rotated by the pulley a f connected 
 
148 
 
 PERPETUAL MOTION 
 
 by a band with the pulley b, affixed to the vertical 
 shaft c, rotated by the inverted Barker's mill D, 
 constructed on the short leg of the inverted 
 
 siphon E, supplied from the bottom of the upper 
 water cistern. By this means it was expected to 
 keep up a continual flow down the pipes C and up 
 E, as shown by the arrows. 
 
 Legge's Hydro-Pneumatic Power Device. 1850 
 
 This is an English production, and the in- 
 ventor claims that it is the result of fourteen 
 years' study. We take the description from 
 Dircks. It is as follows : 
 
 It is a dome-shaped vessel ; its upper part A 
 
PERPETUAL MOTION 
 
 147 
 
 filled with air, and the lower half with water, as 
 at B. This vessel contains two apparatus for re- 
 turning the water which is worked through C D, 
 
 apparently like pump barrels. The air is to be 
 at from 250 to 500 pounds pressure on the square 
 inch. When once started it will (it is stated) go 
 on as long as it is oiled. The inventor estimates 
 a one thirty-second share at one thousand pounds 
 value. 
 
 Waterblowing Machine 
 
 In 1827 "Mechanics' Magazine," London, 
 published an account of an invention which was 
 furnished to it by some correspondent. The in- 
 vention, it seems from the communication, had 
 previously been described in an appendix by Dr. 
 Brewster to a volume of Ferguson's lectures, and 
 it also seems that the description furnished "Me- 
 chanics' Magazine" was copied from such appen- 
 dix. The following is the article as it appeared 
 in "Mechanics' Magazine" : 
 
148 PERPETUAL MOTION 
 
 I am encouraged to send you the following 
 attempt at perpetual motion, because I think it is 
 upon a principle that has not yet been examined in 
 your pages. 
 
 In Dr. Brewster's appendix to Ferguson's 
 lectures, the following description is given of 
 what is called a "Water Blowing Machine" : "Let 
 A B see Fig.) be a cistern of water, with the 
 bottom of which is connected the bended le.aden 
 pipe B C H. The lower extremity H, of the pipe 
 is inserted into the top of a cask or vessel, D E, 
 called the condensing vessel, having the pedestal 
 P fitted to its bottom, which is perforated with 
 two openings, M N. When the water which 
 comes from the cistern A is falling through the 
 part, C H of the pipe, it is supplied by the open- 
 ings or tubes, m n o p, with a quantity of air 
 which it carries along with it. This mixture of 
 air and water, issuing from the aperture H, and 
 impinging upon the surface of the stone pedestal 
 P, is driven back and dispersed in various direc- 
 tions. The air being thus separated from the 
 water, ascends into the upper part of the vessel, 
 and rushes through the opening F, whence it is 
 conveyed to the fire, while the water falls to the 
 lower part of the vessel, and runs out by the 
 openings M N." The author then goes on to 
 describe the construction of the pipe B C H, in 
 the curve of which some nicety is required, and 
 to explain some atmospherical phenomena upon 
 the principle of this machine, adding that "Fran- 
 ciscus Tertius de Lanis observes that he has seen 
 a greater wind generated by a blowing machine 
 
PERPETUAL MOTION 
 
 149 
 
 of this kind than could be produced by bellows 
 ten or twelve feet long." 
 
 Now, if, instead of the pedestal P, a wheel 
 were placed in the condensing vessel, as in the 
 fiure, would not the water, in falling upon the 
 wheel, be sufficiently dispersed to disengage the 
 air at the same time that it drove the wheel, and 
 would not the motion of the wheel be retarded by 
 the density of the internal air ? 
 
 I do not apprehend that any considerable 
 resistance would be offered by the internal air, 
 and the motion of the wheel can be regulated by 
 its load, so as to offer a sufficient resistance to 
 the descending stream of water ; and I, therefore, 
 assume that the water, in its descent, would pro- 
 duce by means of the wheel, a power capable of 
 
150 PERPETUAL MOTION 
 
 raising a part of the water expended back again 
 to the cistern ; and this is the extent of the power 
 of most of those machines which have been mis- 
 taken for perpetual motions by their projectors. 
 But I have a blast of wind which is described as 
 being of great force. Can this blast be in any 
 way applied to raise the surplus water ? I think 
 I see the smile which the proposal will produce in 
 those who deny the possibility of a perpetual mo- 
 tion. "A mere puff of wind!" is doubtless ejac- 
 ulated from all sides. But let me tell these gen- 
 tlemen that, though I may not know any method 
 by which such blast can produce that effect, it 
 does not, by any means, follow that the impos- 
 sibility of the thing is thence to be presumed. Far 
 from it ; for such a conclusion rests upon the sup- 
 position that the powers and application of a blast 
 of wind are fully known, and that no research or 
 experience can add to our knowledge on that sub- 
 ject assumptions which appear to me somewhat 
 ridiculous. Allow me, for the sake of argument, 
 to suppose that this blast instead of wind, had 
 been a blast of steam. Time was when wise men 
 would have smiled and said, "A puff of steam 
 a mere puff of steam !" and had some one, more 
 sanguine than the rest, attempted by its applica- 
 tion to produce a motion, he would have applied 
 it to the floatboards of a wheel, as in Branca's 
 engine, and have been disappointed. It is not 
 given to man to know when the powers of any 
 great agent have been fully developed ; and those 
 who act upon such presumptions throw the great- 
 est obstacles in the way of inquiry. But, to 
 
PERPETUAL MOTION 151 
 
 show the anti-perpetualists that within their own 
 time since the commencement of the "Mechanics' 
 Magazine," an addition has been made to our 
 knowledge of the powers of a blast of wind, I 
 have added a tube, G, to my figure, the proposed 
 use of which I shall now describe. 
 
 In a part of the "Mechanics' Magazine," 
 published some time ago, there was described a 
 novel mode of raising water in a tube by directing 
 a stream of air over its mouth, thereby destroy- 
 ing the pressure of the atmosphere. 
 
 I do not suppose it will rise to the height of 
 the cistern as I have figured it ; but it may still be 
 a question whether it may not be accomplished 
 by a series of short tubes, the bottom of the one 
 being placed in the cistern into which the next 
 below discharges its water, each being con- 
 structed with a blast and two valves, in the same 
 manner as the single tube namely, the valves x 
 (under water) and y, worked in such a manner 
 by the arms K L, that the one may shut when the 
 other opens. Presuming that the water will rise 
 to the top of the tube when the blast is in action 
 (x open and y shut), the water in the part of the 
 tube between the blast and 3; will be discharged 
 into the cistern at the next motion of the valves 
 namely, when x is shut and y opened, the blast, at 
 the same time, being discontinued. 
 
 Device by Means of Buoyancy Through Media 
 of Different Densities 
 
 An account of this appeared in "Mechanics' 
 Magazine," 1825. The author apparently had 
 
152 PERPETUAL MOTION 
 
 no great faith in the accomplishment of Perpetual 
 Motion, and yet it is manifest that he had not 
 abandoned hope of accomplishing it, and is still 
 thinking along some line of attaining it. It goes 
 without saying that the device failed. The ac- 
 count furnished, however, is as follows : 
 
 The unsuccessful (but far from fruitless) 
 search made to discover. the "philosopher's stone," 
 and the "elixir vitse," were productive of most 
 important and beneficial results in the kingdom 
 of chemistry; so, by a parity of consequence, I 
 am disposed to believe that from inquiry after 
 the "perpetual motion" (though equally unsuc- 
 cessful), a similar good will result to the mechan- 
 ical world. * * I beg leave to offer the pre- 
 fixed device. The point at which, like all the 
 rest, it fails, I confess I did not (as I do now) 
 plainly perceive at once, although it is certainly 
 very obvious. The original idea was this to 
 enable a body which would float in a heavy me- 
 dium and sink in a lighter one, to pass successively 
 through the one to the other, the continuation of 
 which would be the end in view. To say that 
 valves cannot be made to act as proposed will not 
 be to show the rationale (if I may so say) upon 
 which the idea is fallacious. 
 
 The figure is supposed to be tubular, and 
 made of glass, for the purpose of seeing the ac- 
 tion of the balls inside, which float or fall as they 
 travel from air through water and from water 
 through air. The foot is supposed to be placed in 
 
PERPETUAL MOTION 153 
 
 water, but it would answer the same purpose if 
 the bottom were closed. 
 
 DESCRIPTION OF THE ENGRAVING. No. 1, 
 the left leg, filled with water from B to A. 2 and 
 3, valves, having in their centers very small pro- 
 jecting valves; they all open upwards. 4, the 
 right leg,* containing air from A to F. 5 and 6, 
 valves, having very small ones in their centers; 
 they all open downwards. The whole apparatus 
 supposed to be air- and water-tight. The round 
 figures represent hollow balls, which will sink 
 one-fourth of their bulk in water (of course will 
 
154 PERPETUAL MOTION 
 
 fall in air) ; the weight, therefore, of three balls 
 resting upon one ball in water, as at E, will just 
 bring this top even with the water's edge; the 
 weight of four balls will sink it under the surface 
 until the ball immediately over it is one-fourth its 
 bulk in water, when the under ball will escape 
 round the corner at C, and begin to ascend. 
 
 The machine is supposed (in the figure) to 
 be in action, and No. 8 (one of the balls) to have 
 just escaped round the corner at C, and to be, by 
 its buoyancy, rising up to valve No. 3, striking 
 first the small projecting valve in the center, 
 which, when opened, the large one will be raised 
 by the buoyancy of the ball ; because the moment 
 the small valve in the center is opened (although 
 only the size of a pin's head), No. 2 valve will 
 have taken upon itself to sustain the whole column 
 of water from A to B. The said ball (No. 8) 
 having passed through the valve No. 3, will, by 
 appropriate weights or springs, close ; the ball will 
 proceed upwards to the next valve (No. 2), and 
 perform the same operation there. Having ar- 
 rived at A, it will float upon the surface three- 
 fourths of its bulk out of water. Upon another 
 ball in due course arriving under it, it will be 
 lifted quite out of the water and fall over the 
 point D, pass into the right leg (containing air), 
 and fall to valve No. 5, strike and open the small 
 valve in its center, then open the large one and 
 pass through ; this valve will then, by appropriate 
 weights or springs, close, the ball will roll on 
 through the bent tube (which is made in that 
 form to gain time as well as to exhibit motion) 
 
PERPETUAL MOTION 155 
 
 to the next valve (No. 6), where it will perform 
 the same operation, and then, falling upon the 
 four balls at E, force the bottom one round the 
 corner at C. This ball will proceed as did No. 8, 
 and the rest in the same manner successively. 
 
 Device by Compressible and Distensible Bags 
 in Liquid 
 
 In the year 1823, an account of a Perpetual 
 Motion device was sent to "Mechanics' Maga- 
 zine" by some correspondent. This appears to 
 have considerable claim to ingenuity, though the 
 correspondent states that "it failed from fric- 
 tion." The figure and account furnished are as 
 follows : 
 
 A A A A is a cistern of water, filled as high 
 asBB. CCCCCC are six bladders, communi- 
 cating by the tubes D D D D D D with the hollow 
 axle E, which axle is connected with the bellows 
 F by the pipe G. H is a crank connected with 
 the crank I by the rod K. L is a saucer-wheel, 
 M a pinion, N its shaft. O is a crank attached 
 to the bellows F by the rod P. Q Q Q Q Q Q are 
 valves with a projecting lever. R and S are two 
 projecting knobs. T is a hole in the axle E, form- 
 ing a communication with it and the lowermost 
 bladder. The axle B being put in motion carried 
 round the bladders and tables, and by the cranks 
 H and I, and the connecting-rod K, caused the 
 wheel L to revolve, which communicating a sim- 
 ilar but accelerated motion to the pinion M, shaft 
 N, and crank O, worked or blew the bellows F 
 
156 
 
 PERPETUAL MOTION 
 
 by the rod P; the air entered the axle E by the 
 tube G, and passing through the hole in it at T, 
 entered the lower bladder C by the tube D ; this 
 bladder being thus rendered lighter than the space 
 it occupied, ascended, bringing the bladder behind 
 it over the hole in the axle T in like manner, and 
 which thereby gained an ascending power, pro- 
 
 ducing a similar effect on the one behind it. When 
 one of the bladders arrived at the knob S, the 
 lever of the valve Q struck against it and opened 
 the valve; when the bladder arrived at U and 
 began to descend, its pressure on the water drove 
 out the air and gave it a descending power ; the 
 knob R then closed the valve Q and prevented the 
 
PERPETUAL MOTION 
 
 157 
 
 entrance of any water into the bladder; by this 
 contrivance three of the bladders were full and 
 empty, according as they passed over the hole T 
 or the knob S. 
 
 George Cunningham's Mercurial Pneumatic 
 Device. Ireland. 1729 
 
 Among the papers in the British Museum is 
 one which purports to relate to the Royal Society, 
 and in that Royal Society volume it is number 32. 
 
 It is quite amusing. The author explains that he 
 is withholding many precise details and measure- 
 ments "such as workmen should follow in making 
 
158 PERPETUAL MOTION 
 
 the engine. Intending no more here than the en- 
 deavor to satisfy some others as well as myself, 
 that there is really such a thing to be found as 
 that long-sought for Perpetual Motion, which is 
 looked upon by every one to be the true parent of 
 the Longitude. Description of the Perpetual 
 Motion" : 
 
 A, a cup nearly full of mercury. 
 
 B, the height the mercury will rise by its own 
 
 weight in 
 K, the main pipe, when 
 
 C, the lower cock is open. 
 
 E, a hollow globe which must be capable of a 
 
 greater quantity than the whole pipe K. 
 
 F, the upper cock by which the mercury is 
 
 filled into the engine and about 27 inches 
 higher than the line B. 
 
 D, the middle cock which, when open, lets the 
 
 mercury fall upon the buckets of the 
 wheel 
 
 G, and then passing down 
 
 I, a funnel which contracts itself at 
 L, into a pipe which directs the mercury into 
 
 the cup A. 
 
 H, a case which entirely covers the wheel 
 (being of the same metal, and of a piece 
 with the pipe), through which the axis 
 of the wheel passes to set another wheel 
 agoing; so becom [ing] the principal 
 mover in the clock or engine to be con- 
 trived. 
 
PERPETUAL MOTION 159 
 
 The Manner of Setting It to Work 
 Stop the cock at C and fill mercury into the 
 cup A, higher than the line B ; then stop the cock 
 at D and turn in mercury at the cock F, till K and 
 E are full; stop the cock at F, very close, open 
 C, first, and then D, out of which the mercury will 
 fall upon the buckets of the wheel G, down the 
 funnel I, L, into the cup A, and be pressed up K, 
 by the weight of the air, as in the barometer. 
 
 Why the Devices Described in this Chapter 
 
 Failed to Work 
 
 The devices explained in the preceding chap- 
 ter are of such complicated and ridiculous struc- 
 ture that it is impossible to explain anything from 
 them. It is better to abandon them all and to dis- 
 cuss in a general way why Perpetual Motion has 
 not been, and cannot be, attained by devices con- 
 structed on similar plans. An examination of 
 the preceding devices in this chapter shows that 
 they depended ultimately upon the fact : 
 
 1. That air or some other gas is to be com- 
 pressed by work done upon it and that upon ex- 
 panding it will do a greater amount of work than 
 was required for the compression, or 
 
 2. That a bag empty, or partially filled with 
 air, or other gas, can be easily immersed, and that 
 if blown full of gas while immersed it will, in its 
 tendency to float, do more work than was required 
 to immerse it, or 
 
 3. That the weight of the atmosphere and 
 its consequent pressure upon vacua can be util- 
 
160 PERPETUAL MOTION 
 
 ized to drive a piston, or compress a bag and by 
 some sort of means at the same time produce 
 another vacua ready for a similar operation, the 
 loss of the driven piston, or the compressed bag 
 being utilized to drive machinery, if desired. 
 
 It is now believed by all scientific men that 
 none of these things are possible. In the first 
 place, it is well known that compressed air will 
 do exactly the same work in regaining its former 
 volume that was expended upon it to compress it, 
 and this with absolute exactness. In compress- 
 ing the gas with a piston the force exerted upon 
 the rod to drive the piston must be sufficient not 
 only to compress the gas but also to overcome the 
 friction of the tight fitting piston, and further, if 
 the pressure on the rod be removed, the expand- 
 ing gas will deliver against the face of the piston 
 exactly the force and energy required to drive 
 the piston for the compression, but not all of this 
 can be returned to any machinery driven by the 
 piston-rod, for a part will be lost in the friction of 
 the tight-fitting parts. Thus here, as elsewhere, 
 there is an exact equivalent of energy a part of 
 which is consumed in friction, and only a part 
 available for returned motion. The same thing 
 is true in compressing a bag, except that possibly 
 the bending of the fabric is less resistance than 
 the friction of the tight-fitting piston. Still, the 
 bending of the fabric is some resistance, and con- 
 
PERPETUAL MOTION 161' 
 
 sequently the bag so expanding cannot return all 
 the energy required for its compression, the dif- 
 ference being the loss, however slight, in the 
 bending of the fabric of which the bag is made. 
 
 Again, let us admit that a dilated bag is 
 easily immersed in water, and that if inflated with 
 air there will be considerable tendency to rise, but 
 how much energy is required for the inflation? 
 It is manifest that if it is immersed the weight of 
 the water and its consequent pressure will resist 
 the attempted inflation, and must be overcome 
 before the inflation is complete. The deeper the 
 immersion the more the compression, and conse- 
 quently the more work required for the inflation. 
 If a bag having a contents of one cubic foot were 
 immersed a mile in fresh water, and if it should 
 be attempted to inflate it, the reader will perhaps 
 be surprised to know that the inflation would 
 have to be done against a pressure of substan- 
 tially 2,400 pounds to the square inch. It is sim- 
 ple that the deeper the bag is immersed the more 
 work it will do in rising to the surface, but it is 
 equally plain that the deeper it is immersed the 
 more energy is required for its inflation. In 
 each case the work of inflating is exactly equal to 
 the work returned in rising to the surface, and 
 there is not one whit to spare for running ma- 
 chinery of any kind. 
 
 The third classes of devices above mentioned 
 
162 PERPETUAL MOTION 
 
 assume atmospheric pressure, and a piston driven 
 by atmospheric pressure. This is easily attained, 
 but in order for atmospheric pressure to drive a 
 piston it must only be on one side of the piston, 
 and when the piston has been driven what force 
 and energy will be required to put it in a position 
 again such that there will be atmosphere on only 
 one side, and a vacuum into which it can retire, 
 on the other side? It is easily answered. The 
 same work must be done, and the same work ex- 
 actly, to put the piston again in the position with 
 the vacuum with equal dimensions into which it 
 can be driven by atmospheric pressure, that first 
 drove it to occupy the vacuum exactly the same 
 work, and no less and no more, except that the 
 amount lost by friction must be supplied in addi- 
 tion. 
 
CHAPTER V 
 
 MAGNETIC DEVICES 
 
 A Magnetic Pendulum 
 
 Here we present a device for Perpetual Mo- 
 tion by magnetism, but we are unable to give the 
 inventor's name or his nativity. It seems to have 
 been brought forth in the early part of the nine- 
 teenth century, prior to 1828. The description is 
 as follows : 
 
 Let A A, in the prefixed engraving, represent 
 two magnets revolving on axes. Let B represent 
 a larger magnet, hanging on an axis, pendulum 
 fashion, between the two former. As the poles 
 of the two smaller magnets lie in the same direc- 
 tion, the effect will be to draw the larger magnet 
 towards that on the left hand, while it is at the 
 same time repelled by that on the right ; but while 
 this is going on, the upper end of the large magnet 
 raises by means of a guide wire, the tumbler D, 
 which, just before the magnets come in contact, 
 passes the perpendicular and falls over, carrying 
 with it the lever connected with the two wheels 
 C C, and causing them to perform a quarter revo- 
 lution ; these wheels are connected by lines with 
 two small wheels fixed on the axles of the two 
 magnets A A. While the former make a quarter 
 revolution, the latter turn half round; conse- 
 quently, the position of the magnets is reversed, 
 and the same motions are then performed by the 
 
164 
 
 PERPETUAL MOTION 
 
 pendulum magnet being attracted and repelled in 
 the opposite direction ; and just before the mag- 
 
 nets touch each other the arrangement is again 
 instantly reversed. 
 
 Magnetic-Driven Wheel 
 
 Another plan for Perpetual Motion by mag- 
 netism appeared in the public journals of England 
 in 1828. The inventor states in effect that he de- 
 sires to get before the readers an 
 
 "Attempt at Perpetual Motion by Means of 
 Magnetism, Applied in a New Way." 
 
PERPETUAL MOTION 
 
 165 
 
 His attempt as published is as follows : 
 The object of the present communication is 
 to lay before your readers an attempt at perpet- 
 ual motion by means of magnetism applied some- 
 what differently to any that has yet been pub- 
 lished in your Magazine. 
 
 N 
 
 The above is a wheel of light construction, 
 moving on friction wheels in vacuo; the rim is 
 furnished with slips of steel pieces of watch- 
 spring will do. N N are two magnets, which, 
 attracting the rim of the wheel, will render one 
 side lighter and the other heavier, causing it to 
 revolve ad infinitum: or to render it more power- 
 ful, let the steel rims be magnetized and fixed on 
 the wheel with their north poles towards its cen- 
 ter. Let two more magnets be added, as shown 
 by the dotted lines : let these two, S S, be placed 
 with their south poles nearest the rim of the 
 wheel ; and the other two, N N, with their north 
 poles in that position. Now, as similar poles 
 repel and opposite poles attract, the wheel will be 
 
166 PERPETUAL MOTION 
 
 driven round by attraction and repulsion acting 
 conjointly on four points of its circumference. 
 B B are blocks of wood to keep off the attraction 
 of the magnets from that part of the wheel which 
 has passed them. 
 
 Mackintosh's Experiment 
 
 F. S. Mackintosh, of England, in 1823, 
 sought to accomplish Perpetual Motion, and made 
 the attempt here described. It was not made 
 public until 1836, when it was published in "Me- 
 chanics' Magazine." In the meantime, the inven- 
 tor had become convinced of the impossibility of 
 perpetual motion, as his comments on his own 
 alleged invention discloses. 
 
 (The classification in this book of Mackin- 
 tosh's invention is somewhat doubtful. The ar- 
 ticle as contributed in 1836 would as aptly be 
 classified under arguments against Perpetual Mo- 
 tion, Chapter XII. But, in view of the fact 
 that at the time of the invention the inventor was 
 seriously working at a scheme for the accomplish- 
 ment of Perpetual Motion, it has been decided to 
 classify it under Magnetic Perpetual Motion De- 
 vices.) 
 
 The published article was in the nature of a 
 contribution from the inventor, and is as follows : 
 
 I herewith forward you a description of a 
 machine which was constructed by me in the year 
 1823, with a view to produce a perpetual motion. 
 With this machine and the studies necessarily 
 
PERPETUAL MOTION 167 
 
 connected with it, first originated the suspicion 
 that the planets could not continue in motion un- 
 less they gradually approached the center of the 
 attraction. 
 
 In the first place, let us describe the machine. 
 Fig. 1 : A is a sectional view of the interior of the 
 wheel, which is formed in two halves upon one 
 shaft; each half or section is furnished with a 
 projecting ledge and an opening is left between 
 the two ledges sufficiently wide to admit of a mag- 
 net being introduced between them, by which ar- 
 rangement the magnet may be brought as near 
 to the ball as may be necessary (see Fig. 2). B 
 is a magnet whose line of attraction acts at right 
 angles with the line of gravity. C is an iron ball 
 under the action of two forces. The magnet con- 
 tinually drawing the ball up the inclined plane 
 within the wheel, and gravity continually draw- 
 ing it to the bottom, by their united action it was 
 supposed the wheel would revolve forever, or till 
 it was worn out; upon the same principle that a 
 wheel revolves by the animal force or muscular 
 action of a mouse or squirrel, which carries it up 
 the inclined plane, whilst it is continually drawn 
 to the bottom by the action of gravity, thereby 
 causing the wheel to revolve by the weight of its 
 body. The model was taken from the earth's 
 motion round the sun ; and the following process 
 of reasoning seemed to justify the assumption 
 that the wheel would move on till it was worn out : 
 
 "The earth is carried round the sun by the 
 action of two forces, one of which is momentum, 
 which is not, in reality, a force or cause of mo- 
 
168 
 
 PERPETUAL MOTION 
 
 tion, but an effect derived from an original im- 
 pulse ; and that impulse or the momentum derived 
 from it is not destroyed, because there is no re- 
 sistance to the moving body that is, there is no 
 friction. Well, I cannot make this machine with- 
 out having resistance to the motion that is, fric- 
 
 tion ; but to compensate for this I have two real 
 forces, two causes of motion, each of them 
 capable of imparting momentum to a body : they 
 are both constant forces ; and from one of them, 
 the magnet, I can obtain any power that may be 
 required within certain limits." 
 
PERPETUAL MOTION 169 
 
 This reasoning appeared conclusive, and the 
 wheel was made; but when the magnet was ap- 
 plied instead of the ball rolling up the inclined 
 plane, the wheel moved backwards upon its cen- 
 ter. It occurred to me that by placing a small 
 ratchet upon the wheel, as shown at D, this back- 
 ward motion of the wheel on its center might be 
 prevented, in which case the ball must roll up the 
 inclined plane, and that a perpetual motion might 
 then ensue ; but this ratchet I never tried, having 
 about that time begun to perceive that the idea of 
 a perpetual mechanical motion, either on the earth 
 or in the heavens, involves an absurdity ; and that, 
 therefore, the motions of the planets must neces- 
 sarily carry them continually nearer and nearer 
 to the center of attraction. 
 
 The above described device by Mr. Mackin- 
 tosh brought forth the following comment from 
 R. Munro, which was published in 1836: 
 
 The result of Mr. Mackintosh's essay at 
 perpetual motion might be attributed to the avoid- 
 able friction caused by the manner in which the 
 iron ball is placed in the wheel. Curious to try the 
 experiment, I proceeded, and, with the view of 
 diminishing the friction, I placed two wheels on 
 the axis of the ball, but the result was precisely 
 that described by Mr. Mackintosh. I next ap- 
 plied the ratchet, as suggested, but with no better 
 effect; the ball rolled towards the magnet, but 
 did not give the required motion to the wheel. It 
 is not unlikely, then, that the present ingenious 
 attempt will not be realized. 
 
170 PERPETUAL MOTION 
 
 Spence's Device 
 
 John Spence, of Linlithgow, Scotland, was a 
 shoemaker, but possessed great mechanical in- 
 genuity, He could not keep his mind from the 
 subject of mechanics. He devoted a great deal of 
 time to designing mechanical schemes for Per- 
 petual Motion. An account of his efforts is taken 
 from "Percy Anecdotes." 
 
 The device was exhibited in Edinburgh and 
 amazing to state it attracted the attention of one 
 of the greatest and most original scientists that 
 ever lived, Sir David Brewster. 
 
 It is from a letter written by Brewster, in 
 1818, to the "Annales de Chimie," that we get a 
 description of the Spence invention. The editor of 
 "Annales.de Chimie," was evidently reluctant to 
 publish any article concerning Perpetual Motion, 
 and only the great fame of Sir David induced him 
 to give space to the contribution. The article was 
 first published in France, but it has, with an intro- 
 ductory statement by the editor, been translated 
 into English, as follows : 
 
 The reader will readily conclude that in pub- 
 lishing this article we are influenced solely by the 
 great reputation of the learned contributor. Sir 
 David writes from Edinburgh : 
 
 I am almost afraid to inform you that at this 
 moment in Edinburgh may be seen a machine, 
 made by a shoemaker at Linlithgow, which real- 
 
PERPETUAL MOTION 
 
 171 
 
 izes the perpetual motion. This effect is produced 
 by two magnets A and B, acting alternately upon 
 a needle m n, of which the point of attachment n 
 corresponds exactly with the axis around which 
 A B 
 
 cm. r .cm 
 
 C" D' 
 
 turns the movable lever C D. When the needle 
 m n has been attracted into the position m f n by 
 the action of the magnet B, and C D is in con- 
 sequence found in C' D', a substance connected 
 with m n is interposed by mechanism between m' 
 n and B. This substance has the property of 
 intercepting, or rather of modifying the action 
 of the magnet B, and this permits the other mag- 
 net A to draw the needle into the position m" n; 
 but no sooner has it reached this point than a 
 second plate or layer of the same substance places 
 itself before magnet, and immediately B attracts 
 anew the needle. 
 
 The annexed figure exhibits a second form 
 the machine. A and B are two horse-shoe 
 
172 PERPETUAL MOTION 
 
 magnets, a and b the mysterious substance, and 
 m n the needle, which turns constantly with great 
 rapidity. Mr. Playfair and Capt. Kater have 
 inspected both of these machines, and are satis- 
 fied that they resolve the problem of perpetual 
 motion. 
 
 Joannis Theisneri's Semi-Circle 
 
 An account of this invention has been pre- 
 served by Caspar Schott in a work entitled 
 "Thaumaturgus Physicus, sive Magiae Univer- 
 salis Naturae et Artis," published in 1859. It is 
 illustrated by the following figure : 
 
 PIC. 3. 
 
 The inventor expected the operation of his 
 device to be as follows : "A" is a large magnet, 
 elevated on a short pillar at the foot of which is 
 a straight inclined tube, "C" "F" the ends of 
 which are connected with a curved or semi-circu- 
 lar tube "C", "D", "E", "F', as shown in the 
 figure. 
 
 The weight at the lower extremity is sup- 
 
PERPETUAL MOTION 173 
 
 posed to ascend through the curved tube by the 
 attraction of the magnet "A" and upon reaching 
 the point "C" the supposition was that upon pass- 
 ing the point "C" the attraction of the magnet 
 "A" would be sufficient to hold it there * * * 
 back to the point "F" through the straight tube, 
 and then be drawn by the magnet through the 
 curved tube to the point "C" and so on perpetu- 
 ally. 
 
 The impracticability of the above device is 
 manifest. At a point between "D" and "E" it is 
 plain the ball would have to ascend perpendicu- 
 larly and if the magnet exerts sufficient attraction 
 to elevate the weight at that point it would surely 
 hold the weight at the point "C", for at "C" the 
 weight would be much nearer the magnet and con- 
 sequently much more strongly attracted. 
 
 Device of Dr. Jacobus 
 
 In the same work by Caspar Schott from 
 which an account of the preceding device is ob- 
 tained he gives an account of the device of Dr. 
 Jacobus. 
 
 Dr. Jacobus's scheme is illustrated by the 
 following figure : 
 
 It will be observed that the above figure 
 shows a string of iron balls "A" suspended on a 
 grooved wheel "E" on an axle "C" between two 
 uprights "FF". At "H" lies a large lodestone, 
 
174 
 
 PERPETUAL MOTION 
 
 which is to attract the balls at "D" and was ex- 
 pected by the inventor to cause the wheel to ro- 
 tate. 
 
CHAPTER VI 
 
 DEVICES UTILIZING CAPILLARY AT- 
 
 TRACTION AND PHYSICAL 
 
 AFFINITY 
 
 Ludeke and Wilckens's Device 
 
 In 1864, Johann Ernst Friedrich Ludeke, of 
 London, and Daniel Wilckens, of Surrey, applied 
 for British patent on "Improvements in Motive 
 Power by Capillary Attraction." They describe 
 their invention as follows : 
 
 Our invention consists of improvements in 
 
 .2. 
 
 motive power by capillary attraction constructed 
 as follows: 
 
 Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings rep- 
 resents in horizontal section a square case or cis- 
 tern; this cistern is filled with water nearly to 
 the top, and two wheels marked a, a, and b, b, are 
 placed in the water in the cistern. By capillary 
 attraction the water rises between the two wheels 
 marked x, x, to a height above the level of the 
 
176 PERPETUAL MOTION 
 
 water in proportion to the distance of the wheels 
 from each other at x, x. As the water rises be- 
 tween the wheels marked x, x, above its level, the 
 weight of water between the wheels at x, x, will 
 cause the wheels to continually revolve. 
 
 Figure 2 represents the same, as Figure 1, 
 but in a vertical section. The said power may be 
 obtained by wheels moved on axis, or by other 
 apparatus by rise and fall in the water by vertical 
 motion. 
 
 The Jurin Device 
 
 The device which we have designated "The 
 Jurin Device," was not, in fact, invented by Jurin. 
 James Jurin furnished an account of the invention 
 to The Royal Society of London, and it appears 
 in the reports of that society published in 1720. 
 The invention was by a friend of Jurin's whose 
 name he does not give in the account. 
 
 Jurin's account of his friend's invention is as 
 follows : , 
 
 Some days ago a method was proposed to me 
 by an ingenious friend for making a perpetual 
 motion, which seemed so plausible, and indeed so 
 easily demonstrable from an observation of the 
 late Mr. Hawksbee, said to be grounded upon ex- 
 periment, that though I am far from having any 
 opinion of attempts of this nature, yet, I confess, 
 I could not see why it should not succeed. Upon 
 trial indeed I found myself disappointed. But 
 as searches after things impossible in themselves 
 are frequently observed to produce other dis- 
 
PERPETUAL MOTION 177 
 
 coveries, unexpected by the Inventor; so this 
 Proposa^Jias given occasion not only to rectify 
 some mistakes into which we had been led, by that 
 ingenious and useful member of the Royal Society 
 above named, but likewise to detect the real prin- 
 ciple, by which water is raised and suspended in 
 capillary tubes, above the level. 
 
 My friend's proposal was as follows : 
 
 Fig. 1. Let A B C be a capillary siphon, 
 composed of two legs A B, B C, unequal both in 
 length and diameter ; whose longer and narrower 
 leg A B having its orifice A immersed in water, 
 the water will rise above the level, till it fills the 
 whole tube A B, and will then continue suspended. 
 If the wider and shorter leg B C, be in like man- 
 ner immersed, the water will only rise to same 
 height as F C, less than the entire height of the 
 tube B C. 
 
 This siphon being filled with water and the 
 orifice A sunk below the surface of the water D 
 E, my friend reasons thus : 
 
 Since the two columns of ^water A B and F C, 
 by the supposition, will be suspended by some 
 power acting within the tubes they are contained 
 in, they cannot determine the water to move one 
 way, or the other. But the column B F, having 
 nothing to support it, must descend, and cause the 
 water to run out at C. Then the pressure of the 
 atmosphere driving the water upward through 
 the orifice A, to supply the vacuity, which would 
 otherwise be left in the upper part of the tube B C s 
 this must necessarily produce a perpetual motion, 
 
178 
 
 PERPETUAL MOTION 
 
PERPETUAL MOTION 179 
 
 since the water runs into the same vessel, out of 
 which it rises. But the fallacy of this reasoning 
 appears upon making the experiment. 
 
 Exp. 1. For the water, instead of running 
 out at the orifice C rises upwards towards F, and 
 running all out of the leg B C, remains suspended 
 in the other leg to the height A B. 
 
 Exp. 2. The same thing succeeds upon 
 taking the siphon out of the water, into which its 
 lower orifice A had been immersed, the water then 
 falling in drops out of the orifice A, and standing 
 at last at the height A B. But in making these 
 two experiments it is necessary that A G the dif- 
 ference of the legs exceed F C, otherwise the 
 water will not run either way. 
 
 Exp. 3. Upon inverting the siphon full of 
 water, it continues without motion either way. 
 
 The reason of all which will plainly appear, 
 when we come to discover the principle, by which 
 the water is suspended in capillary tubes. 
 
 Mr. Hawksbee's observation is as follows: 
 
 Fig. 2. Let A B F C be a capillary siphon, 
 into which the water will rise above the level to 
 the height C F, and let B A be the depth of the 
 orifice of its longer leg below the surface of the 
 water D E. Then the siphon being filled with 
 water, if B A be not greater than C F, the water 
 will not run out at A, but will remain suspended. 
 
 This seems indeed very plausible at first 
 sight. For since the column of water F C will be 
 suspended by some power within the tube, why 
 should not the column B A, being equal to, or less 
 
180 PERPETUAL MOTION 
 
 than the former, continue suspended by the same 
 power. 
 
 Exp. 4. In fact, if the orifice C be lifted up 
 out of the water D E, the water in the tube will 
 continue suspended, unless B A exceed F C. 
 
 Exp. 5. But when C is never so little im- 
 mersed in the water immediately the water in the 
 tube runs out in drops at the orifice A, though 
 the length A B be considerably less than the 
 height C F. 
 
 Mr. Hawksbee, in his book of Experiments, 
 has advanced another observation, namely, that 
 the shorter leg of a capillary siphon, as A B F C, 
 must be immersed in the water to the depth F C, 
 which is equal to the height of the column, that 
 would be suspended in it, before the water will 
 run out of the longer leg. 
 
 Exp. 6. From what mistake this has pro- 
 ceeded, I cannot- imagine; for the water runs out 
 at the longer leg, as soon as the orifice of the 
 shorter leg comes to.touch the surface of the stag- 
 nant water, without being at all immersed therein. 
 
 Jurin's attitude concerning his friend's dis- 
 covery is pleasing. He appears to have had bet- 
 ter judgment than to rush into print, or herald 
 forth that Perpetual Motion had been accom- 
 plished. Indeed, the account as given to the Royal 
 Society was that of an experiment and a failure. 
 Nevertheless, it presents an interesting point. 
 Capillary Attraction, however, creates no new 
 
PERPETUAL MOTION 181 
 
 energy. Adhesion is a force, and is often quite a 
 strong force in nature. 
 
 If a rod or tube be held by the hand at one 
 end, and the other end inserted in a liquid, it will 
 be observed that in some instances, depending 
 upon the nature of the material of the rod or tube, 
 and the liquid, at the point of contact the liquid 
 will slightly rise in the tube and on the outside 
 edges of the tube. In other instances it will be 
 depressed slightly at the same point. Whether it 
 will be elevated or depressed depends on whether 
 the adhesion of the liquid to'the material of which 
 the tube or rod is composed is greater than the 
 cohesion of the particles of the liquid. 
 
 If there be a depression it is manifest that 
 the entire surface of the liquid will be slightly ele- 
 vated by reason of the depression. On the con- 
 trary, if the liquid adheres to and creeps slightly 
 upward on the tube or rod, then it is manifest that 
 the surface of the liquid will come to rest slightly 
 lower than though it did not so creep. 
 
 The net result finally gets back to the prin- 
 ciple of flotation. The immersion or insertion is 
 a little more difficult in the case of depression, and 
 a little easier in the case of elevation. There is 
 no gain or loss of energy. It simply increases in 
 one case, and diminishes in the other case the 
 amount of displacement, with all the resulting 
 mechanical phenomena. 
 
182 PERPETUAL MOTION 
 
 Sir William Congreve 
 
 As stated in the preface of this work, pursuit 
 of Perpetual Motion has by no means been con- 
 fined to mechanics and tradesmen. Many men 
 eminent, and even famous in professions, art and 
 science have devoted much time and thought to 
 the subject. Among such eminent men is to be 
 mentioned Sir William Congreve, of England, a 
 baronet. He was born 1772, and died ;n 1828. 
 He was an artillerist and an inventor, and was a 
 son of Lieutenant General Sir William Congreve ; 
 was distinguished as a military man, as a member 
 of parliament, and as a business man; was an 
 inventor of note, having invented a war rocket, a 
 gun-recoil mounting, a time- fuse, a parachute at- 
 tachment for rockets, a hydro-pneumatic canal 
 lock sluice, a process for color painting, a new 
 form of steam engine, a method of consuming 
 smoke, a clock which measured time by a ball roll- 
 ing down an inclined plane, besides other inven- 
 tions and discoveries. He published a large num- 
 ber of works on scientific subjects. 
 
 It is not, therefore, surprising that whatever 
 Sir William Congreve said or did concerning any 
 scientific or mechanical subject should have at- 
 tracted general attention. 
 
 He devised and made a Perpetual Motion 
 Machine, which, like all others, failed to work. 
 We submit that his plan is peculiarly ingenious, 
 
PERPETUAL MOTION 183 
 
 and we fail to see how, without a knowledge of 
 the principles of Conservation of Energy, the 
 Congreve idea should not have appealed to any 
 one as reasonable, and its failure puzzling. 
 
 An account of the Congreve device and an 
 explanation of his ideas appeared in "The Atlas'* 
 in 1827, and the following description is taken 
 from the article appearing in "The Atlas" : 
 
 The celebrated Boyle entertained an idea 
 that perpetual motion might be obtained by means 
 of capillary attraction; and, indeed, there seems 
 but little doubt that nature has employed this 
 force in many instances to produce this effect. 
 
 There are many situations in which there is 
 every reason to believe that the sources of springs 
 on the tops and sides of mountains depend on the 
 accumulation of water created at certain eleva- 
 tions by the operation of capillary attraction, act- 
 ing in large masses of porous material, or through 
 laminated substances. These masses being 
 saturated, in process of time become the sources 
 of springs and the heads of rivers ; and thus, by 
 an endless round of ascending and descending 
 waters, form, on the great scale of nature, an 
 incessant cause of perpetual motion, in the purest 
 acceptance of the term, and precisely on the prin- 
 ciple that was contemplated by Boyle. It is prob- 
 able, however, that any imitation of this process 
 on the limited scale practicable by human art 
 would not be of sufficient magnitude to be effect- 
 ive. Nature, by the immensity of her operations, 
 is able to allow for a slowness of process which 
 
184 
 
 PERPETUAL MOTION 
 
 would baffle the attempts of man in any direct 
 and simple imitation of her works. Working, 
 therefore, upon the same causes, he finds himself 
 obliged to take a more complicated mode to pro- 
 duce the same effect. 
 
 To amuse the hours of a long confinement 
 from illness, Sir William Congreve has recently 
 contrived a scheme of perpetual motion, founded 
 on this principle of capillary attraction, which, it 
 is apprehended, will not be subject to the general 
 refutation applicable to those plans in which the 
 power is supposed to be derived from gravity 
 only. Sir William's perpetual motion is as fol- 
 lows: 
 
 . i.) 
 
 Let A B C be three horizontal rollers fixed 
 in a frame; a a a, etc., is an endless band of 
 sponge, running round these rollers ; and b b b, 
 etc., is an endless chain of weights, surrounding 
 the band of sponge, and attached to it, so that they 
 
PERPETUAL MOTION 185 
 
 must move together ; every part of this band and 
 chain being so accurately uniform in weight that 
 the perpendicular side A B will, in all positions 
 of the band and chain, be in equilibrium with the 
 hypothenuse A C, on the principle of the inclined 
 plane. Now, if the frame in which these rollers 
 are fixed be placed in a cistern of water, having 
 its lower part immersed therein, so that the 
 water's edge cuts the upper part of the rollers B 
 C, then, if the weight and quantity of the endless 
 chain be duly proportioned to the thickness and 
 breadth of the band of sponge, the band and chain 
 will, on the water in the cistern being brought to 
 the proper level, begin to move round the rollers 
 in the direction A B, by the force of capillary at- 
 traction, and will continue so to move. The 
 process is as follows : 
 
 On the side A B of the triangle, the weights 
 b b b, etc., hanging perpendicularly alongside the 
 band of sponge, the band is not compressed by 
 them, and its pores being left open, the water at 
 the point x, at which the band meets its surface, 
 will rise to a certain height, y, above its level, and 
 thereby create a load, which load will not exist on 
 the ascending side C A, because on this side the 
 chain of weights compresses the band at the 
 water's edge, and squeezes out any water that 
 may have previously accumulated in it; so that 
 the band rises in a dry state, the weight of the 
 chain having been so proportioned to the breadth 
 and thickness of the band as to be sufficient to 
 produce this effect. The load, therefore, on the 
 descending side A B, not being opposed by any 
 
186 PERPETUAL MOTION 
 
 similar load on the ascending side, and the equi- 
 librium of the other parts not being disturbed by 
 the alternate expansion and compression of the 
 sponge, the band will begin to move in the direc- 
 tion A B; and as it moves downwards, the ac- 
 cumulation of water will continue to rise, and 
 thereby carry on a constant motion, provided the 
 load at x y be sufficient to overcome the friction 
 on the rollers ABC. 
 
 Now, to ascertain the quantity of this load 
 in any particular machine, it must be stated that 
 it is found by experiment that the water will rise 
 in a fine sponge about an inch above its level ; if, 
 therefore, the band and sponge be one foot thick 
 and six feet broad, the area of its horizontal sec- 
 tion in contact with the water would be 864 square 
 inches, and the weight of the accumulation of 
 water raised by the capillary attraction being one 
 inch rise upon 864 square inches, would be 30 
 Ibs., which, it is conceived, would be much more 
 than equivalent to the friction of the rollers. 
 
 The deniers of this proposition, on the first 
 view of the subject, will say, it is true the accumu- 
 lation of the weight on the descending' side thus 
 occasioned by the capillary attraction would pro- 
 duce a perpetual motion, if there were not as 
 much power lost on the ascending side by the 
 change of position of the weights, in pressing the 
 water out of the sponge. 
 
 The point now to be established is, that the 
 change in the position of the weights will not 
 cause any loss of power. For this purpose, we 
 must refer to the following diagram. 
 
PERPETUAL MOTION 
 
 18? 
 
 With reference to this diagram, suppose 
 a a a, etc., an endless strap, and b b b, etc., an 
 endless chain running round the rollers; ABC 
 not having any sponge between them, but kept at 
 a certain distance from each other by small and 
 inflexible props, p p p, etc., then the sides A B 
 and C A would, in all positions of this system, be 
 precisely an equilibrium, so as to require only a 
 small increment of weight on either side to pro- 
 duce motion. Now, we contend that this equi- 
 librium would still remain unaffected, if small 
 springs were introduced in lieu of the inflexible 
 
 props p p p, so that the chain bbb might approach 
 the lower strap a a a, by compressing these small 
 springs with its weight on the ascending side ; for 
 although the centre of gravity of any portion of 
 chain would move in a different line in the latter 
 case for instance, in the dotted line still the 
 quantity of the actual weight of every inch of the 
 
188 PERPETUAL MOTION 
 
 strap and chain would remain precisely the same 
 in the former case, where they are kept at the 
 same distance in all positions, as in the latter case, 
 where they approach on the ascending side ; and 
 so, also, these equal portions of weights, notwith- 
 standing any change of distance between their 
 several parts which may take place in one case 
 and not in the other, would in both cases rise and 
 fall, though the same perpendicular space, and 
 consequently the equilibrium, would be equally 
 preserved in both cases, though in the first case 
 they may rise and fall through rather more than 
 in the second. The application of this demonstra- 
 tion to the machine described in Fig. 1, is obvious ; 
 for the compression of the sponge by the sinking 
 of the weights on the ascending side, in pressing 
 out the water, produces precisely the same effect 
 as to the position and ascent of the weights, as the 
 approach of the chain to the lower strap on the 
 ascending side, in Fig. 2, by the compression of 
 the springs; and consequently, if the equilibrium 
 is not affected in one case that is, in Fig. 2, as 
 above demonstrated it will not be affected in the 
 other case, Fig. 1 ; and, therefore, the water would 
 be squeezed out by the pressure of the chain with- 
 out any loss of power. The quantity of weight 
 necessary for squeezing dry any given quantity 
 of sponge must be ascertained and duly appor- 
 tioned by experiment. It is obvious, however, 
 that whether one cubic inch of sponge required 
 one, two, or four ounces for this purpose, it would 
 not affect the equilibrium, since, whatever were 
 the proportion on the ascending side, precisely the 
 
PERPETUAL MOTION 18S 
 
 same would the proportion be on the descending 
 side. 
 
 This principle is capable of application in 
 various ways, and with a variety of materials. It 
 may be produced by a single roller or wheel. 
 Mercury may also be substituted for water, by 
 using a series of metallic plates instead of 
 sponges ; and, as the mercury will be found to rise 
 to a much greater height between these plates, 
 than water will do in a sponge, it will be found 
 that the power to be obtained by the latter ma- 
 terials w r ill be from 70 to 80 times as great as by 
 the use of water. Thus, a machine, of the same 
 dimensions as given above, would have a constant 
 power of 2,000 Ibs. acting upon it. 
 
 We now proceed to show how the principle 
 of perpetual motion proposed by Sir William Con- 
 greve may be applied upon one centre instead of 
 three. 
 
 In the following figure, abed represents a 
 drum-wheel or cylinder, moving on a horizontal 
 axis surrounded with a band of sponge 123456 
 7 8, and immersed in water, so that the surface of 
 the water touches the lower end of the cylinder. 
 Now then, if, as in Fig. 2, the water on the 
 descending side b be allowed to accumulate in the 
 sponge at x, while, on the ascending side D, the 
 sponge at the water's edge shall, by any means 
 not deranging the equilibrium, be so compressed 
 that it shall quit the water in a dry state, the 
 accumulation of water above its level at x, by the 
 capillary attraction, will be a source of constant 
 rotary motion; and, in the present case, it will 
 
190 PERPETUAL MOTION 
 
 be found that the means of compressing the 
 sponge may be best obtained by buoyancy, instead 
 of weight. 
 
 For this purpose, therefore, the band of 
 sponge is supposed to be divided into eight or 
 more equal parts, 1234, etc., each part being 
 furnished with a float or buoyant vessel, / 1, / 2, 
 etc., rising and falling upon spindles, s s s, etc., 
 fixed in the periphery of the drum; these floats 
 being of such dimensions that, when immersed in 
 water, the buoyancy or pressure upwards of each 
 shall be sufficient to compress that portion of the 
 sponge connected with it, so as to squeeze out 
 any water it may have absorbed. These floats 
 are further arranged by means of levers / / /, etc., 
 and plates p p p, etc., so that, when the float / No. 
 1 becomes immersed in the water, its buoyant 
 pressure upwards acts not against the portion of 
 the sponge No. 1, immediately above it, but 
 against No. 2, next in front of it ; and so, in like 
 manner, the buoyancy of / No. 2 float acts on the 
 portion of the sponge No. 3, and / No. 3 float 
 upon No. 4 sponge. 
 
 Now, from this arrangement it follows, that 
 the portion of sponge No. 4, which is about to quit 
 the water, is pressed upon by that float, which, 
 from acting vertically, is most efficient in squeez- 
 ing the sponge dry; while that portion of the 
 sponge No. 1, on the point of entering the water, 
 is not compressed at all from its corresponding 
 float No. 8, not having yet reached the edge of the 
 water. By these means, therefore, it will be seen 
 that the sponge always rises in a dry state from 
 
PERPETUAL MOTION 
 
 191 
 
 the water on the ascending side, while it ap- 
 proaches the water on the descending side in an 
 uncompressed state, and open to the full action of 
 absorption by the capillary attraction. 
 
 The great advantage of effecting this by the 
 buoyancy of light vessels instead of a burthen of 
 weights, as in Fig. 2, is that, by a due arrange- 
 ment of the dimensions and buoyancy of the floats 
 immersed, the whole machine may be made to 
 
 WATER 
 
 float on the surface of the water, so as to take off 
 all friction whatever from the centre of suspen- 
 sion. Thus, therefore, we have a cylindrical ma- 
 chine revolving on a single centre without fric- 
 tion, and having a collection of water in the 
 sponge on the descending side, while the sponge 
 on the ascending side is continually dry; and if 
 this cylinder be six feet wide, and the sponge that 
 surrounds it one foot thick, there will be a con- 
 stant moving power of thirty pounds on the 
 
192 PERPETUAL MOTION 
 
 descending side, without any friction to counter- 
 act it. 
 
 It has been already stated, that to perpetuate 
 the motion of this machine, the means used to 
 leave the sponge open on the descending side, 
 and press it dry on the ascending side, must be 
 such as will not derange the equilibrium of the 
 machine when floating in water. As, therefore, 
 in this case the effect is produced by the ascent of 
 the buoyant floats b, to demonstrate the perpetuity 
 of the motion, we must show that the ascent of the 
 floats / No. 1 and / No. 3 will be equal in all cor- 
 responding situations on each side of the per- 
 pendicular ; for the only circumstance that could 
 derange the equilibrium on this system, would be 
 that / No. 1 and / No. 3 should not in all such 
 corresponding situations approach the centre of 
 motion equally ; for it is evident that in the posi- 
 tion of the floats described in the above figure, if 
 / No. 1 float did not approach the centre as much 
 as / No. 3, the equilibrium would be destroyed, 
 and the greater distance of / No. 1 from the 
 centre than that of / No. 3 would create a re- 
 sistance to the moving force caused by the ac- 
 cumulation of the water at x. 
 
 It will be found, however, that the floats / 
 No. 1 and / No. 3 do retain equal distances from 
 the centre in all corresponding situations, for the 
 resistance to their approach to the centre by 
 buoyancy is the elasticity of the sponge at the 
 extremity of the respective levers; and as this 
 elasticity is the same in all situations, while this 
 centrifugal force of the float / No. 1 is equal to 
 
PERPETUAL MOTION 193 
 
 that of the float / No. 3, at equal distances from 
 the perpendicular, the floats / No. 1 and / No. 3 
 will, in all corresponding situations on either side 
 of the perpendicular, be at equal distances from 
 the centre. It is true, that the force by which 
 these floats approach the centre of motion varies 
 according to the obliquity of the spindles on which 
 they work, it being greatest in the perpendicular 
 position ; but, as the obliquity of these spindles is 
 the same at all equal distances from the perpen- 
 dicular, and as the resistance of the ascent of the 
 floats is equal in all cases, the center of buoyancy 
 will evidently describe a similar curve on each 
 side of the perpendicular; and consequently the 
 equilibrium will be preserved, so as to leave a 
 constant moving force at x, equal to the whole 
 accumulation of water in the sponge. Nor will 
 this equilibrium be disturbed by any change of 
 position in the floats not immersed in the water, 
 since, being duly connected with the sponge by 
 the levers and plates, they will evidently arrange 
 themselves at equal distances from the center, in 
 all corresponding situations on either side. 
 
 It may be said that the equilibrium of the 
 band of sponge may be destroyed by its partial 
 compression; and it must be admitted that the 
 centre of gravity of the part compressed, accord- 
 ing to the construction above described, does ap- 
 proach the center of motion nearer than the center 
 of gravity of the part not compressed. The whole 
 weight of the sponge is, however, so inconsider- 
 able, that this difference would scarcely produce 
 any sensible effect; and if it did, a very slight 
 
194 PERPETUAL MOTION 
 
 alteration in the construction, by which the 
 sponge should be compressed as much outwards 
 as inwards, would retain the center of gravity of 
 the compressed part at the same distance from 
 the center of motion as the center of gravity of 
 the part not compressed. 
 
CHAPTER VII 
 Liquid Air as a Means of Perpetual Motion 
 
 A few years ago air was liquefied. This was 
 accomplished by a very high compression accom- 
 panied by a very low temperature. 
 
 It is manifest that when liquid air is removed 
 from the extremely low temperature necessary 
 for its liquefaction, and introduced into ordinary 
 atmospheric temperatures, it will exert a most 
 tremendous expansive force which can be utilized 
 for driving machinery and thereby producing 
 heat or electricity, or for any other purpose for 
 which force is required. But, by the law of Con- 
 servation of Energy, the liquefied air by expan- 
 sion can yield no more energy than was required 
 to extract the heat from the air and compress it 
 into the liquid state. 
 
 One enthusiastic individual who had worked 
 in a plant for liquefying air announced through- 
 out the United States of America, and perhaps 
 throughout the civilized world, that he had a 
 device by which the expansive force of three 
 pounds of liquid air could be made to liquefy ten 
 pounds, and that seven of the ten could be utilized 
 for driving machinery, or for any other purpose 
 for which force is required, the remaining three 
 being utilized in the production of another ten 
 
196 PERPETUAL MOTION 
 
 pounds of liquid air, and so on ad infinitum. He 
 boldly announced that thereby he had discovered 
 an inexhaustible supply of energy at a nominal 
 cost, whereby we could all be warmed and have 
 our machinery of all kinds driven without the 
 expense of gas, coal, fuel of any kind, wind, 
 waves, tides or streams. This enthusiastic indi- 
 vidual produced considerable excitement for a 
 time, and then the public ceased to hear about 
 either him or his device. He dropped out of sight 
 and his name sank into oblivion. His claims were 
 absurd, and the absurdity is readily apparent to 
 anyone versed in thermodynamics or familiar 
 with the principles of Conservation of Energy. 
 There was little excuse for his ever having 
 made such pretentions or for his pretentions ever 
 to have been seriously listened to by any one ; for 
 the principle of Conservation of Energy had 
 years before been fully established and heralded 
 throughout the world. 
 
CHAPTER VIII 
 
 Radium and Radio-Active Substances Consid- 
 ered as a Conceived Source of 
 Perpetual Motion 
 
 A few years ago when the remarkable prop- 
 erties of radium were discovered it was thought 
 by many that here at last was the long sought 
 solution of the problem of Perpetual Motion. 
 Radium seemed to have the power of maintain- 
 ing its own temperature permanently above that 
 of surrounding bodies. Many versecl in the sci- 
 ence of thermodynamics (heat power) shook their 
 heads in doubt. If, indeed, it were really true 
 that the substance, radium, or any other substance 
 had the quality of remaining permanently warmer 
 than surrounding bodies without having heat sup- 
 plied to it, then, indeed, there was an inexhaust- 
 ible supply of heat, and consequently power. 
 
 Hon. R. J. Strutt (Lord Rayleigh), devised 
 a radium clock to run on this principle, consisting 
 of a vacuum vessel in which was suspended a 
 radio-active substance contained in a tube. At 
 the lower end of the tube are two gold leaves as 
 in an electroscope. Platinum wires extended 
 through the glass and touched the gold leaves. 
 The other end of the platinum wires are extended 
 to connect with the earth. The radio-active sub- 
 
198 PERPETUAL MOTION 
 
 stance electrifies the gold leaves and causes them 
 to be extended, and upon being extended they 
 come in contact with the platinum wires and their 
 charge of electricity is lost, being conducted 
 through the wires and dispersed in the earth, and 
 the leaves losing their charge fall by the force of 
 gravity from the wires back to their position near 
 the tube containing the radio-active substance to 
 be again charged, to again move to and touch the 
 platinum wires, and again lose their charge ; this 
 process to go on indefinitely. 
 
 Here, indeed, was Perpetual Motion, except 
 for the fact that further and more refined experi- 
 ments and investigations demonstrated that 
 radio-active substances are not permanently 
 radio-active, but gradually, though very slowly, 
 lose their radio-activity just as a fire will finally 
 burn out, no matter how slowly it burns, or just 
 as an electric battery will finally lose its charge 
 and become exhausted. 
 
 This loss, however, of radio-active energy in 
 radio-active substances is so slow that it is said 
 the Strutt clock will run for over one thousand 
 years. But the fact that it will not run perma- 
 nently, and that the motion is the result of energy 
 supplied by the radio-active substance, and is not 
 supplied by the mechanism itself, deprives it of 
 any right to be called a solution of the problem 
 of self -motive power. 
 
PERPETUAL MOTION 199 
 
 It should be noted that Hon. R. J. Strutt 
 (Lord Rayleigh) of England, who devised the 
 radium clock, above mentioned, is not to be 
 classed with the ordinary Perpetual Motion en- 
 thusiast. He was, and is, in fact, a man of very 
 great scientific ability and attainments, and has 
 to his credit many actual and splendid achieve- 
 ments demonstrating him to be a genius of the 
 rarest and most exalted type. His radium clock 
 is founded on correct principles, and surely a clock 
 that will run one thousand years without having 
 power supplied from an outside source is worth 
 while. It should be here also mentioned that the 
 force derived from radio activity in the manner 
 it is applied in the Strutt clock is very slight, and 
 the instrument necessarily extremely delicate. 
 
CHAPTER IX 
 
 Perpetual Motion Devices Attempting Its At- 
 tainment by a Misconception of the Re- 
 lation of Momentum and Energy 
 
 The author, within twenty years last past, 
 has had his attention called by two different per- 
 sons, each ignorant of the efforts of the other, 
 who were seeking to obtain Perpetual Motion by 
 utilizing certain physical facts concerning Mo- 
 mentum and Energy. These facts and the prin- 
 ciples out of which they grow are familiar to all 
 who understand thoroughly, even the rudiments 
 of physics; but to persons who are inclined to 
 mechanics, but who have never had the advan- 
 tages of the presentation of clear principles, they 
 are confusing, and it is surprising that they have 
 not become more fertile fields for Perpetual Mo- 
 tion workers. However, we are unable to find 
 any written or printed account or description of 
 a plan or device of that kind, and our information 
 is confined to instances that have been brought 
 to our personal observation, and concerning 
 which the advice and counsel of the author was 
 sought. 
 
 The worker in each case was a man of more 
 than ordinary natural intelligence, and with a 
 bent for mechanical pursuits and reflection. Each 
 
PERPETUAL MOTION 201 
 
 had taken a course in what is conventionally 
 called High School Physics. 
 
 The idea in each case was so novel and inter- 
 esting that we deem the presentation worth while. 
 They were so nearly alike that instead of attempt- 
 ing to narrate what they said, we will endeavor 
 in our own way to present the idea, and then to 
 give our explanation, showing wherein lay their 
 error. 
 
 The following definitions and laws of 
 physics may be regarded as established : 
 
 Momentum 
 
 Momentum is the quantity of motion of a 
 moving body, and is the velocity multiplied by the 
 weight. 
 
 Thus, a body weighing two pounds, moving 
 at four feet per second, may be represented as 
 having a momentum of eight. 
 
 A body weighing two pounds moving at the 
 rate of six feet per second may be said to have a 
 momentum of twelve. 
 
 A body weighing ten pounds moving at the 
 rate of ten feet per second will have a momentum 
 of one hundred and so on. 
 
 Now, a step further. A body in motion 
 striking another body free to move will lose part 
 of its motion, and will impart some of its motion 
 Jo the body moved against. The aggregate mo- 
 
202 PERPETUAL MOTION 
 
 mentum after the striking is the same as before 
 that is to say if a body weighing ten pounds 
 have a velocity of twenty feet per second, its 
 momentum we will call two hundred. Now, if 
 in moving it strike another body either larger or 
 smaller its motion will be somewhat retarded, and 
 the body struck will possess some motion. 
 
 Multiply the weight of each by its motion 
 after the striking, and it will be found that the 
 sum of the products is two hundred. This may 
 be illustrated by swinging balls like pendulums 
 to cords of equal length from a beam, having the 
 arrangement such that balls of different materials 
 and sizes can be substituted at. liberty. If a body 
 be drawn back parallel to the beam, and released 
 so as to swing against another swinging body, 
 both will have motion. This motion will, in some 
 cases be a rebounding motion, as in the case of a 
 small elastic body swinging against and striking 
 a larger elastic body, but in all cases the sum total 
 of the momentum after the impingement is the 
 same as before. 
 
 The following statement of the law then, is 
 deducible : 
 
 The Momentum of one body in motion may 
 be made to impart momentum to another body, 
 the amount of momentum lost by the former be- 
 ing exactly equal to that thus acquired by the 
 latter. 
 
PERPETUAL MOTION -o<j 
 
 Before leaving these remarks on momentum 
 the reader should observe carefully what momen- 
 tum is and bear in mind it is the quantity of mo- 
 tion possessed by a moving body, and has to do 
 only with mass and velocity and takes no ac- 
 count of distance passed through. 
 
 Energy 
 
 Energy is the capacity to do work, and the 
 energy of a moving body is the amount of work 
 it will do, i. e., the distance it will move against a 
 resistance by virtue of its tendency to move, be- 
 fore being brought to a state of rest. 
 
 Now note, and note carefully, that the 
 amount of energy is proportional to the mass, and 
 to the square of the velocity. 
 
 Note this carefully: Any body in motion 
 has both momentum and energy. Its momentum 
 is proportional to its velocity; its energy to the 
 square of its velocity. If the velocity be doubled, 
 the momentum will be doubled, but its energy 
 quadrupled. If the velocity be trebled, its mo- 
 mentum will be trebled, but its energy increased 
 nine-fold. 
 
 It is important that the student get clearly 
 what is meant by saying that Energy is the 
 capacity to do zvork, and is proportional to the 
 square of the velocity. 
 
 The capacity to do work means the capacity 
 
204 PERPETUAL MOTION 
 
 to move against resistance, i. e., to overcome re- 
 sistance. The word "work" being used in a purely 
 mechanical sense and in that sense it is used 
 whether the result accomplished is destructive or 
 beneficial. 
 
 A revolving fly wheel will run machinery for 
 some time after the application of force has 
 ceased. This is doing work, and represents en- 
 ergy. 
 
 A bullet fired from a gun will accomplish 
 destruction before having its motion arrested. 
 This is work energy. 
 
 If a boy throw a ball into a snow bank, its 
 motion will sink it into the snow, but not far, the 
 resistance of the snow will soon bring the ball to 
 rest. The ball overcomes resistance in passing 
 through the snow until it is brought to rest, and 
 thus it does the work of forcing itself through 
 the snow, and possesses the energy necessary to 
 do that work. 
 
 The overcoming of the resistance of the air 
 by a moving body is work. A steamboat will 
 move for some time in water after the steam has 
 been turned off. The overcoming of the resist- 
 ance of the water is work, and by virtue of the 
 motion of the boat when the steam was turned off 
 it possessed the energy to do the work of forcing 
 itself for some time through the resistance of the 
 water. 
 
PERPETUAL MOTION 205 
 
 The Perpetual Motion worker in each case 
 had reasoned himself into this conclusion : That 
 the same energy will impart the same acceleration 
 of velocity, regardless of the velocity at the be- 
 ginning of the application of energy. That the 
 same amount of energy or work necessary to im- 
 part to a body a velocity of ten feet per second 
 will increase that velocity to twenty feet per 
 second, or from twenty feet per second to thirty 
 feet per second. In other words, that the same 
 amount of energy, and only the same amount of 
 energy is required for a given increase in velocity 
 without regard to the initial velocity. This ap- 
 pears plausible, and almost self-evident. We be- 
 lieve the great majority of people, other than 
 mechanical engineers would, upon presentation of 
 the theory accept it as axiomatic, and as a matter 
 of course. The fallacy becomes manifest only 
 from a critical and technical examination of the 
 Laws of Momentum and Energy. 
 
 The Perpetual Motion worker had learned 
 from his text-books that if the velocity be doubled, 
 the energy would be multiplied by four. His idea 
 was to so arrange his mechanism that he would 
 apply the amount of energy to move a fly wheel 
 free to revolve, from a position of rest to a revolv- 
 ing velocity of ten revolutions per second. Then 
 apply again the same amount of energy, and ac- 
 celerate that velocity from ten revolutions per 
 
206 PERPETUAL MOTION 
 
 second to twenty revolutions per second. Thus, 
 the energy at the end of the second second would 
 be four times what it ^as^t^Agjendj^b^c first 
 second. But to make it so, only double the amount 
 of energy had been applied that had been ex- 
 pended at the end of the first second. Thus/he 
 reasoned, his machine was by virtue .ofjts_truc- 
 ture, accumulating energy, and this^energyicould 
 be used one-half to continue ^the^motion of his 
 machine, and the other half to run other ma- 
 chinery, or for any other purpose for .which 
 energy might be desired. 
 
 Wherein lies the fallacy of this supposition ? 
 
 We will now endeavor to explain. And for 
 the young student to get the explanation fuftyTTt 
 will be necessary for him to pay the closest atten- 
 tion to what we here state. 
 
 A force, for instance the pressure of ..the 
 finger or the hand, equal to one pound against a 
 body free to move, will, we will say, move that 
 body in one second of time through a space of 
 ten feet, and at the end of that second the body 
 will have a velocity of twenty feet. It is manifest 
 that at the end of the second the velocity will be 
 twenty feet per second for its initial velocity is 
 zero, and its average velocity ten feet per second, 
 the acceleration being, of course, presumed uni- 
 form. 
 
 Now, it is not true as the Perpetual Motion 
 
PERPETUAL MOTION 207 
 
 worker had assumed that the same energy i. e., 
 the same work that is required to increase the 
 velocity from zero to ten feet per second will in- 
 crease the velocity from ten feet per second to 
 twenty feet per second, and in that assumption lay 
 the fallacy of our friends who were thus seeking 
 Perpetual Motion. 
 
 The greater the velocity, the more energy is 
 required to impart a given acceleration. To in- 
 crease the velocity from ten feet per second to 
 twenty feet per second, the applied force must 
 continue through one second of time, and more 
 energy is required to follow a rapidly moving 
 body, and continue to apply to it a given force for 
 one second than would be required to follow and 
 maintain the application of the same force to a 
 body moving more slowly the distance traveled 
 is greater in one case than in the other. 
 
 It must be plain that if the moving body have 
 a velocity at the end of the first second of twenty 
 feet per second, it will, at the end of the second 
 second, with the same pressure (force) continued 
 against the same resistance, have a velocity of - 
 forty feet per second, and at the end of three sec- 
 onds have a velocity of sixty feet, and at the 
 end of four seconds a velocity of eighty feet, and 
 so on. 
 
 Now, at the beginning of the second second it 
 had a velocity of twenty feet, and at the end of 
 
208 PERPETUAL MOTION 
 
 that second a velocity of forty feet. It therefore, 
 traveled through that second with an average ve- 
 locity of thirty feet and, of course, during the sec- 
 ond second traveled exactly thirty feet. It traveled 
 ten feet the first second, and if it traveled thirty 
 feet the second, then in the two seconds it traveled 
 forty feet four times as far as it traveled the 
 first second. At the beginning of the third second 
 it had a velocity of forty feet, and at the end of the 
 third second a velocity of sixty feet. The average 
 velocity then for the third second would be one- 
 half the sum of forty feet and plus sixty feet 
 that is to say, it would be fifty feet, and that 
 would be the distance traveled during the third 
 second. The first second it traveled ten feet, the 
 second second thirty feet, and the third second 
 fifty feet, making a total in three seconds of 
 ninety feet that is to say, in three seconds it 
 traveled nine times as far as in one second. 
 
 It will be noticed from the above that the 
 velocity is proportional to the number of seconds, 
 but that the distance traveled is proportional to 
 the square of the number of seconds, and also 
 proportional to the square of the velocity. 
 
 Momentum is mass multiplied by velocity; 
 energy is measured by the distance through which 
 a body will move against a given resistance. 
 
 Should you prop up one wheel of a carriage 
 and revolve the wheel, then with the pressure of 
 
PERPETUAL MOTION 209 
 
 the finger or the thumb on the hub as a brake, 
 stop it, it will be found that (omitting the effect of 
 atmospheric resistance), the wheel will make four 
 times as many revolutions before stopping with 
 a doubled velocity; nine times as many with a 
 trebled velocity. 
 
 Falling bodies afford the most perfect illus- 
 tration of the principle of Momentum and En- 
 ergy, and are so commonly used to illustrate those 
 principles that many students get the idea that 
 the application of those principles is confined to 
 falling bodies, and do not realize that they extend 
 generally through the field of mechanics. 
 
 A falling body is, of course, acted upon by 
 gravity with uniform force equal to the weight 
 of the falling body, and that force continues to 
 follow the falling body and to be applied uni- 
 formly and equally, however slowly, or rapidly 
 the body may be falling. And, omitting atmos- 
 pheric resistance, the body is absolutely free to 
 move except for its natural tendency to remain at 
 rest, or at uniform velocity. It is well known 
 that a body falls (almost exactly) sixteen feet in 
 one second, and at the end of one second has a 
 velocity of thirty-two. During the second second 
 it falls through a distance of forty-eight feet, and 
 during the third second a distance of eighty feet. 
 In two seconds it falls sixty-four feet, and in three 
 seconds one hundred twenty-eight feet, and so on. 
 
210 PERPETUAL MOTION 
 
 Thus, it will be observed that the velocity is pro- 
 portional to the time during which it has fallen, 
 but that the distance fallen in any number of 
 seconds is proportional to the square of the time. 
 This, indeed, is a property of numbers, and 
 results from mathematical law. If the reader 
 will form a series of numbers, setting down any 
 number for the first term of the series, adding to 
 it its double for the second term, and adding to 
 the second term double the first term for the third, 
 and adding double the first term to the third term 
 for the fourth, and so on in other words, form 
 any increasing arithmetical series with double the 
 first term for the common difference, he will dis- 
 cover that the sum of all the terms is equal to the 
 first term multiplied by the square of the number 
 of terms. Thus : 
 
 1st Term 2nd Term 3rd Term 4th Term oth Term 
 
 5 15 25 35 45 
 
 In the above series the sum of the first two 
 terms is 20, which is 4 times the first term. The 
 sum of the first three terms, i. e., 5 + 15 + 25 = 
 45 nine times the first term. The sum of the 
 first four terms, i. e., 5 + 15 + 25 + 35 = 80, 
 sixteen times the first term, and so on. 
 
 It will thus be seen that Momentum and 
 Energy are entirely different, although co-re- 
 lated; that momentum relates to velocity, which 
 includes the element of time, whereas energy re- 
 
PERPETUAL MOTION 211 
 
 lates to the amount of work done, and may be 
 represented by a force operating against a cer- 
 tain resistance, through a certain distance, en- 
 tirely irrespective of time. The energy is the 
 same with the same force operating against the 
 same resistance, through the same distance 
 whether the time consumed be great or small. It 
 takes as much energy in the aggregate to wind up 
 a bucket from the bottom of the well if done 
 slowly as if done quickly. 
 
 It would seem hardly necessary to do so, and 
 yet it is worth while remarking that the amount 
 of energy necessary to impart a given motion is 
 exactly the amount of Energy that will be re- 
 quired to arrest that motion, and represents the 
 amount of Energy possessed by the moving body 
 by virtue of its motion. Work done, i. e., Energy 
 applied in giving motion is there in that motion, 
 ready to be returned in exactly an equal quantity 
 no more no less. 
 
 In all the considerations in this chapter no 
 notice is taken of loss by friction or atmospheric 
 resistance. We are considering pure mechanics 
 and the laws governing them only. In actual 
 mechanical devices it is always necessary to make 
 allowance for atmospheric, frictional and other 
 unavoidable resistances. 
 
CHAPTER X 
 
 The Alleged Inventions of Edward Sommerset, 
 Sixth Earl and Second Marquis of Wor- 
 cester, and of Jean Ernest Eli-Bessler 
 (Councillor) Orffyreus 
 
 More interest has been taken, and more has 
 been said and written concerning the claimed in- 
 ventions of the men forming the subject of this 
 chapter than of all other Perpetual Motion de- 
 vices known to history. The reason is not diffi- 
 cult to explain. It was the rank and eminence of 
 the inventors and of others whom they induced 
 to take an interest in their inventions, and to 
 proclaim them to the world. Intrinsically, neither 
 their claims nor their devices are entitled to any 
 more notice than are those of the humblest 
 mechanic that ever labored to attain Perpetual 
 Motion. However, so much has been said and 
 written concerning them that they have an his- 
 torical value and interest. Then, too, the interest 
 taken in their inventions brought forth some 
 splendid discussions which necessarily involve in 
 a general way, at least, the entire question of 
 Self-Motive Power. The historical interest at- 
 taching to their inventions and the discussions 
 concerning them, entitles them to more than a 
 passing notice in this book. 
 
PERPETUAL MOTION 213 
 
 They were not co-laborers; they were not 
 even compatriots, nor contemporaries. Worces- 
 ter was an Englishman and Orffyreus a French- 
 man, though most of his labors were in what is 
 now Germany. The former died thirteen years 
 before the latter was born. 
 
 Edward Sommerset, of England, Sixth Earl 
 and Second Marquis of Worcester, was born in 
 the year 1601, and died in 1667. He was famous 
 not only for his noble birth and family rank, but 
 for personal attainments. He was the author of 
 a work entitled "Century of Names and Scant- 
 lings of Such Inventions as at Present I Can Call 
 to Mind Have Tried and Perfected" (1663), 
 which has often been reprinted, and is usually 
 referred to simply as "Century Inventions." He 
 was very prominent in public life; was greatly 
 interested in mechanical experiments, and made 
 valuable suggestions, inventions and improve- 
 ments in connection with the use of steam as a 
 motive power. 
 
 Henry Dircks, who is so frequently men- 
 tioned in this book, wrote a book which was pub- 
 lished in 1865, entitled "Life, Times and Scientific 
 Labors of the Second Marquis of Worcester." 
 The Marquis appears to have been all his life 
 greatly interested in science, mechanics and 
 mathematical contrivances. His first wife died 
 in 1635, and it seems probable that thenceforth 
 
214 PERPETUAL MOTION 
 
 he became and remained more than ever devoted 
 to mechanics, and sometime after that period an- 
 nounced a successful Perpetual Motion machine, 
 the gist of all known information concerning 
 which appears from the articles and discussions 
 hereinafter set forth in this chapter. 
 
 Jean-Ernest Eli-Bessler (Councillor) Orffy- 
 reus was born in 1680, near Zittan, Alsace, 
 France. He was a man of great ability and at- 
 tained an eminent place in public life. The title 
 "Councillor," he acquired by having been selected 
 Councillor to the Prince of Hesse Castle. The 
 best information concerning him indicates that 
 he was of very erratic temperament, given to fits 
 of melancholy and extreme anger. In early life 
 he was a student of theology and medicine, but his 
 penchant was really for mechanics. He claimed 
 that in his search for whatever might prove curi- 
 ous and valuable he had discovered Perpetual 
 Motion, and that between the years 1712 and 
 1719 he had made two successfully working 
 machines on his system. The following discus- 
 sions disclose all that is known of the claimed 
 inventions of these two distinguished Perpetual 
 Motion workers. 
 
 The alleged inventions of the Marquis of 
 Worcester is stated by him in the 56th article of 
 his book entitled "Century of Names and Scant- 
 lings of Such Inventions as at Present I Can Call 
 to Mind to Have Tried and Perfected/' and trans- 
 
PERPETUAL MOTION 215 
 
 lated from the ancient English style in which his 
 book is written into modern style of English, 
 reads as follows : 
 
 The inventor offers the accompanying 
 sketch, with description of an Hydraulic Mover, 
 for communicating power to machinery, and re- 
 cently invented by him: 
 
 "To provide and make that all the weights of 
 the descending side of a wheel, shall be per- 
 petually farther from the center, than those of 
 the mounting side, and yet equal in number and 
 heft to the one side as the other. A most incred- 
 ible thing, if not seen; but tried before the late 
 King (of blessed memory) in the Tower by my 
 directions, two extraordinary ambassadors ac- 
 companying his Majesty, and the Duke of Rich- 
 mond, and Duke of Hamilton, with most of the 
 Court attending him. The wheel was fourteen 
 foot over, and had forty weights of fifty pounds 
 apiece. Sir William Balfore, then Lieutenant of 
 the Tower, can justify it, with several others. 
 They all saw, that no sooner these great weights 
 passed the diameter line of the lower side, but they 
 hung a foot farther from the center; nor no 
 sooner passed the diameter line of the upper side, 
 but they hung a foot nearer. Be pleased to judge 
 of the consequence." 
 
 In October of 1719, Orffyreus published a 
 small book, or pamphlet, both in German and 
 Latin, entitled "Perpetual Motion Triumphant, 
 by Orffyreus." The book commences : 
 
 It is a notorious fact that Perpetual Motion 
 
816 PERPETUAL MOTION 
 
 has not only been sought after by ingenious 
 mathematicians and artists with more or less ex- 
 pense, but many have arisen here and there pre- 
 tending that they have made the discovery. 
 Nevertheless, it appears that to carry out this 
 most subtle mechanical idea, namely, to make a 
 dead material not only move itself, but lift 
 weights and perform work, even the most pro- 
 found mathematicians and the most learned 
 people have continually fallen into error. It is 
 no less notorious that those who have so sought, 
 not only refuse their consent, but have set their 
 seal on the discovery as an unsolvable problem. 
 
 On a subsequent page he proceeds thus : 
 
 When I, at last, an unworthy man, was made 
 an instrument in God's hands to solve this long- 
 looked- for and valuable secret, and to give a rep- 
 resentation, proposition and instruction on this 
 rare invention ; also to publish and propound it to 
 all the world, no longer do I doubt, nay I pre- 
 sume, that as the discoverer I possess it, after 
 many years of scrupulous doubts, much calumny 
 and exasperation from all my enemies. 
 
 He speaks of his opponents under four divi- 
 sions : First, the scientific world ; second, persons 
 in high authority ; third, the public in general ; and 
 fourth, the press; observing 
 
 Now my wish was to convince the world that 
 this illiberal, rude and inhuman treatment was 
 false, yet God's providence has brought to my 
 help, protection and succour the mighty Prince 
 Lord Charles, Landgrave of Hesse. 
 
 On a subsequent page he indulges in the f ol- 
 
PERPETUAL MOTION 217 
 
 lowing sycophantic adulation of the Prince of 
 Hesse Castle, and suggestion of the description 
 of his claimed device : 
 
 It has not only pleased this mighty Prince to 
 protect me against my numerous enemies, but also 
 to give me house-room in his princely Castle of 
 Weissenstein, near Cassel ; to name me one of his 
 most honored servants, and restore me in a meas- 
 ure all the honor and means that I had lost in my 
 native country; wishing no doubt to give to 
 Hessin Cassel the high honor which belonged to 
 Saxony by right. In gratitude for all these gra- 
 cious acts, I consented to give another example of 
 my Perpetuum Mobile machine. I put all in 
 fresh order, and began work in all possible haste, 
 doing everything in the manner of those I had 
 already made and destroyed, with only a few 
 changes in the dimensions of the so-named turn- 
 ing-wheel. For as a grindstone may be called a 
 wheel, so may the principal part of my machine be 
 named. The outward part of this wheel is drawn 
 over or covered with waxed linen in the form of 
 a drum. This cylindrical basis was 12 Rhenish 
 feet in diameter, the thickness from 15 to 18 
 inches, the middle axle 6 feet long and 8 inches 
 in thickness. It is supported in its movement on 
 two pointed steel balance-pegs, each 1 inch thick; 
 and the wheel is vertically suspended. The 
 movement is modified by two pendulums, as 
 shown in the engraving at the end of this book. 
 The inward structure of the wheel is of a nature 
 according to the laws of mechanical perpetual 
 motion, so arranged that by disposed weights once 
 
218 PERPETUAL MOTION 
 
 in rotation they gain force from their own swing- 
 ing, and must continue their movement as long as 
 their structure does not lose its position and ar- 
 rangement. Unlike all other automata, such as 
 clocks or springs or other hanging weights which 
 require winding up or whose duration depends on 
 the chain which attaches them, on the contrary, 
 these weights are the essential parts and consti- 
 tute perpetuum mobile itself; as from them is 
 received the universal movement which they must 
 exercise so long as they remain out of the center 
 of gravity ; and when they come to be placed to- 
 gether, and so arranged one against another that 
 they can never obtain equilibrium, or the punctum 
 quietus which they unceasingly seek in their won- 
 derous speedy flight, one or other of them must 
 apply its weight vertically to the axis, which in 
 its turn will also move. 
 
 The author and inventor then suggests the 
 following uses of his machine : "raising weights, 
 raising stampers, water," etc. He criticises all 
 critics of his scheme and denounces them as cun- 
 ning rogues, and fools who are contemptibly en- 
 deavoring to overthrow an incontestable fact. 
 He makes a quadrupled dedication of his device : 
 
 1. To God, 
 
 2. To the Public in General, 
 
 3. To Men of Learning, 
 
 4. To Himself as Discoverer, 
 
 and he very modestly suggests a method by which 
 he could be approached on the subject of selling 
 
PERPETUAL MOTION 
 
 219 
 
320 PERPETUAL MOTION 
 
 the secret of his machine for one hundred thou- 
 sand rix-thalers, and points out the great im- 
 portance to the public of such an acquisition. The 
 book contains a cut of his device with the follow- 
 ing very brief explanation : 
 
 Number 1 shows the entire size of the wheel ; 
 2, a cord wound round the principal axle ; 3, the 
 wheel or pulley to guide the cord; 4, the cord 
 passed through a window and over 5, another pul- 
 ley; 6, the box of stones raised or lowered; 7, the 
 lock to prevent motion; 8, the pendulum with 
 three weights; 9, a winch-handle acting on the 
 pendulum; and 10, shows above and below trans- 
 parent, so that the machine stands clear and can 
 be moved about. 
 
 In 1720 the following article was contributed 
 to and published in the "Gentleman's Magazine," 
 concerning the Orffyrean Wheel : 
 
 MR. URBAN : Being an admirer of improve- 
 ments in mechanics and desirous of seeing the 
 perpetual motion discovered, I was much pleased 
 on reading, some time ago, an account of the auto- 
 maton constructed by Orffyreus in two letters, 
 one from Professor 's Gravesande to Sir Isaac 
 Newton, the other from Baron Fischer to Dr. 
 Desaguliers, with the testimonial of the Land- 
 grave of Hesse-Cassel (who had seen the inside 
 of it )in favor of its construction. To which are 
 added some remarks by William Kenrick, the 
 writer of the pamphlet, who takes that opportun- 
 ity to propose a subscription for a similar ma- 
 
PERPETUAL MOTION 221 
 
 chine, which he says he has contrived and denom- 
 inated a Rotator. 
 
 It is much to be lamented that the learned did 
 not examine more strictly into the merit of Orffy- 
 reus's wheel; but, on the contrary, being pre- 
 possessed with a notion of the impracticability of 
 the perpetual motion, suffered it to be neglected, 
 and at last destroyed by the hands of a disap- 
 pointed mechanic, who, with unwearied applica- 
 tion and steady perseverance, had brought it to 
 perfection. I wish we may not again let slip an 
 opportunity of becoming acquainted with an in- 
 vention, which, when made public, will reflect 
 honor on the inventor, and be of the utmost utility 
 to the world. Such, I would hope, is the rotator 
 mentioned by W. Kenrick; for, unless his dis- 
 covery were real, I cannot think that he would 
 have taken the liberty to express himself as he 
 does in p. 26, etc., "The inventor flatters himself 
 that, if the contents of the foregoing pages are 
 seriously attended to, and it be farther consid- 
 ered, that not a penny of the proposed premium 
 is required, till the subscribers are fully satisfied 
 of the reality and utility of the invention, his pro- 
 posal will not be treated with so mortifying a 
 neglect as that of Orffyreus." Again he says, 
 "If it does not supply the place of a first mover, 
 at the expense only of the construction and re- 
 pair of a simple wheel subject to very little fric- 
 tion, and that in all such engines and machines, 
 even from the slightest piece of clockwork to the 
 waterworks of Marli or London-bridge, he ex- 
 pects nothing for his discovery, but to stand ex- 
 
222 PERPETUAL MOTION 
 
 posed to the contempt that will be justly thrown 
 on him for having so miserably mispent his time, 
 and frivolously engaged the attention of the 
 public." 
 
 Now, I think that W. Kenrick's proposals are 
 very fair; and should be glad to be informed, 
 whether any attention has been paid to them, and 
 whether Sir Isaac Newton took any notice of the 
 letter addressed to him by Professor Gravesande. 
 I shall consider it as a favor if any correspondent 
 will oblige me with an answer to these particulars. 
 
 A CONSTANT READER. 
 
 In 1721 Rev. Dr. J. T. Desaguliers, LL.D, 
 F.R.S., contributed to an English periodical en- 
 titled "Philosophical Transactions/' the following 
 article concerning the device of the Marquis of 
 Worcester, and the Orffyrean Wheel : 
 
 REMARKS ON SOME ATTEMPTS MADE TOWARDS A 
 
 PERPETUAL MOTION; BY THE REVEREND 
 
 DR. DESAGULIERS, F.R.S. 
 
 The wheel at Hesse-Cassel, made by Mon- 
 sieur Orffyreus, and by him called a perpetual 
 motion, has, of late, been so much talked of on 
 account of its wonderful phenomena, that a great 
 many people have believed it to be actually a self- 
 moving engine ; and accordingly have attempted 
 to imitate it as such. Now, as a great deal of 
 time and money is spent in those endeavours, I 
 was willing (for the sake of those that try ex- 
 periments with that view) to show that the prin- 
 ciple which most of them go upon is false, and can 
 by no means produce a perpetual motion. 
 
PERPETUAL MOTION 223 
 
 They take it for granted that if a weight 
 descending in a wheel at a determined distance 
 from the center, does, in its ascent, approach 
 nearer to it ; such a weight in its descent will al- 
 ways preponderate and cause a weight equal to it 
 to rise, provided it comes nearer the center in its 
 rise ; and accordingly as itself, rises, will be over- 
 balanced by another weight equal to it; and, 
 therefore, they endeavour by various contrivances 
 to produce that effect as if the consequence of it 
 would be a perpetual motion. 
 
 But I shall show that they mistake one par- 
 ticular case of a general theorem, or rather a 
 corollary of it, for the theorem itself. The 
 theorem is as follows : 
 
 THEOR. If one weight in its descent does, 
 by means of any contrivance, cause another 
 weight to ascend with a less momentum or quan- 
 tity of motion than itself, it will preponderate and 
 raise the other weight. 
 
 COR. 1. Therefore, if the weights be equal, 
 the descending weight must have more velocity 
 than the ascending weight, because the momen- 
 tum is made up of the weight multiplied into the 
 quantity of matter. 
 
 COR. 2. Therefore, if a leaver or balance 
 have equal weights fastened or hanging at its 
 ends, and the brachia be ever so little unequal 
 that weight will preponderate which is farthest 
 from the center. 
 
 SCHOLIUM. This second corollary causes 
 the mistake ; because those who think the velocity 
 of the weight is the line it describes, expect that 
 
224 PERPETUAL MOTION 
 
 that weight shall be overpoised, which describes 
 the shortest line, and, therefore, contrive ma- 
 chines to cause the ascending weight to describe 
 a shorter line than the descending weight. As 
 for example, in the circle A D B a (Fig. 3) the 
 weights A and B being supposed equal, they im- 
 agine that if (by any contrivance whatever) 
 whilst the weight A describes the arc A a, the 
 weight B is carried in any arc, as B b, so as to 
 come nearer the center in its rising than if it 
 went up the arc B D; the said weight shall be 
 overpoised, and consequently, by a number of 
 such weights a perpetual motion will be produced. 
 
 This is attempted by several contrivances, 
 which all depend upon this false principle; but I 
 shall only mention one which is represented by 
 Fig. 4, where a wheel having two parallel circum- 
 ferences, has the space between them divided into 
 cells, which being curved, will (when the wheel 
 goes round) cause weights placed loose in the said 
 cells to descend on the side A at the outer circum- 
 ference of the wheel, and on the side D to ascend 
 in the line Bbbb, which comes nearer the cen- 
 ter and touches the inner circumference of the 
 wheel. In a machine of this kind the weights will 
 indeed move in such a manner if the wheel be 
 turned round, but will never be the cause of the 
 wheel's going round. Such a machine is men- 
 tioned by the Marquis of Worcester in his "Cen- 
 tury of Inventions/' in the following words, No. 
 56: 
 
 "To provide and make that all the weights 
 of the descending side of a wheel shall be per- 
 
PERPETUAL MOTION 
 
 225 
 
 petually farther from the center than those of the 
 mounting side, and yet equal in number and heft 
 to the one side as the other. A most incredible 
 thing, if not seen ; but tried before the late King 
 (of blessed memory) in the Tower by my direc- 
 tions, two extraordinary ambassadors accom- 
 panying his Majesty, and the t)uke of Richmond, 
 and Duke of Hamilton, with most of the court 
 attending him. The wheel was fourteen foot 
 over and had forty weights of fifty pounds a 
 
 piece. Sir William Balfore, then Lieutenant of 
 the Tower, can justify it with several others. 
 They all saw that no sooner these great weights 
 passed the diameter line of the lower side, but 
 they hung a foot farther from the center ; nor no 
 sooner passed the diameter line of the upper side, 
 but they hung a foot nearer. Be pleased to judge 
 of the consequence." 
 
 Now the consequence of this and such like 
 machines, is nothing less than a perpetual motion ; 
 and the fallacy is this : The velocity of any weight 
 is not the line which it describes in general, but 
 
226 
 
 PERPETUAL MOTION 
 
 the height that it rises up to or falls from, with 
 respect to its distance from the center of the 
 earth. So that when the weight (Fig. 3) de- 
 scribes the arc A a, its velocity is the line A C, 
 which shows the perpendicular descent (or meas- 
 ures how much it is come nearer to the center of 
 the earth), and likewise the line B C denotes the 
 velocity of the weight B, or the height that it 
 rises to when it ascends in any of the arcs B b, 
 instead of the arc B D: so that in this case 
 
 A 
 
 whether the weight B in its ascent be brought 
 nearer the center or not, it loses no velocity which 
 it ought to do in order to be raised up by the 
 weight A. Nay, the weight in rising nearer the 
 center of a wheel may not only lose of its velocity, 
 but be made to gain velocity in proportion to the 
 velocity of its counterpoising weights that de- 
 scend in the circumference of the opposite side of 
 the wheel; for if we consider two radii of the 
 wheel, one of which is horizontal, and the other 
 (fastened to and moving with it) inclined under 
 the horizon in an angle of 60 degrees (Fig. 5) 
 
PERPETUAL MOTION 22? 
 
 and by the descent of the end B of the radius B C, 
 the radius C D by its motion causes the weight at 
 D to rise up the line p P, which is in a plane that 
 stops the said weight from rising in the curve 
 D A, that weight will gain velocity, and in the 
 beginning of its rise it will have twice the velocity 
 of the weight at B; and. consequently, instead of 
 being raised, will overpoise, if it be equal to the 
 last mentioned weight. And this velocity will be 
 so much the greater in proportion as the angle 
 
 A C D is greater, or as the plane P p (along which 
 the weight D must rise) is nearer to the center. 
 Indeed, if the weight at B (Fig. 3) could, by any 
 means, be lifted up to /?, and move in the arc P b, 
 the end would be answered; because then the 
 velocity would be diminished and become P C. 
 
 EXPERIMENT (Fig. 5). Take the leaver 
 BCD, whose brachia are equal in length, bent in 
 an angle of 120 degrees at C and moveable about 
 that point as its center : in this case a weight of 
 two pounds hanging at the end of B of the hori- 
 zontal part of the leaver will keep in equilibrio 
 a weight of four pounds hanging at the end D. 
 
228 PERPETUAL MOTION 
 
 But if a weight of one pound be laid upon the end 
 D of the leaver, so that in the motion of D along 
 the arc p A, this weight is made to rise up against 
 the plane P p (which divides in half the line A C 
 equal to C B) the said weight will keep in equili- 
 brio two pounds at B, as having twice the velocity 
 of it when the leaver begins to move. This will 
 be evident, if you let the weight 4 hang at D, 
 whilst the weight 1 lies above it : for if then you 
 
 s.) 
 
 move the leaver the weight 1 will rise four times 
 as fast as the weight 4. 
 
 In 1770 Dr. William Kenrick published "A 
 Lecture on the Perpetual Motion." In it he has 
 the following to say concerning the alleged inven- 
 tions of the Marquis of Worcester, and Council- 
 lor Orffyreus, and Perpetual Motion in general. 
 The following excerpts of and comments on the 
 lecture are taken verbatim from Dircks : 
 
 The mere exhibition of a self-moving ma- 
 chine without a display of its mechanism, or the 
 principles on which its motion is begun and con- 
 tinued, could produce no conviction. The fate 
 
PERPETUAL MOTION 229 
 
 of Orffyreus and his machine is a proof of this. 
 Scarce fifty years ago that whimsical mechanician 
 exhibited a perpetual motion at Hesse Cassel, the 
 constancy of whose operation was experienced 
 for many weeks under the most exact caution of 
 the Landgrave of that Principality, whose testi- 
 mony of such operation, as well as in favor of its 
 construction (to the secret of which he was ad- 
 mitted), was given in the most explicit and de- 
 terminate form. And yet, because Orffyreus 
 could not display the mechanism without the pre- 
 vious assurance of a premium of 200,000 florins 
 (near twenty thousand pounds), or because he 
 would not or could not discover the principles on 
 which it acted, his pretensions were neglected, his 
 machine was destroyed by his own hands, and his 
 life made a sacrifice to the chagrin attending his 
 disappointment. Twenty years had he racked his 
 brains for invention, and expended a patrimonial 
 competence with parsimony in prosecuting his 
 design. And when success inspired the hope of 
 reward, he found his ingenuity suspected of im- 
 posture, and his industry rewarded with con- 
 tempt. 
 
 Whether any of his successors in the same 
 pursuit will meet with a better fate is at length 
 to be determined. One species of our prede- 
 cessor's merit, however, I (adds Dr. Kenrick) 
 presume myself at least entitled to, that of per- 
 serverance; it being now fifteen years since I 
 first engaged in this undertaking, which I have 
 since pursued with almost unremitted assiduity, 
 and that not only at a considerable waste of time 
 
230 PERPETUAL MOTION 
 
 and expense, but under the constant mortification 
 of hearing it equally ridiculed by those who do 
 know, and by those who do not know, anything 
 of the matter. 
 
 It is, indeed, generally supposed, and as con- 
 fidently affirmed, that the mathematicians have 
 published demonstrations of the impossibility of a 
 perpetual motion. But I can safely take upon me 
 to affirm that no such demonstration was ever 
 published by any. Within these twelve years 
 past the mathematicians who deny the possibility 
 of a perpetual motion have been repeatedly and 
 publicly called upon, both in the foreign and Eng- 
 lish prints, to produce a single instance of these 
 demonstrations. They have not done it. They 
 might have produced, indeed, the demonstrations 
 of Huygens, De la Hire, and others to prove, as 
 Desaguliers very properly expresses it the fallacy 
 of the schemes of most of the pretenders to the 
 perpetual motion. They proved nothing more; 
 and this was so far unnecessary in that the fallacy 
 evidently appeared in the discovery of the prin- 
 ciple on which they were founded. 
 
 This was done in the last century by the cele- 
 brated Marquis of Worcester, in the presence of 
 the King and his Court, at the Tower, by the 
 exhibition of a wheel so contrived that in revolv- 
 ing on its axis it carried up several weights nearer 
 its center on one side than they descended on the 
 other. The scheme was plausible and to appear- 
 ance practicable ; but, though the wheel was polite 
 enough to turn about while his Majesty was pres- 
 ent, it could not be prevailed upon to be so com- 
 
PERPETUAL MOTION 231 
 
 plaisant in his absence. The mathematicians 
 avenged themselves of the short triumph of the 
 mistaken Marquis, but were equally mistaken 
 themselves in thinking they had routed the prob- 
 lem or that in hunting down the jackal they had 
 destroyed the lion. The perpetual motion sur- 
 vived; it had still its advocates; Professor Gra- 
 vesande and John Bernouille maintained its prac- 
 ticability, the former giving his testimony in 
 favor of Orffyreus's machine, after a long and 
 scrutinous examination. It is not twelve years 
 since this testimony was republished by Dr. Alla- 
 inan, the present Professor of Natural Philosophy 
 at Leyden, whose own opinion, given at the same 
 time, is also greatly in favor of the discovery. 
 It is even some years later that a dissertation still 
 more in its favor, written, if I am not mistaken, 
 by the celebrated De Gorter of Petersburg, ap- 
 peared in the "Philosophical Transactions" of 
 Haarlem. My end is not to amuse or persuade, 
 but, with due deference, to inform and convince. 
 To remove every cause of objection, I must beg 
 leave to expatiate somewhat at large on the theory 
 of this discovery. It is with the more propriety 
 I presume on this method, as the discovery to 
 which I pretend has not been (as frequently hap- 
 pens) the effect of mechanical accident, but the 
 premeditated result of mathematical reasoning 
 and physical experiment. I shall proceed to elu- 
 cidate the principal arguments a priori, that prove 
 the practicability of a perpetual motion to be the 
 necessary consequence of the known and estab- 
 lished laws of nature. 
 
232 PERPETUAL MOTION 
 
 Having proceeded thus far, he opens his lec- 
 ture at page 7 with the introduction; and first 
 "On the Nature of Motion in General/' which, in 
 fourteen pages, being more metaphysical than 
 mechanical, affords no extractable matter for our 
 present object. Part I is "On the Cause and 
 Effect of Motion." This elementary part is need- 
 lessly labored and elaborated through 27 pages. 
 In the course of his remarks he states : 
 
 The discovery of a perpetual motion, says 
 De la Hire, would be to discover a body at once 
 heavier and lighter than itself. But this is not a 
 fair state of the question. It is not necessary 
 that all the parts of a perpetually-moving machine 
 should be attached to, and inseparable from each 
 other ; which they must be, to constitute one gravi- 
 tating body of a determinate weight. 
 
 He proceeds to consider the nature of the 
 circulation of the blood, pneumatic pressure, the 
 steel-yard, real and relative weight, and spiral 
 action. Again, we have Hobbes, Locke, and 
 Stewart, in the same sentence with such language 
 as "I could almost as readily impute ingenuity 
 to vegetables and fossils to the sensitive plant 
 and the loadstone as mediation to muscles, or 
 cogitabundity to cockles, periwinkles and rock 
 oysters !" In conclusions he says : 
 
 I have endeavoured to make it appear that 
 motion is the mechanical effect of the physical 
 action of the primary elements ; that the direction 
 
PERPETUAL MOTION 233 
 
 of motion only comes within the province of ani- 
 mal intellect; that the vital system is supported 
 by mere mechanic motion, kept up by the elasticity 
 of the solids and the gravity of the fluids com- 
 posing the animal body ; that by the same means 
 a more simple inanimate system or machine may 
 be framed which may have the same property of 
 continued action (or, as it is called, self-motion). 
 And this is all that is, or can be, expected of a 
 perpetual motion; the momentum of which may 
 be increased to any degree, according to the 
 weight of the bodies employed and the work re- 
 quired to be done. 
 
 The second part of this lecture commences 
 with a Proem of thirteen pages : 
 
 I am induced (he says) to trespass farther 
 by extending in like manner the subsequent divi- 
 sions of it ; making the second and third parts of 
 my printed syllabus the topics of the present read- 
 ing, and reserving the last part, with the conclud- 
 ing experiment, to the third and final lecture. 
 
 I pretend merely to the investigation of the 
 general principles of mechanics, and even to illus- 
 trate these so far only as I conceive they relate to 
 the immediate object of my lecture, the discovery 
 of an artificial perpetual motion ; leaving the ap- 
 plication of such principles, in the solution of par- 
 ticular phenomena, or the construction of partic- 
 ular machines, to such as make the different arts 
 and sciences their peculiar study. 
 
 He very prudently ends, observing : 
 
 But I beg pardon, gentlemen, for the length 
 
234 PERPETUAL MOTION 
 
 of this digressive introduction, and shall proceed 
 to the more immediate subject of my lecture. 
 
 Section 1 of this lecture is "On the Composi- 
 tion and Combination of Motion." After dis- 
 cussing, in his own peculiar style, mechanical 
 principles of motion, he adds : 
 
 It would require a volume, and that not a 
 small one, to illustrate these subjects and support 
 them by the necessary demonstrations and experi- 
 ments. Should Providence give me life and 
 health, therefore, they (his auditors) shall have 
 it. Indeed, I have already spent some years in 
 preparing such a volume for the press. 
 
 He is very prolix on gravity and motion, then 
 commences Section 2 "On the Communication 
 and Dissipation of Motion." Five pages are 
 occupied in discussing motion, in popular lan- 
 guage, in the course of which he remarks : 
 
 And as to the imperfectly elastic bodies, their 
 power of retaining or communicating motion de- 
 pends entirely on their vis inertiae and weight; 
 nor can they on any occasion whatever communi- 
 cate a greater momentum to another body than 
 they themselves possess. It is sufficient for the 
 purpose of a perpetual motion that they can do 
 this. And, indeed, here all the difficulty lies, viz., 
 in the means of communicating the momentum or 
 moving force of a heavy body to a light one. 
 Now, the most virulent opponents to the practica- 
 bility of perpetual motion have never pretended 
 to demonstrate the impracticability of this com- 
 
PERPETUAL MOTION 235 
 
 munication. The quomodo, or means of effect- 
 ing it, being the point in dispute. It is to this 
 discovery that I pretend; and to show that my 
 pretensions are well grounded, have taken the 
 liberty to invite you to this lecture. 
 
 The lectures appear to have been illustrated 
 by a plate having two figures of a simple appa- 
 ratus used to demonstrate the action of a spring 
 and two unequal weights ; also an inflexible ruler 
 suspended between two unequal balls with both 
 he experimented before his auditors ; but the en- 
 graving is wanting in the edition now used. In 
 conclusion, he observes : 
 
 You see, gentlemen, I am purposely provided 
 here with a very simple and clumsy apparatus. 
 The perpetual motion does riot need the assistance 
 of friction wheels, or depend on the niggling 
 nicety of tooth and pinion. If the practical part 
 of my discovery be not superior to the manual 
 dexterity of a village carpenter or country smith, 
 I am satisfied. There will be no great discern- 
 ment required to comprehend the design they are 
 to put in execution. You will permit me, how- 
 ever, at present, to defer what I have farther to 
 offer on the subject to another opportunity. 
 
 In 1770 Dr. Kenrick published a quarto- 
 pamphlet concerning the Orffyrean Wheel, and in 
 the pamphlet appears the following regarding a 
 letter from Prof. Gravesande to Sir Isaac New- 
 ton, and a letter from Baron Fischer to Dr. 
 Desaguliers : 
 
236 PERPETUAL MOTION 
 
 A Letter from Professor 's Gravesande to Sir 
 Isaac Newton, Concerning Orffyreus's 
 
 Wheel 
 
 SIR: Doctor Desaguliers has doubtless 
 shown you the letter that Baron Fischer wrote to 
 him some time ago about the wheel of Orff yreus ; 
 which the inventor affirms to be a perpetual mo- 
 tion. The landgrave, who is a lover of the 
 sciences and fine arts, and neglects no opportu- 
 nity to encourage the several discoveries and im- 
 provements that are presented him, was desirous 
 of having this machine made known to the world, 
 for the sake of public utility. To this end he 
 engaged me to examine it; wishing that, if it 
 should be found to answer the pretensions of the 
 inventor, it might be made known to persons of 
 greater abilities, who might deduce from it those 
 services which are naturally to be expected from 
 so singular an invention. You will not be dis- 
 pleased, I presume, with a circumstantial account 
 of this examination; I transmit you, therefore, 
 a detail of the most particular circumstances ob- 
 servable on an exterior view of a machine, con- 
 cerning which the sentiments of most people are 
 greatly divided, while almost all the mathemati- 
 cians are against it. The majority maintain the 
 impossibility of a perpetual motion, and hence it 
 is that so little attention has been paid to Orffy- 
 reus and his invention. 
 
 For my part, however, though I confess my 
 abilities inferior to those of many who have given 
 their demonstrations of this impossibility; yet I 
 will communicate to you the real sentiments with 
 
PERPETUAL MOTION 237 
 
 which I entered on the examination of this ma- 
 chine. It is now more than seven years since I 
 conceived I discovered the paralogism of those 
 demonstrations, in that, though true in them- 
 selves, they were not applicable to all possible 
 machines ; and have ever since remained perfectly 
 persuaded it might be demonstrated that a per- 
 petual motion involved no contradiction; it ap- 
 pearing to me that Leibnitz was wrong in laying 
 down the impossibility of the perpetual motion as 
 an axiom. Notwithstanding this persuasion, 
 however, I was far from believing Orffyreus 
 capable of making such a discovery, looking upon 
 it as an invention not to be made (if ever) till 
 after many other previous discoveries. But since 
 I have examined the machine, it is impossible for 
 me to express my surprise. 
 
 The inventor has a turn for mechanics, but 
 is far from being a profound mathematician, and 
 yet his machine has something in it prodigiously 
 astonishing, even though it should be an imposi- 
 tion. The following is a description of the ex- 
 ternal parts of the machine, the inside of which 
 the inventor will not permit to be seen, lest any 
 one should rob him of his secret. It is a hollow 
 wheel, or kind of drum, about fourteen inches 
 thick and twelve feet diameter ; being very light, 
 as it consists of several crosspieces of wood 
 framed together ; the whole of which is covered 
 over with canvas, to prevent the inside from being 
 seen. Through the center of this wheel or drum 
 runs an axis of about six inches diameter, ter- 
 minated at both ends by iron axes of about three- 
 
238 PERPETUAL MOTION 
 
 quarters of an inch diameter upon which the ma- 
 chine turns. I have examined these axes and am 
 firmly persuaded that nothing from without the 
 wheel in the least contributes to its motion. When 
 I turned it but gently, it always stood still as soon 
 as I took away my hand ; but when I gave it any 
 tolerable degree of velocity, I was always obliged 
 to stop it again by force ; for when I let it go, it 
 acquired in two or three turns its greatest veloc- 
 ity, after which it revolved for twenty-five or 
 twenty-six times in a minute. This motion it 
 preserved some time ago for two months, in an 
 apartment of the castle: the door and windows 
 of which were locked and sealed so that there was 
 no possibility of fraud. At the expiration of that 
 term indeed his serene highness ordered the 
 apartment to be opened, and the machine to be 
 stopped, lest, as it was only a model, the parts 
 might suffer by so much agitation. The land- 
 grave being himself present on my examination 
 of this machine, I took the liberty to ask him, as 
 he had seen the inside of it, whether after being 
 in motion for a certain time no alteration was 
 made in the component parts ; or whether none of 
 those parts might be suspected of concealing some 
 fraud : on which his serene highness assured me 
 to the contrary, and that the machine was very 
 simple. 
 
 You see, sir, I have not had any absolute 
 demonstration, that the principle of motion which 
 is certainly within the wheel, is really a principle 
 of perpetual motion ; but at the same time it can- 
 not be denied me that I have received very good 
 
PERPETUAL MOTION 239 
 
 reasons to think so, which is a strong presumption 
 in favor of the inventor. The landgrave hath 
 made Orffyreus a very handsome present, to be 
 let into the secret of the machine, under an en- 
 gagement nevertheless not to discover, or to make 
 any use of it before the inventor may procure a 
 sufficient reward for making his discovery public. 
 
 I am very sensible, sir, that it is in England 
 only the arts and sciences are so generally culti- 
 vated as to afford any prospect of the inventor's 
 acquiring a reward adequate to this discovery. 
 He requires nothing more than the assurance, of 
 having it paid him in case his machine is found 
 to be really a perpetual motion ; and as he desires 
 nothing more than this assurance till the con- 
 struction of the machine be displayed and fairly 
 examined before such assurance be given him. 
 Now, sir, as it would conduce to public utility as 
 well as to the advancement of science, to discover 
 the reality or the fraud of this invention, I con- 
 ceive the relation of the above circumstances 
 could not fail of being acceptable. I am, etc. 
 
 In the same book appear the following ani- 
 madversions by Prof. Allaman, on the neglect of 
 Orffyreus's invention: 
 
 We see that the testimony of M. 5 s Grave- 
 sande was as advantageous as possible to Orffy- 
 reus, not having seen the interior of the machine, 
 he could form no other judgment ; however, that 
 extraordinary man was not contented, for in con- 
 sequence of the examination Orffyreus broke the 
 machine, into pieces. By the accounts of M. 
 
240 PERPETUAL MOTION 
 
 's Gravesande, Baron Fischer and the testimony 
 of the Landgrave it appears clear that the wheel 
 was not moved by any exterior agent. Orffyreus 
 is, however, accused of being an impostor, of hav- 
 ing imposed on the good faith of the prince, de- 
 ceived M. 's Gravesande and all those who exam- 
 ined his* machine. His own servant deposed 
 against him and said that she was made to turn 
 the wheel, and thus he has fallen into contempt ; 
 and everyone who protected him, is ashamed of 
 him. M. de Crousaz, who was at that time at the 
 court of Cassel, writes a letter to M. 's Gravesande 
 dated February 3, 1729, in these terms: 'First, 
 Orffyreus is a fool ; Second, It is impossible that 
 a fool can have discovered what such a number 
 of clever people have, searched for without suc- 
 cess; Third, I do not believe in impossibilities; 
 Fourth, One can easily imagine that persons keep 
 a secret from which they are to receive benefit, 
 but this fellow, hoping only to receive reputation, 
 allows it to be tarnished by an accusation which 
 he has in his power to disprove, if false ; Fifth, 
 The servant who ran away from his house, for 
 fear of being strangled, has in her possession, in 
 writing, the terrible oath that Orffyreus made 
 her swear ; Sixth, He only had to have asked, in 
 order to have had this girl imprisoned, until he 
 had time to finish his machine; Seventh, They 
 publish that the machine is going to be exhibited, 
 when suddenly those who advertise it become 
 silent ; Eighth, It is true there is a machine at his 
 house, to which they give the name of perpetual 
 motion, but that cannot be removed; it is much 
 
PERPETUAL MOTION 241 
 
 smaller, and differs from the first, inasmuch as 
 it only turns one way." 
 
 This is what makes Orffyreus and his ma- 
 chine to be suspected; can it be that M. 's Grave- 
 sande was so mistaken as to be his. dupe ? Let us 
 read what he himself says in answer to M. 
 Crousaz, which I have found among my papers, 
 without date : "I have deferred replying to you 
 until I had found a paper which I wrote the day 
 after I examined Orffyreus' machine, for al- 
 though I remember well all that passed, I believe 
 that a paper, written the day after the examina- 
 tion, and communicated to my Lord and all those 
 who were with him, must have more weight. 
 
 'This is what I heard ; they say that a ser- 
 vant under oath, turned Orffyreus' machine, be- 
 ing placed in an adjoining room. 
 
 "I know well that Orffyreus is a fool, but I 
 ignore that he is an impostor; I have never de- 
 cided whether his machine is an imposture or not, 
 but this I know as certainly as anything in the 
 world, that if the servant says the above, she tells 
 a great falsehood. 
 
 "My Lord the Landgrave in the presence of 
 the Baron Fischer, Architect of the Emperor, and 
 other persons at my request, showed the supports 
 of the machine; we saw the axles uncovered; I 
 examined the plates or brasses on which the axles 
 rested and in that examination there did not ap- 
 pear the slightest trace of communication with 
 the adjoining room. I remember very distinctly 
 the whole of the circumstances of that examina- 
 tion, which put Orffyreus in such a rage with 
 
243 PERPETUAL MOTION 
 
 me, that the day after he broke his machine in 
 pieces, and wrote on the wall that, it was the im- 
 pertinent curiosity of Professor 's Gravesande 
 which was the cause. I read this myself the fol- 
 lowing year, and the result of the examination is 
 clearly explained in the paper of which I spoke to 
 you. 
 
 "They told me several circumstances on the 
 testimony of the servant, but I pay little atten- 
 tion to what a servant can say about machines, 
 perhaps in turning her master's roast-jack she 
 thought she saw a perpetual motion. If you know 
 anything concerning this matter I shall feel much 
 pleasure if you would communicate it." 
 
 It is difficult to determine what to believe 
 about this machine. It seems to me, however, that 
 on examining minutely the for and against Orffy- 
 reus we can come to these conclusions: 1. That 
 Orffyreus was evidently mad, as M. 's Grave- 
 sande and M. de Crousaz both affirm; his ma- 
 chinery broken at different times without either 
 reason or necessity prove this. But his was a sort 
 of madness we do not often see: a folly fixed 
 only on certain objects, and merits more the name 
 of f antasticalness or whimsicalness ; this kind of 
 folly is often accompanied by much genius, and 
 when persons of this disposition apply themselves 
 solely to one subject, as it appears he did, it is not 
 surprising to find them making discoveries which 
 had escaped the sagacity of wiser people. Thus 
 I do not wish to agree with M. de Crousaz, that 
 it is incredible that a madman, such as Orffyreus 
 should have found out something that learned 
 
PERPETUAL MOTION 243 
 
 men have searched for unsuccessfully. Added 
 to this he is mistaken in saying that Orffyreus 
 could hope for no other reward for his secrets 
 than mere reputation : for he expected a consider- 
 able profit seeing that he demanded for it 200,000 
 florins. 2. No exterior agent moved the ma- 
 chine ; if it were a servant that moved it, would it 
 not have been apparent to eyes so searching as 
 those that made the examination, or to the Land- 
 grave, who had seen the interior of the machine? 
 Besides how can any one imagine that a wheel of 
 so great a volume could have been moved by such 
 a cause, a cause which would act simply on the 
 axle in crossing the supports, and which must 
 have been so small as to have escaped the most 
 rigorous examination ? 3. If the servant has not 
 been paid to depose against OrfFyreus, what does 
 her testimony prove ? Only that her master made 
 her believe that by turning a little wheel, she 
 moved the whole machine, and we can fancy a 
 singular character, such as he was might have 
 done this to prevent the curiosity of those who 
 sought to penetrate his secret ; M. 's Gravesande's 
 opinion of this strange character is such that he 
 doubts not his whimsicalness prevented him from 
 making a new machine. 4. It must be confessed 
 that this wheel was a very remarkable mechanical 
 phenomenon, and this is all we can say, not know- 
 ing more than the preceding details ; it were too 
 much temerity to say that this invention was a 
 perpetual motion, as much as it would be wrong 
 to call it an imposture, seeing that no exterior 
 agent was employed. 
 
244 PERPETUAL MOTION 
 
 Dr. Kenrick proceeds to state that: The 
 celebrated John Bernoulli, speaking of the above 
 demonstration, in a letter to the author, remarks 
 that it is very just; the principle assumed neces- 
 sarily involving an augmentation of force, viz., 
 a perpetual motion. But this, continues he, is no 
 more than Leibnitz had long before demonstrated 
 in his dispute with Papin and others. 
 
 Having thus occupied twenty-three pages in 
 fencing himself with a screen against the ridicule 
 he appears to have so much dreaded, and reason- 
 ably anticipated from the many authors he had 
 himself similarly treated in the "London Re- 
 view," we are informed that, An accidental con- 
 versation, many years ago, on the spot where 
 Orffyreus exhibited his machine, awakened the 
 author's curiosity and directed his attention to an 
 object which he has ever since occasionally pur- 
 sued. The experiments he has made, even so 
 long since as the year 1761, convinced him so far 
 of the reality of Orffyreus' discovery, that he ap- 
 plied for letters-patent to secure an exclusive 
 right to the construction of a similar machine; 
 which he had contrived and denominated A 
 ROTATOR. Before his patent, however, was ex- 
 pedited, he reflected that, though the model he 
 had constructed might serve to remove the preju- 
 dices of the public, it was not so well calculated 
 as it might be, to answer the practical purposes 
 of so important a discovery. To the improvement 
 of the Rotator, therefore, has he long since 
 dedicated all the time and attention he could 
 
PERPETUAL MOTION 245 
 
 possibly spare from his other, more immediately 
 necessary, pursuits. 
 
 Nothing can be more flimsy than the state- 
 ment here made, and the next sentence would 
 seem to explain the true state of the case. He 
 proceeds : "Not that he believes he has contrived 
 quite so many different machines as Orffyreus 
 did, though he has been almost as many years 
 engaged in the like undertaking; he has, never- 
 theless, both contrived and constructed a con- 
 siderable number, many of them useless as costly, 
 except indeed as they served to assist him in com- 
 pleting his invention." 
 
 His invention, however, was not complete; 
 the very model of it was unsatisfactory. Like 
 Orffyreus, he had spent nearly twenty years, 
 making numerous, and some costly, machines. 
 He no doubt had his own misgivings, and wished 
 to reimburse himself for the great outlay he must 
 have incurred during that long period, before 
 the bubble finally burst! However, poor man, 
 he died nine years after publishing this elaborate 
 advertising prospectus, which concludes: "Such 
 bodies corporate, private companies or indi- 
 viduals, as are interested in the construction or 
 use of considerable mechanical engines, or are 
 disposed to encourage the present discovery, may 
 receive any further information they require, on 
 applying to the inventor, WILLIAM KENRICK, 
 Charles street, St. James's Square, March 1, 
 1770." 
 
 In 1803, Dr. Charles Hutton, LL.D., and F. 
 R. S., contributed in a brief work entitled, "Recre- 
 
246 PERPETUAL MOTION 
 
 ations in Mathematics and Natural Philosophy," 
 gave the following notice to the Orff yrean Wheel : 
 
 The perpetual motion has been the quicksand 
 of mechanicians, as the quadrature of the circle, 
 the trisection of an angle, etc., have been that of 
 geometricians : and as those who pretend to have 
 discovered the solution of the latter problems are 
 in general persons scarcely acquainted with the 
 principles of geometry, those who search for, or 
 imagine they have found, the perpetual motion, 
 are always men to whom the most certain and 
 invariable truths of mechanics are unknown. 
 
 It may be demonstrated, indeed, to all those 
 capable of reasoning in a sound manner on those 
 sciences, that a perpetual motion is impossible: 
 for, to be possible, it is necessary that the effect 
 should become alternately the cause, and the cause 
 the effect. It would be necessary, for example, 
 that a weight raised to a certain height by another 
 weight, should in its turn raise the second weight 
 to the height from which it descended. But, ac- 
 cording to the laws of motion, all that a descend- 
 ing weight could do, in the most perfect machine 
 which the mind can conceive, is to raise another 
 in the same time to a height reciprocally propor- 
 tional to its mass. But it is impossible to con- 
 struct a machine in which there shall be neither 
 friction nor the resistance of some medium to be 
 overcome ; consequently at each alternation of as- 
 cent and descent, some quantity of motion, how- 
 ever small, will always be lost: each time, there- 
 fore, the weight to be raised will ascend to a less 
 
PERPETUAL MOTION 247 
 
 height ; and the motion will gradually slacken, and 
 at length cease entirely. 
 
 A moving principle has been sought for, but 
 without success, in the magnet, in the gravity of 
 the atmosphere, and in the elasticity of bodies. If 
 a magnet be disposed in such a manner as to facil- 
 itate the ascension of a weight, it will afterwards 
 oppose its descent. Springs, after being unbent, 
 require to be bent by a new force equal to that 
 which they exercise; and the gravity of the at- 
 
 12.) 
 
 mosphere, after forcing one side of the machine 
 to the lowest point, must be itself raised again, 
 like any other weight, in order to continue its 
 action. 
 
 We shall, however, give an account of vari- 
 ous attempts to obtain a perpetual motion, be- 
 cause they may serve to show how much some 
 persons have suffered themselves to be deceived 
 on this subject. 
 
248 PERPETUAL MOTION 
 
 Fig. 52, plate 12, represents a large wheel, 
 the circumference of which is furnished, at equal 
 distances, with levers, each bearing at its extrem- 
 ity a weight, and movable on a hinge, so that in 
 one direction they can rest upon the circumfer- 
 ence, while on the opposite side, being carried 
 away by the weight at the extremity, they are 
 obliged to arrange themselves in the direction of 
 the radius continued. This being supposed, it is 
 
 Ufy.53.) 
 
 evident that when the wheel turns in the direction 
 a b c, the weights A B and C will recede from the 
 centre ; consequently, as they act with more force, 
 they will carry the wheel towards that side ; and 
 as a new lever will be thrown out, in proportion 
 as the wheel revolves, it thence follows, say they, 
 that the wheel will continue to move in the same 
 direction. But, notwithstanding the specious ap- 
 pearance of this reasoning, experience has proved 
 that the machine will not go ; and it may indeed be 
 
PERPETUAL MOTION 249 
 
 demonstrated that there is a certain position in 
 which the centre of gravity of all these weights 
 is in the vertical plane passing through the point 
 of suspension, and that therefore it must stop. 
 
 The case is the same with the following ma- 
 chine, which it would appear ought to move also 
 incessantly. In a cylindric drum, in perfect equi- 
 librium on its axis, are formed channels as seen in 
 Fig. 53, which contain balls of lead, or a certain 
 quantity of quicksilver. In consequence of this 
 disposition, the balls or quicksilver must, on the 
 one side, ascend by approaching the centre ; and 
 on the other must roll towards the circumfer- 
 ence. The machine then ought to turn incessantly 
 towards that side. 
 
 A third machine of this kind is represented 
 in Fig. 54. It consists of a kind of wheel formed 
 of six or eight arms, proceeding from a centre, 
 where the axis of motion is placed. Each of these 
 arms is furnished with a receptacle in the form 
 of a pair of bellows, but those on the opposite 
 arms stand in contrary directions, as seen in the 
 figure. The movable top of each receptacle has 
 affixed to it a weight, which shuts it in one situa- 
 tion and opens it in the other. In the last place, 
 the bellows of the opposite arms have a communi- 
 cation by means of a canal, and one of them is 
 filled with quicksilver. 
 
 These things being supposed, it is visible, 
 that the bellows on the one side must open, and 
 those on the other must shut; consequently the 
 mercury will pass from the latter into the former, 
 while the contrary will be the case on the opposite 
 side, 
 
350 PERPETUAL MOTION 
 
 It might be difficult to point out the deficiency 
 of this reasoning; but those acquainted with the 
 true principles of mechanics will not hesitate to 
 bet a hundred to one that the machine, when con- 
 structed, will not answer the intended purpose. 
 
 The description of a pretended perpetual mo- 
 
 '.54.) 
 
 tion, in which bellows, to be alternately filled with 
 and emptied of quicksilver, were employed, may 
 be seen in the "Journal des Savans" for 1685. It 
 was refuted by Bernoulli and some others, and 
 it gave rise to a long dispute. The best method 
 which the inventor could have employed to de- 
 
PERPETUAL MOTION 251 
 
 fend his invention would have been to construct 
 it, and show it in motion ; but this was never done. 
 
 We shall here add another curious anecdote 
 on this subject. One Orffyreus announced, at 
 Leipsic, in the year 1717, a perpetual motion, con- 
 sisting of a wheel which would continually re- 
 volve. This machine was constructed for the 
 Landgrave of Hesse Cassel, who caused it to be 
 shut up in a place of safety, and the door to be 
 sealed with his own seal. At the end of forty 
 days, the door was opened, and the machine was 
 found in motion. This, however, affords no proof 
 in favor of a perpetual motion ; for as clocks can 
 be made to go a year without being wound up, 
 Orffyreus's wheel might easily go forty days, and 
 even more. 
 
 The result of this pretended discovery is not 
 known. We are informed that an Englishman 
 offered 80,000 crowns for this machine; but 
 Orffyreus refused to sell it at that price : in this 
 he certainly acted wrong, as there is reason to 
 think he obtained by his invention, neither money, 
 nor even the honor of having discovered the per- 
 petual motion. 
 
 The Academy of Painting at Paris possessed 
 a clock which had no need of being wound up, 
 and which might be considered as a perpetual 
 motion, though it was not so. But this requires 
 some explanation. The ingenious author of this 
 clock employed the variations in the state of the 
 atmosphere for winding up his moving weight. 
 Various artifices might be devised for this pur- 
 pose ; but this is no more a perpetual motion than 
 
252 PERPETUAL MOTION 
 
 if the flux and reflux of the sea were employed 
 to keep the machine continually going; for this 
 principle of motion is exterior to the machine, 
 and forms no part of it. 
 
 But enough has been said on this chimera of 
 mechanics. We sincerely hope that none of our 
 readers will ever lose themselves in the ridiculous 
 and unfortunate labyrinth of such a research. 
 
 To conclude, it is false that any reward has 
 been promised by the European Powers to the 
 person who shall discover the perpetual motion; 
 and the case is the same in regard to the quadra- 
 ture of the circle. It is this idea, no doubt, that 
 excites so many to attempt the solution of these 
 problems; and it is proper they should be unde- 
 ceived/* 
 
 The foregoing, we believe, are sufficient to 
 disclose the gist of all that is known, and all that 
 has been said concerning the claimed inventions 
 of the distinguished Marquis and the distin- 
 guished Councillor. It is manifest from reading 
 the above that Dircks himself, as well as nearly 
 all the other eminent persons quoted above, felt 
 an extreme delicacy in stating their honest belief 
 concerning the claims of the distinguished in- 
 ventors. That delicacy arose from their defer- 
 ence to the rank and prominence of the Marquis 
 and the Councillor. The author of this book is 
 not thus encumbered, and has no such regard for 
 family or official rank, and feels at liberty to say 
 exactly what he thinks. 
 
PERPETUAL MOTION 253 
 
 No one now actually believes that either the 
 Marquis or the Councillor ever made a wheel or 
 machine that actually furnished its own motive- 
 power. Those who believe in the impossibility of 
 Perpetual Motion, of course, do not admit the 
 possibility of such a thing. Those who may still 
 believe in the possibility of Perpetual Motion de- 
 vices admit, as they must, that had either of these 
 discoveries actually been made it would have 
 supplanted steam, electricity, wind, water and all 
 other forms of power for driving machinery, and, 
 indeed, for furnishing heat. And, yet, the above 
 articles and comments show that the contempor- 
 aries of the Marquis and the Councillor, and sub- 
 sequent writers on their claims sought to find 
 excuses and explanations consistent with their 
 good faith and their claims. We do not accuse 
 either one of them of vicious falsehood, but the 
 truth is that when the Marquis of Worcester 
 wrote that "all the weights of the descending side 
 of a wheel shall be perpetually farther from the 
 centre than those of the mounting side, and yet 
 equal in number and heft to the one side as the 
 other. A most incredible thing, if not seen ; but 
 tried before the late King (of blessed memory) in 
 the Tower by my directions," etc., he meant, if 
 he meant anything, to convey the idea that he had 
 constructed such a machine, and had exhibited it 
 before King Charles I, and when Orffyreus wrote 
 
254 PERPETUAL MOTION 
 
 "The inward structure of the wheel is of a nature 
 according to the laws of mechanical perpetual 
 motion, so arranged that by disposed weights 
 once in rotation they gain force from their own 
 swinging and must continue their movement as 
 long as their structure does not lose its position 
 and arrangement," he meant, as clearly appears 
 from the entire context of what he wrote, to con- 
 vey .the idea that he had constructed a wheel 
 capable of moving perpetually by virtue of the 
 arrangement of its own parts until it should 
 wear out. Neither one spoke the truth. Each 
 knew that he had done no such thing as he claimed 
 to have done. He probably thought the solution 
 so near at hand that he could safely announce it 
 to the world, and when called upon for a demon- 
 stration could produce the finished working 
 article. 
 
 The author of this book has known many 
 Perpetual Motion workers so confident and so 
 enthusiastic that unhampered with extreme dis- 
 cretion, they announced that they were near 
 enough to the solution of this ages-old puzzle that 
 they were certain of success. A little less discre- 
 tion, with the slightest disregard or even careless- 
 ness about the absolute truth could have easily 
 led them to announce that they had such a work- 
 ing machine. The author has indeed known a few 
 such announcements. It is therefore, not surpris- 
 
PERPETUAL MOTION 255 
 
 ing that in the history of Perpetual Motion labors, 
 instances can be found where the tireless, but en- 
 thusiastic worker being full of confidence, and 
 not secretive, and with the least bit of human 
 carelessness about the truth have announced the 
 actual discovery and successful operation of the 
 machine. We will undertake to say that there 
 have been thousands of just such instances during 
 the last three or four centuries, probably tens of 
 thousands. It is probable that such an instance 
 could be found in every township in the United 
 States. It is not, therefore, surprising that two 
 instances can be found in persons of sufficient per- 
 sonal eminence to give credence and weight to 
 their stories. Such we conceive the facts with 
 reference to the Marquis and the Councillor. 
 Each thought what he told when telling it to be a 
 harmless stretch of the truth, and felt sure that 
 he could protect himself by a very little added 
 perfection to his device. How many many Per- 
 petual Motion devices have been perfect and 
 ready for successful operation except for "one 
 little thing," which the inventor felt sure of find- 
 ing. 
 
 The Marquis and Councillor by their little 
 indiscretion, and their puerile carelessness about 
 the truth, each made himself neither famous, nor 
 infamous, but ridiculous in history. 
 
CHAPTER XI 
 
 Conservation of Energy A Discussion of the 
 
 Relation of the Doctrine of Conservation 
 
 of Energy, and the Possibility of 
 
 Perpetual Motion 
 
 Conservation of Energy is a doctrine to the 
 effect that energy, like matter, is indestructible, 
 and, except by the infinite, can neither be created 
 nor destroyed; that the sum total of all Energy 
 in the world remains constant ; that it may mani- 
 fest itself in different forms, as heat, magnetism, 
 electricity, mechanical motion, vaporization, but 
 that the sum total remains the same. 
 
 Nothing could be more satisfactorily proved 
 than this doctrine, and, yet, like Newton's theory 
 of universal gravitation the proof does not 
 amount to a mathematical demonstration. Mathe- 
 matics demonstrates the conformity of the doc- 
 trine of universal gravitation, and of Conserva- 
 tion of Energy with all known natural processes 
 and observed phenomena ; but mathematics does 
 not otherwise prove the Universality of Gravita- 
 tion nor Conservation of Energy. 
 
 Writing on this subject of proof, with refer- 
 ence to gravitation, the late and eminent Simon 
 Newcomb says : 
 
 "It may be inquired, is the induction which 
 
PERPETUAL MOTION 257 
 
 supposes gravitation universal so complete as to 
 be entirely beyond doubt ? We reply that within 
 the solar system it certainly is. The laws of mo- 
 tion as established by observation and experiment 
 at the surface of the earth must be considered as 
 mathematically certain. Now, it is an observed 
 fact that the planets in their motion deviate from 
 straight lines in a certain way. By the first law 
 of motion, such deviation can be produced only by 
 a force; and the direction and intensity of this 
 force admit of being calculated once that the mo- 
 tion is determined. When thus calculated, it is 
 found to be exactly represented by one great force 
 constantly directed toward the sun, and smaller 
 subsidiary forces directed toward the several 
 planets. Therefore, no fact in nature is more 
 firmly established than is that of universal gravi- 
 tation, as laid down by Newton, at least within 
 the solar system." 
 
 It will thus be observed that the theory of 
 Universal Gravitation is not by scientific men 
 claimed to have been mathematically demon- 
 strated, but its proof is regarded as resting upon 
 its conformity with known natural phenomena. 
 The same thing is true of Conservation of En- 
 ergy. Scientists and mathematicians do not claim 
 proof of this doctrine other than by its universal 
 coincidence with all natural manifestations, and, 
 yet its proof rests upon such a solid structure 
 of coincidence and conformity with all known 
 things in nature, that now all scientific research 
 
258 PERPETUAL MOTION 
 
 begins with its assumption, and with the exclusion 
 of the possibility of Perpetual Motion. 
 
 It is not within the purview of this work to 
 give a history of the origin and establishment in 
 science of the doctrine. While, as heretofore 
 noted in this book, a number of scientists of the 
 past few centuries are shown by their reflections 
 to have had a measure of appreciation of its ulti- 
 mate effect, and to have applied that effect in their 
 scientific researches, there is no evidence that they 
 ever dreamed of its establishment as a basic fact 
 of science. The real establishment and accept- 
 ance of the doctrine dates not much over a half 
 century back. Since that time many scientists 
 have in their researches and writings contributed 
 to its evolution and formation. The experiments 
 of Joule, of England, and the generalizations of 
 Helmholtz, of Germany, are entitled to special 
 mention. 
 
 Scientists are naturally and necessarily con- 
 servative. So many startling pseudo-scientific 
 facts are announced, that every startling scientific 
 theory, before it is accepted, is submitted to the 
 most careful and crucial tests. No modern scien- 
 tist will announce a scientific fact as having been 
 demonstrated until the demonstration is complete 
 and fortified with repeated tests of mathematical 
 rigidity, and as long as there remains a phenom- 
 enon that does not conform to the supposed 
 
PERPETUAL MOTION 259 
 
 theory, acceptance and promulgation will be with- 
 held. It is, therefore, not surprising that the 
 doctrine of Conservation of Energy has been 
 thoroughly intrenched as an established indis- 
 putable and accepted fact of science, less than a 
 single generation. 
 
 The student of natural science should be 
 warned against the common error of supposing 
 that the discovery of a scientific fact or theory, 
 means demolition of the old theories. The rule 
 is the other way. New theories are additional 
 information to the world, and usually conform 
 to, and are built upon what was known before. 
 Conservation of Energy was generalized from 
 previously known facts conformed to them and 
 reflexively elucidated them, and left them stand- 
 ing clearer than before. 
 
 The proof that Conservation of Energy con- 
 forms to all other known phenomena of nature 
 has been aided, and hastened by the refinement of 
 scientific instruments by which forms of energy 
 such as heat, electricity, and magnetism can be 
 more delicately measured and determined than 
 ever before, and if instruments for measuring 
 and determining the amount of energy in its vari- 
 ous forms w,ere as crude as they were even a 
 single century ago, it is probable Conservation 
 of Energy would still be the undiscovered founda- 
 tion of all natural phenomena. 
 
&60 PERPETUAL MOTION 
 
 Let us now consider a few well-known facts 
 which it has been determined positively by the 
 most delicate instruments, prove and illustrate 
 the doctrine of Conservation of Energy. 
 
 Resistance to motion, or which is the same 
 thing, motion against resistance, is always ac- 
 companied by heat. L This developed heat is not 
 always readily perceptible to our sense of touch. 
 A stone, ball or other object thrown through the 
 air has its motion gradually arrested by the air. 
 Heat is developed, but the heat is distributed 
 through so much air and the object thrown is 
 heated so little that this development of heat was 
 not known until scientifically discovered. Where 
 the resistance is friction, the development of heat 
 is quite perceptible, and has always been well 
 known. Suppose a coin be rubbed on a cloth or 
 blotter. Heat is developed both in the coin and 
 the blotter the more vigorous the rubbing i. e., 
 the more energy expended, the greater the heat. 
 Science has determined that the developed heat 
 is exactly proportional to the expended energy. 
 Every machinist knows that in turning a tap on 
 a bolt where the threads are rusty so that it 
 turns only with the application of great force, a 
 considerable amount of heat is readily developed. 
 The heat developed is proportional to the energy 
 expended in turning the tap. 
 
 A wheel revolving on a spindle will develop 
 
PERPETUAL MOTION 261 
 
 heat exactly proportional to the resistance the 
 spindle offers to the wheel turning upon it. Thus, 
 we often see smoke and a blaze rising from the 
 spindles of the car wheels where oil is lacking, 
 and they turn with difficulty. 
 
 Every farmer knows that if a buggy wheel 
 turns with difficulty for want of lubrication, or 
 for any other reason, the spindle will heat, expand 
 and lock the wheel, so that it will often either 
 grind out the boxing or slide on the ground. 
 Whereas, if the parts be kept lubricated so that 
 less energy is required to turn the wheel on the 
 spindle, there is v no perceptible heat developed, 
 but in all cases heat is developed to some extent, 
 and the heat developed is exactly proportional to 
 the energy necessary to force the revolution. 
 
 With heat we can boil water and make steam 
 under a pressure, and with the steam under a 
 pressure we can run an engine, and with the en- 
 gine make heat by friction, or make electric cur- 
 rent that can produce heat. Carry this propo- 
 sition back to the fuel box, and knowing the 
 amount of heat developed by the burning of a 
 certain quantity of fuel, it is found that, counting 
 the heat that rises in the air through the smoke 
 stack, the heat that is radiated from the boiler, 
 the heat that is carried away in warmed ashes, 
 the heat that exists in the steam after it is ex- 
 hausted from the cylinder, and all other heat ex- 
 
232 PERPETUAL MOTION 
 
 pended whether utilized in driving the machinery 
 or going to waste, the sum total is in every case 
 equal to the heat developed by the fuel box com- 
 bustion. The most striking thing about all this 
 is that when the steam goes into the cylinder 
 where it is cooled as it expands and drives the 
 pistons, the heat thus lost by the expanding steam 
 is the exact equivalent of the mechanical energy 
 realised against the piston head. Not all of the 
 energy that is realized at the piston head is de- 
 livered to the driving shaft. Some of it is lost in 
 the friction of the piston rings wearing against 
 the cylinder lining; some, of course, is lost in 
 friction at the journals connecting with the driv- 
 ing shaft. It is usual in counting engine efficiency 
 to count the amount of energy delivered to the 
 belt, or to the driving shaft, and because of the 
 f rictional resistance of the pistons working in the 
 cylinder, there is always found a little discrepancy 
 between the energy represented by the cooling 
 of the steam in the cylinder and the energy de- 
 livered to the belt, or the driving shaft. 
 
 It is quite surprising how much energy a 
 small amount of heat represents if it could all be 
 converted into the obvious forms of energy. 
 Owing to the great waste suffered in all modern 
 machinery, heat represents much more energy 
 than is ordinarily supposed, in the absence of ex- 
 act knowledge. One would hardly think it pos- 
 
PERPETUAL MOTION 263 
 
 sible that the amount of heat that will raise the 
 temperature of one pound (almost exactly one 
 pint) of water, one single degree (Fahrenheit) is 
 the equivalent of energy required to elevate one 
 pound seven hundred seventy-eight feet high 
 against the force of gravity. Yet, such is the 
 case. This was one of the demonstrations of the 
 immortal Joule. It was he who enabled us to 
 cross the bridge with calculations from mechan- 
 ical force and motion to heat. He stated the 
 equivalent to be seven hundred seventy-two feet, 
 but more delicate instruments than could be had 
 in his day have shown a slight discrepancy in his 
 calculations, and it is now known to be almost 
 exactly seven hundred seventy-eight feet. Thus, 
 if the Falls of Niagara be considered as being one 
 hundred sixty feet high, the energy developed by 
 the descent is only the equivalent of the heat nec- 
 essary to raise the temperature of the water about 
 one-fifth of one degree. A modern railroad loco- 
 motive does well to realize to the driving rod two 
 per cent of the total energy developed in the fuel 
 box. An ordinary thrasher engine realizes no 
 more than one per cent. The very best steam en- 
 gines known in large stationary plants do not 
 realize as much as fifteen per. cent. 
 
 The amount of heat necessary to raise the 
 temperature of one pound of water one degree is 
 taken as a standard for heat measurement, and is 
 
264 PERPETUAL MOTION 
 
 known as a British Thermal Unit nearly always 
 in scientific works abbreviated to B. T. U. The 
 common standard of energy is the amount of en- 
 ergy or work necessary to elevate one pound one 
 foot against the force of gravity. This in scien- 
 tific works is usually referred to as the foot- 
 pound. 
 
 From what is said above it is manifest that 
 one B. T. U. is the equivalent of seven hundred 
 seventy-eight foot-pounds, and vice versa. 
 
 The amount of energy must not be confused 
 with the rate of expending energy, or doing work. 
 The horse-power is the common measurement of 
 the rate of delivery of energy or of doing work 
 and is equivalent to 33,000 foot-pounds per 
 minute. It is what one horse can do, and con- 
 tinue doing several hours with reasonable ease. 
 For a short time a horse can exert several horse- 
 power. 
 
 Remember, and remember always that heat 
 and electricity are just as much forms of energy 
 as the motion of concrete objects. 
 
 We have introduced the above statement of 
 equivalents for the purpose of enabling us to pre- 
 sent a few fundamental facts more clearly than 
 could otherwise be done. 
 
 Everyone knows that if paddles be revolved 
 rapidly in a vessel containing a liquid, such as a 
 churn, or the like, the liquid will offer consider- 
 able resistance to their motion, the amount of 
 
PERPETUAL MOTION 265 
 
 resistance depending upon the nature of the 
 liquid, and the rapidity of the motion. 
 
 Our scientific instruments have determined 
 the fact to be that the B. T. U. developed in the 
 liquid and on the paddles is the exact equivalent 
 to the foot-pounds of energy required to drive the 
 paddles, i. e., the number of B. T, U. is 778 times 
 the number of foot-pounds. 
 
 An engine is run with steam the engine 
 drives an electric generator. Electricity is de- 
 veloped. This electricity is conducted over a wire 
 to a motor. It is always found that not as much 
 energy can be derived from the motor as is sup- 
 plied from the generator to the wire. Where is 
 the loss ? 
 
 It is found that the loss is in the resistance 
 of the wire to the current, and that the wire is 
 warmed possibly not sufficient to be perceptible 
 to the ordinary sense of touch, and, yet, it is 
 warmed to some extent, and the B. T. U., devel- 
 oped in, and radiated away by the wire, amounts 
 precisely and exactly to the difference in foot- 
 pounds between the energy supplied to the wire at 
 one end of the wire, and the energy supplied by 
 the wire at its other end. 
 
 Capillary Attraction is one form of motion 
 by which liquids are elevated and carried con- 
 siderable distance. The moisture is taken from 
 the earth and carried up the trunks of trees, and 
 
266 PERPETUAL MOTION 
 
 out through their limbs to their leaves. This can- 
 not be done without force and energy, but where 
 is the heat? It has been determined and proven 
 that there is an expenditure of heat in doing that 
 work, and that.the expenditure of heat is precisely 
 equivalent to the work done. It is hardly be- 
 lievable that there is a loss of heat by coal oil or 
 water, or other liquid performing the work of 
 ascending the wick, and yet, science has deter- 
 mined that that work is only done at the expense 
 of that other form of energy heat. 
 
 If an object falls a distance of twenty feet, 
 and it strikes one end of a lever having two arms 
 of equal length, and at the other end of the lever 
 there be a ball of equal weight, the other ball will 
 be thrown upward twenty feet, less an allowance 
 for the resistance of the air in the descent and 
 ascent, and for the frictional resistance of the 
 motion of the lever. It would throw a ball of 
 twice the weight half the height by adjusting the 
 levers properly. Or, it would throw a ball of 
 one-third the weight three times as high, and 
 soon. 
 
 A ball rolling down an inclined plane is found 
 to have a velocity, and consequently a striking 
 force, and an energy equal to that acquired in 
 falling the vertical distance of its descent, due 
 allowance being made for the resistance offered 
 to its rolling motion. It makes no difference 
 
PERPETUAL MOTION 267 
 
 whether the incline be great or small, the velocity, 
 the energy are the same as though it had fallen 
 perpendicularly through the same vertical dis- 
 tance. 
 
 Instances and illustrations can be multiplied 
 indefinitely. Millions of tests have been made 
 by scientific men, and the basic fact of Conserva- 
 tion of Energy is found true everywhere. That 
 fact is that energy cannot be created. So much 
 as is given is returned in some other form, or else 
 in the form of heat, but in some form, precisely 
 the equivalent is always found to exist. 
 
 One of the most beautiful experiments is 
 with the pendulum. Imagine a nail or peg driven 
 into a wall and projecting out say six inches 
 from the wall. Hang a pendulum four feet long 
 let the pendulum swing parallel to the wall in 
 the annexed figure. Let "A" represent the 
 point from which the pendulum is suspended. 
 Draw the pendulum back to C, and release 
 it. Its lowest descent in the swing will be 
 at B. It will swing to D, and a line connecting 
 D & C is exactly horizontal, showing that the 
 energy represented by the motion of the pendu- 
 lum at B was sufficient to elevate it to the point 
 D. Now, on a line on the wall downward 
 from where the nail or peg is driven into the 
 wall, let there be made holes into which a nail or 
 peg can be inserted, and suppose a peg be driven 
 
268 
 
 PERPETUAL MOTION 
 
 at the point F. If now pendulum be released at 
 C, it will be found that when the cord strikes F 
 the pendulum will swing to the point J, which is 
 on the horizontal line D C. It makes no differ- 
 ence where the interrupting peg or nail be placed, 
 the pendulum will rise to the same horizontal 
 form which it was released. It is said that this 
 
 was one of Gallileo's experiments. If so, it is an- 
 other example of the masterly force and original- 
 ity of his genius, and shows that he subconscious- 
 ly had some appreciation of the basic facts of the 
 now accepted doctrine of Conservation of Energy. 
 We believe it is useless to multiply instances 
 further, to illustrate the doctrine of Conservation 
 of Energy, and show the character of proof upon 
 which it rests. There is no fact in nature, but 
 what in the hands of modern science appears to 
 conform to this doctrine. A few years ago when 
 radio-active properties were first discovered it 
 
PERPETUAL MOTION 269 
 
 was thought that it was an exception, but even 
 that has been found to conform to this wonderful 
 generalized doctrine. 
 
 If the doctrine of Conservation of Energy 
 be true about which there seems to be no doubt, 
 then all hopes of ever attaining Perpetual Motion 
 must cease, for the idea of Perpetual Motion is 
 predicated and has its foundation upon the crea- 
 tion of energy. The mechanism must give more 
 energy than is imparted to it. It must make 
 energy, and this in the light of the generalized 
 truth of Conservation of Energy is an impossibil- 
 ity. We might as well talk about making sub- 
 stance, and the creation of substance, or the crea- 
 tion of energy either one is not an attribute of 
 man. It is an attribute to be accredited only to 
 the infinite, and can not be conceived as an attri- 
 bute of the finite. 
 
CHAPTER XII 
 Will Perpetual Motion Ever Be Accomplished? 
 
 The antiquity of the problem of Perpetual 
 Motion, and the countless attempts by clever and 
 ingenious minds to accomplish its solution, and 
 the uniform failure of such attempts is no proof 
 at all, scientifically speaking, that Perpetual Mo- 
 tion is an impossibility. If there be scientific 
 proof that Perpetual Motion is unattainable, that 
 proof must be found elsewhere than in the num- 
 ber of attempts and the universality of failures, 
 or in the number or eminence of the people who 
 believe it to be impossible. 
 
 Dircks in his work printed in 1861, being 
 "A History of the Search for Self-Motive Power, 
 During the 17th 18th and 19th Centuries," says 
 on the subject : 
 
 "The subject of Perpetual Motion opposes 
 paradox to paradox. It is viewed both as being 
 most simple and most difficult to find. The learned 
 justify both its possibility and impossibility. 
 Many mechanics believe it possible * * * 
 Its pursuit always commences in confidence, only 
 to end in doubt. * * * 
 
 We think a careful perusal of all that has 
 been gathered respecting Perpetual Motion clear- 
 ly establishes that much remains to be done to 
 
PERPETUAL MOTION 271 
 
 prove the impossibility of practically solving this 
 knotty problem ; and that a full demonstration of 
 the difficulties that environ it is worthy of being 
 attempted, even by the most exalted mathe- 
 maticians. It is not requisite that they should 
 descend to the level of the most ordinary minds, 
 but leave it for others to reduce their elaborated 
 reasonings on the subject to some generally com- 
 prehensible form. We fear the proposal partakes 
 too much of the difficulty of proving a negative ; 
 but still, as the attempt has been made by cele- 
 brated savants, and is generally considered insuffi- 
 cient ; and as data may have been wanting, which 
 we conceive a collection of the chief known ex- 
 amples will supply ; we recommend the considera- 
 tion of this matter to all geometers.* * * 
 
 In a mathematical point of view, we think 
 this subject is far from being exhausted; and, 
 after what has been advanced, may very properly 
 be considered as claiming grave considerations. 
 And that, scientifically examined, it is a mark of 
 mere shallowness and querulousness to attempt 
 the substitution of ridicule and satire for the 
 more difficult, but consistent course of sound, 
 close reason and argument, such as the wonted 
 sobriety and severity of scientific criticism ac- 
 cords to its investigations generally." 
 
 At the time of the publication of Dircks's 
 work from which the above quotation is taken 
 
273 PERPETUAL MOTION 
 
 (1861), the doctrine of Conservation of Energy 
 had not been announced and accepted as an es- 
 tablished generalization of a scientific fact, and 
 it is apparent was not understood by him. 
 Dircks's statement "as data may have been want- 
 ing, which we conceive a collection of the chief 
 known examples will supply," shows that he mis- 
 conceived the nature of the problem of proving 
 the impossibility of Perpetual Motion. If, how- 
 ever, the principle of Conservation of Energy is 
 a true scientific fact, the impossibility of self- 
 motive power follows as an inevitable scientific 
 corollary, and the ignis fatuus hope of attaining 
 Perpetual Motion which has deluded so many 
 bright minds is forever destroyed and demolished. 
 
 A perusal of the arguments against Per- 
 petual Motion made by thinking men with scien- 
 tific minds even though long before the thorough 
 establishment of the doctrine of transmutation 
 and Conservation of Energy, discloses the fact 
 that those arguments in fact depend finally on 
 the principle now known and designated Conser- 
 vation of Energy. 
 
 It is amusing to note in reading the argu- 
 ments on the subject by our greatest philosophers, 
 Newton, Gallileo, Huyghens, and Descartes, that 
 while they lived and labored long before Conser- 
 vation of Energy in its generalized form was 
 known, or announced, they seemed to have a per- 
 
PERPETUAL MOTION 273 
 
 ception that energy could not be created; that 
 energy must produce an effect commensurate 
 with its own activity ; that the existence of energy 
 in one body is proof positive that some agency 
 furnished and lost an exact equivalent of that 
 energy. In other words, these men in reasoning 
 on specific problems presented to them, and on 
 the problem of Perpetual Motion in particular, 
 appear to have appreciated and applied in their 
 reasonings, the principle of Conservation of 
 Energy. 
 
 Men who have worked at the problem of 
 Perpetual Motion before the establishment of the 
 doctrine of Conservation of Energy, and men 
 who still work at the problem, who, through lack 
 of opportunity have not become familiar with 
 that doctrine, are not to be blamed or thought 
 stupid because of that folly, but those who know- 
 ing that principle, or being in a situation to know 
 it, must be mechanically and mathematically 
 stupid not to realize that Perpetual Motion and 
 Conservation of Energy are irreconcilable, and 
 that both cannot be possibilities. In this day when 
 the principle of Conservation of Energy is taught 
 in the High Schools of the United States, and in 
 every other civilized country in the world, it is 
 not surprising that fewer people work on Per- 
 petual Motion than formerly, and that public in- 
 
274 PERPETUAL MOTION 
 
 terest in the subject is waning, as waning it 
 surely is. 
 
 A generation ago, however, this principle 
 was not known and taught, and the state of the 
 world's learning was at such a stage that many 
 even scientific minds thought Perpetual Motion 
 possible, and worked for its attainment. 
 
 The principle of Conservation of Energy as 
 applied to all Perpetual Motion devices can be 
 stated as follows: There can be no mechanical 
 effect without an equal mechanical cause. Energy 
 i. e., the capacity to do work, can only be im- 
 parted by an equal amount of work done. It 
 therefore follows axiomatically that Perpetual 
 Motion is possible only if and when a machine be 
 produced that runs absolutely without friction 
 and absolutely without atmospheric resistance, 
 or the resistance of bending of cords, or other like 
 mechanical resistance. If there be such resist- 
 ance, then the energy imparted to the machine 
 will be diminished by that resistance, with the re- 
 sult that the machine can only yield the amount of 
 energy imparted, less the energy required to 
 overcome such resistance. That no machine can 
 be built free of such resistance is patent to even 
 a tyro in mechanics. 
 
 It will be interesting here, and perhaps more 
 interesting than useful, to add some of the argu- 
 ments quoted by Dircks and reproduced in his 
 
PERPETUAL MOTION 275 
 
 work for and against the possibility of Perpetual 
 Motion. They have little scientific value at this 
 time, as they were all made by men who were 
 unfamiliar with the decisive principle of Conser- 
 vation of Energy. Nevertheless, for their his- 
 torical interest we offer a few: 
 
 The Possibility of Perpetual Motion Denied 
 Remarks of Dr. Papin on a French Contrivance 
 
 In 1665, Dr. Papin, Fellow of the Royal So- 
 ciety, brought before the Royal Society of Lon- 
 don, a paper concerning a French contrivance for 
 Perpetual Motion. The following excerpt will 
 illustrate and explain the contrivance : 
 
 The paper printed in French, and containing 
 contrivance for perpetual motion, being set down 
 in such a manner that can hardly be understood 
 but by those that are much acquainted with such 
 descriptions, I have endeavored to explain it as 
 follows : 
 
 Let D E F be a pair of bellows forty inches 
 long, that may be opened by removing the part F 
 from E ; let them be exactly shut everywhere but 
 at the aperture E ; and let a pipe E G, twenty or 
 twenty-two inches long, be soldered to the said 
 aperture E, having its other end in a vessel G, 
 full of mercury, and placed near the middle of 
 the bellows. 
 
 A is an axis for the bellows to turn upon. 
 
 B, a counterpoise fastened to the lower end 
 of the bellows. 
 
276 
 
 PERPETUAL MOTION 
 
 C, a weight with a clasp 
 to keep the bellows upright. 
 
 Now, if we suppose the 
 bellows opened only to one- 
 third or one-fourth, standing- 
 upright, and full of mercury, it 
 is plain that the said mercury, 
 being forty inches high, must 
 fall, as in the Torricellian ex- 
 periment, to the height of 
 about twenty-seven inches, 
 and, consequently, the bellows 
 must open towards F, and 
 leave a vacuity there. This 
 vacuity must be filled with the 
 mercury ascending from G 
 through the pipe G E, the said 
 pipe being but twenty-two 
 inches long; by this means the 
 bellows must be opened more and more, till the 
 mercury continuing to ascend makes the upper 
 part of the bellows so heavy that the lower part 
 must get loose from the clasp C, and the bellows 
 should turn quite upside down ; but the vessel G 
 being set in a convenient place, keeps them hori- 
 zontal, and the part F engageth there in another 
 clasp C ; then the mercury, by its weight, runs out 
 from the bellows into the vessel G through the 
 pipe E G, and the bellows must shut closer and 
 closer until the part E F comes to be so light that 
 the counterpoise B is able to make the part F get 
 loose from the clasp C ; then the bellows come to 
 be upright again; the mercury left in them falls 
 
PERPETUAL MOTION 
 
 277 
 
 again to the height of twenty-seven inches, and, 
 consequently, all the other effects will follow as 
 we have already seen, and the motion will con- 
 tinue forever. Thus much for the French author. 
 Upon this it is to be observed, that the bel- 
 lows can never be opened by the internal pressure, 
 unless the said pressure be stronger then the ex- 
 ternal ; now, in this case, the weight of the atmos- 
 
 phere doth freely press up the outward part of 
 the bellows, but it cannot come at the inward part 
 but through the pipe G E, which, containing 
 twenty-two perpendicular inches of mercury, does 
 counterpoise so much of the weight of the atmos- 
 phere, so that this being supposed to be twenty- 
 seven inches of mercury, it cannot press the in- 
 ward part of the bellows but with weight 
 equivalent to five perpendicular inches of mer- 
 cury. From this we may conclude, that the pres- 
 sure of the atmosphere, being weakened within 
 the bellows more then it can be helped by the 
 mercury contained in the same, as may easily be 
 computed, the said bellows standing upright must 
 rather shut then open. Thus, without losing any 
 labor and charges in trying, people may be sure 
 that the thing can never do. 
 
278 PERPETUAL MOTION 
 
 Two "Certain" Plans for (Not) Producing Per- 
 petual Motion 
 
 In 1834, the following article was Contributed 
 to "Mechanics' Magazine." The contributor was 
 very frank, and presents some splendid sugges- 
 tions for Perpetual Motion workers. His article 
 is as follows : 
 
 Very few young mechanicians escape being 
 seduced into an attempt to produce a perpetual 
 movement, by making gravitation counteract it- 
 self. They are not contented with being told by 
 older men, that a cause can never be made to ex- 
 ceed its own power ; yet gravitation is expected by 
 them to lift up on one side more weight than sinks 
 on the other, with some percentage of friction 
 into the bargain. Nature, however, is too true 
 to itself to be so taken in by all or any of the 
 multitudes of various ways the inventive genius 
 of man has contrived, and still keeps contriving, 
 to circumvent her immutable laws, with no other 
 effect than to render the case so complicated as to 
 puzzle the judgment of the inventors, which ends 
 usually in their firm belief that they have out- 
 witted nature instead of themselves. I acknowl- 
 edge that in my youth I was one of this class, and, 
 for the benefit of the young, I beg to present you 
 with two certain plans for producing perpetual 
 motion, and compelling gravity to be frolicsome, 
 and do more work than she ought 
 
 Let A (Fig. 1) be a cistern full of oil or 
 water, above 4 feet deep. Let B be a wheel ; freely 
 
PERPETUAL MOTION 279 
 
 suspended within it, on its axle, let there be four 
 wide glass tubes, 40 inches long, c c c c, having 
 large bulbs, holding, say a pint, blown at the 
 closed end. Fill these tubes with mercury, fix on 
 an Indian-rubber ball or bladder, that will hold a 
 pint, to each of them at the open end, and let them 
 be attached round the wheel, as exhibited in the 
 figure. As the pressure of 40 inches of mercury 
 will exceed the atmospheric pressure, and also 
 that of the four-foot column of water, when the 
 Indian-rubber bottle is lowest, and the tube erect, 
 at at D, the mercury will fill it, leaving a vacuum 
 in the glass bulb above. On the opposite side the 
 mercury will fill the glass bulb, and the Indian- 
 rubber bottle will be pressed flat, as will also be 
 the case in the two horizontal tubes. Now, it is 
 evident that the two horizontal tubes exactly bal- 
 ance each other ; but the tube D, with its bulb 
 swelled out, displaces a pint of water more than 
 its opposite tube, and hence will attempt to rise 
 with the force jof about one pound ; and each tube, 
 when it arrives at the same position, must produce 
 the same result, the wheel must have a continual 
 power, equal to about one pound, with a radius of 
 two f eet. Q. E. D. 
 
 Let Fig. 2 represent a light drum of wood 
 one-half of which is inserted into a cleft in a 
 water-cistern A, which fits it, and from which the 
 water is prevented from escaping by a strip of 
 leather, which the water presses against the drum, 
 and which thus operates as a valve, without much 
 friction (especially if oil be substituted for water 
 in the cistern) . Now, as this drum is much lighter 
 
280 
 
 PERPETUAL MOTION 
 
 than water, it must ever attempt to swim, and 
 thus, in perpetually rising, cause the drum to 
 revolve forcibly round its axle. Q. E. D. 
 
 I tried this last method thirty years ago, but 
 it was so obstinate as not to move one inch at my 
 bidding, though it obviously is proved, to demon- 
 stration, that it ought to have gone on swim- 
 
 mingly. I have just heard that an Italian gentle- 
 man has hit upon the same plan ; so it seems that 
 the mania is not confined to England. 
 
 The article above quoted elicited a varied 
 correspondence on the subject of self -motive 
 power. The editor finally madethe following apt 
 and happy remark concerning the two "Certain" 
 plans : 
 
 We think our correspondent, S. F., has en- 
 
PERPETUAL MOTION 281 
 
 tirely misconceived the scope of the playful ac- 
 count, given in our last number, of two plans of 
 perpetual motion. The object of the writer seems 
 to have been, to impress on the minds of young 
 mechanicians the folly of wasting their time in 
 vain endeavors to render the effects of causes 
 greater than the causes themselves; or, in other 
 words, to gain power out of nothing a process 
 without limit or value, were it not cut short by 
 the want of all limit to its folly ; and this he could 
 not, perhaps, have done in any way so well, as by 
 exhibiting a couple of infallible perpetual movers 
 that would not stir at all, though they bade as fair 
 for it as any of their kindred. 
 
 Article by Rev. John Wilkins 
 
 Rev. John Wilkins of England, born 1614; 
 died 1672, published a work called "Mathematical 
 Magic," in which he discoursed scientifically and 
 technically on efforts that had been made up to 
 that time to attain Perpetual Motion. His work 
 shows great scholarship, diligent search, and a 
 thorough knowledge of mathematics and me- 
 chanics. Considering the state of scientific knowl- 
 edge at the time when he lived and worked, his 
 insight into scientific subjects is truly remarkable. 
 
 Considering the state of scientific learning 
 in his day, his observations on the subject of Per- 
 petual Motion show him to have possessed really 
 a great scientific and analytical mind. Of all 
 those who wrote or thought extensively on the 
 
282 PERPETUAL MOTION 
 
 subject in that century we regard what he had to 
 say as being the most worthy of reproduction. 
 The following excerpt from "Mathematical 
 Magic," will give the reader an idea of his course 
 of reasoning and conclusions on the subject of 
 self-motive power: 
 
 CHAP. IX. Of a Perpetual Motion The 
 seeming facility and real difficulty of any 
 such contrivance The several ways where- 
 by it hath been attempted, particularly by 
 Chemistry. 
 
 It is the chief inconvenience of all the auto- 
 mata before-mentioned, that they need a fre- 
 quent repair of new strength, the causes whence 
 their motion does proceed being subject to fail, 
 and come to a period ; and, therefore, it would be 
 worth our enquiry to examine whether or no 
 there may be made any such artificial contrivance, 
 which might have the principle of moving from 
 itself so that the present motion should constantly 
 be the cause of that which succeeds. 
 
 This is that great secret in art which, like the 
 Philosopher's Stone in Nature, has been the busi- 
 ness and study of many more refined wits for 
 divers ages together; and it may well be ques- 
 tioned whether either of them as yet have ever 
 been found out ; though if this have, yet like the 
 other, it is not plainly treated of by any author. 
 Not but there are sundry discourses con- 
 cerning this subject, but they are rather conjec- 
 tures than experiments. And though many in- 
 ventions in this kind may at first view bear a 
 
PERPETUAL MOTION 283 
 
 great show of probability, yet they will fail, being 
 brought to trial, and will not answer in practice 
 what they promised in speculation. Any one who 
 has been versed in these experiments must needs 
 acknowledge that he has been often deceived in 
 his strongest confidence; when the imagination 
 has contrived the whole frame of such an instru- 
 ment, and conceives that the event must infallibly 
 answer its hopes, yet then does it strangely de- 
 ceive in the proof and discovers to us some defect 
 which we did not before take notice of. 
 
 Hence it is that you shall scarce talk with 
 any one who has never so little smattering in 
 these arts, but he will instantly promise such a 
 motion as being but an easy achievement, till 
 further trial and experience has taught him the 
 difficulty of it. There being no enquiry that does 
 more entice with the probability and deceive with 
 the subtilty. 
 
 I shall briefly recite the several ways whereby 
 this has been attempted, or seems most likely to 
 be effected, thereby to contract and facilitate the 
 enquiries of those who are addicted to these kind 
 of experiments ; for when they know the defects 
 of other inventions, they may the more easily 
 avoid the same or the like in their own. 
 
 The ways whereby this has been attempted 
 may be generally reduced to these three kinds : 
 
 1. By Chemical Extractions. 
 
 2. By Magnetical Virtues. 
 
 3. By the Natural Affection of Gravity. 
 1 . The discovery of this has been attempted 
 
 by chemistry. Paracelsus and his followers have 
 
284 PERPETUAL MOTION 
 
 bragged that by their separations and extractions 
 they can make a little world which shall have the 
 same perpetual motions with this microcosm, with 
 the representation of all meteors, thunder, snow, 
 rain, the courses of the sea in its ebbs and flows, 
 and the like. But these miraculous promises 
 would require as great a faith to believe them as 
 a power to perform them ; and though they often 
 talk of such great matters : 
 
 At nusquam totos inter qui talia curant, 
 Apparet ullus, qui re miracula tanta 
 Comprobet 
 
 yet we can never see them confirmed by any real 
 experiment; and then, besides, every particular 
 author in that art has such a distinct language of 
 his own (all of them being so full of allegories 
 and affected obscurities), that 'tis very hard for 
 any one (unless he be thoroughly versed amongst 
 them) to find out what they mean, much more 
 to try it. 
 
 One of these ways (as I find it set down) is 
 this : Mix five ounces of $ with an equal weight 
 of V] grind them together with ten ounces of 
 sublimate; dissolve them in a cellar upon some 
 marble for the space of four days, till they become 
 like oil olive ; distil this with fire of chaff, or driv- 
 ing fire, and it will sublime into a dry substance ; 
 and so, by repeating of these dissolvings and dis- 
 tillings, there will be at length produced divers 
 small atoms, which, being put into a glass well 
 luted and kept dry, will have a perpetual motion. 
 I cannot say anything from experience 
 against this; but I think it does not seem very 
 
PERPETUAL MOTION 285 
 
 probable, because things that are forced up to 
 such vigorousness and activity as these ingre- 
 dients seem to be by their frequent sublimings 
 and distillings, are not likely to be of any dura- 
 tion. The more any thing is stretched beyond 
 its usual nature, the less does it last ; violence and 
 perpetuity being no companions. And then, be- 
 sides, suppose it is true, yet such a motion could 
 not well be applied to any use, which will needs 
 take much from the delight of it. 
 
 Amongst the chemical experiments to this 
 purpose may be reckoned up that famous motion 
 invented by Cornelius Dreble, and made for King 
 James ; wherein was represented the constant rev- 
 olutions of the sun and moon, and that without 
 the help either of springs or weights. Marcellus 
 Vranckhein, speaking of the means whereby it 
 was performed, he calls it Scintillula animae mag- 
 net icae mundi, seu astralis et insensibilis spirit us; 
 being that grand secret for the discovery of 
 which those dictators of philosophy, Democritus, 
 Pythagoras, Plato, did travel unto the Gym- 
 nosophists and Indian Priests. The author him- 
 self, in his discourse upon it, does not at all reveal 
 the way how it was performed. But there is one 
 Thomas Tymme who was a familiar acquaintance 
 of his, and did often pry into his works (as he 
 professes himself) , who affirms it to be done thus : 
 By extracting a fiery spirit out of the mineral 
 matter, joining the same with his proper air, 
 which included in the axletree (of the first 
 moving wheel), being hollow, carried the other 
 wheels, making a continual rotation, except issue 
 
286 PERPETUAL MOTION 
 
 or vent be given in this hollow axletree, whereby 
 the imprisoned spirit may get forth. 
 
 What strange things may be done by such 
 'extractions I know not, and, therefore, dare not 
 condemn this relation as impossible; but I think 
 it sounds rather like a chemical dream than a phil- 
 osophical truth. It seems this imprisoned spirit 
 is now set at liberty, or else is grown weary, for 
 the instrument (as I have heard) has stood still 
 for many years. It is here considerable that any 
 force is weakest near the center of a wheel ; and 
 therefore, though such a spirit might of itself 
 have an agitation, yet 'tis not easily conceivable 
 how it should have strength enough to carry the 
 wheels about with it. And then, the absurdity of 
 the author's citing this, would make one mistrust 
 his mistake. He urges it as a strong argument 
 against Copernicus ; as if, because Dreble did thus 
 contrive in an engine the revolution of the 
 heavens and the immovableness of the earth, 
 therefore it must needs follow that 'tis the 
 heavens which are moved, and not the earth. If 
 his relation were no truer than his consequence, 
 it had not been worth the citing. 
 
 CHAP. XIII. Concerning several attempts of 
 contriving a Perpetual Motion, by Magnet- 
 ical Virtues. 
 
 The second way whereby the making of a 
 perpetual motion has been attempted, is by Mag- 
 netical Virtues, which are not without some 
 strong probabilities of proving effectual to this 
 purpose; especially when we consider that the 
 
PERPETUAL MOTION 287 
 
 heavenly revolutions (being as the first pattern 
 imitated and aimed at in these attempts) are all 
 of them performed by the help of these qualities. 
 This great orb of earth, and all the other planets, 
 being but as so many magnetical globes, endowed 
 with such various and continual motions as may 
 be most agreeable to the purposes for which they 
 were intended. And, therefore, most of the au- 
 thors who treat concerning this invention, do 
 agree that the likeliest way to effect it, is by these 
 kind of qualities. 
 
 It was the opinion of Pet. Peregrinus, and 
 there is an example pretended for it in Bettinus 
 (apiar. 9, progym. 5, pro. 11) that a magnetical 
 globe, or terella, being rightly placed upon its 
 poles, would of itself have a constant rotation, 
 like the diurnal motion of the earth. But this is 
 commonly exploded as being against all experi- 
 ence. 
 
 Others think it possible so to contrive several 
 pieces of steel and loadstone that, by their con- 
 tinual attraction and expulsion of one another, 
 they may cause a perpetual revolution of a wheel. 
 Of this opinion were Taisner, Pet. Peregrinus, 
 and Cardan, out of Antonius de Fantis. But D. 
 Gilbert, who was more especially versed in mag- 
 netical experiments, concludes it to be a vain and 
 groundless fancy. 
 
 But amongst all these kinds of inventions, 
 that is most likely, wherein a loadstone is so dis- 
 posed that it shall draw unto it on a reclined plane 
 a bullet of steel, which steel, as it ascends near to 
 the loadstone, may be contrived to fall down 
 
288 
 
 PERPETUAL MOTION 
 
 through some hole in the plane, and so to return 
 unto the place from whence at first it began to 
 move; and, being there, the loadstone will again 
 attract it upwards till coming to this hole, it will 
 fall down again ; and so the motion shall be per- 
 petual, as may be more easily conceivable by this 
 figure : 
 
 Suppose the loadstone to be represented at 
 A B, which, though it have not strength enough 
 to attract the bullet C directly from the ground, 
 yet may do it by the help of the plane E F. Now, 
 when the bullet is come to the top of this plane, 
 its own gravity (which is supposed to exceed the 
 strength of the loadstone) will make it fall into 
 that hole at E; and the force it receives in this 
 fall will carry it with such a violence unto the 
 other end of this arch, that it will open the passage 
 which is there made for it, and by its return will 
 again shut it; so that the bullet (as at the first) 
 is in the same place whence it was attraced, and, 
 consequently, must move perpetually. 
 
 But, however, this invention may seem to be 
 of such strong probability, yet there are sundry 
 particulars which may prove it insufficient ; for 
 
PERPETUAL MOTION 289 
 
 1. This bullet of steel must first be touched, 
 and have its several poles, or else there can be 
 little or no attraction of it. Suppose C in the steel 
 to be answerable unto A in the stone, and to B ; 
 in the attraction C D must always be directed 
 answerable to A B', and so the motion will be 
 more difficult ; by reason there can be no rotation 
 or turning round of the bullet, but it must slide up 
 with the line C D, answerable to the axis A B. 
 
 2. In its fall from E to G, which is motus 
 element aris, and proceeds from its gravity, there 
 must needs be a rotation of it ; and so 'tis odds but 
 it happens wrong in the rise, the poles in the bullet 
 being not in the same direction to those in the 
 magnet ; and if in this reflux it should so fall out, 
 that D should be directed towards B, there should 
 be rather a flight than an attraction, since those 
 two ends do repel, and not draw one another. 
 
 3. If the loadstone A B have so much 
 strength, that it can attract the bullet in F, when 
 it is not turned round, but does only slide upon 
 the plane, whereas its .own gravity would rowl it 
 downwards ; then it is evident the sphere of its 
 activity and strength would be so increased when 
 it approaches much nearer, that it would not need 
 the assistance of the plane, but would draw it 
 immediately to itself without that help; and so 
 the bullet would not fall down through the hole, 
 but ascend to the stone, and, consequently, cease 
 its motion : for, if the loadstone be of force 
 enough to draw the bullet on the plane, at the dis- 
 tance F B, then must the strength of it be suffi- 
 cient to attract it immediatelv unto itself, when it 
 
290 PERPETUAL MOTION 
 
 is so much nearer as E B. And if the gravity of 
 the bullet be supposed so much to exceed the 
 strength of the magnet, that it cannot draw it di- 
 rectly when it is so near, then will it not be able 
 to attract the bullet up the plane, when it is so 
 much further off. 
 
 So that none of all these magnetical experi- 
 ments, which have been as yet discovered, are 
 sufficient for the effecting of a perpetual motion, 
 though these kind of qualities seem most con- 
 ducible unto it ; and perhaps, hereafter, it may be 
 contrived from them. 
 
 CHAP. XIV. The seeming probability of effect- 
 ing a Continual Motion by Solid Weights in 
 a Hollow Wheel or Sphere. 
 
 The third way whereby the making of a per- 
 petual motion has been attempted is by the Nat- 
 ural Affection of Gravity ; when the heaviness of 
 several bodies is so contrived, that the same mo- 
 tion which they give in their descent, may be able 
 to carry them up again. 
 
 But (against the possibility of any such in- 
 vention) it is thus objected by Cardan: All sub- 
 lunary bodies have a direct motion either of as- 
 cent or descent ; which, because it does not refer 
 to some term, therefore cannot be perpetual, but 
 must needs cease when it is arrived at the place 
 unto which it naturally tends. 
 
 I answer, though this may prove that there 
 is no natural motion of any particular heavy body 
 which is perpetual, yet it does not hinder, but that 
 it is possible from them to contrive such an arti- 
 
PERPETUAL MOTION 291 
 
 ficial revolution as shall constantly be the cause 
 of itself. 
 
 Those bodies which may be serviceable to 
 this purpose are distinguishable into two kinds: 
 
 1. Solid and consistent; as weights of metal, 
 or the like. 
 
 2. Fluid or sliding; as water, sand, etc. 
 Both these ways have been attempted by 
 
 many, though with very little or no success. 
 Other men's conjectures in this kind you may see 
 set down by divers authors. It would be too 
 tedious to repeat them over, or set forth their 
 draughts. 
 
 I shall only mention two new ones, which (if 
 I am not over-partial) seem altogether as prob- 
 able as any of these kinds that have been yet in- 
 vented; and, till experience had discovered their 
 defect and insufficiency, I did certainly conclude 
 them to be infallible. 
 
 The first of these contrivances was by solid 
 weights being placed in some hollow wheel or 
 sphere, unto which they should give a perpetual 
 revolution; for, as the philosopher has largely 
 proved, only a circular motion can properly be 
 perpetual. 
 
 But, for the better conceiving of this inven- 
 tion, it is requisite that we rightly understand 
 some principles in Trochilicks, or the art of wheel 
 instruments ; as, chiefly, the relation betwixt the 
 parts of a wheel and those of a balance ; the sev- 
 eral proportions in the semi-diameter of a wheel 
 being answerable to the sides in a balance, where 
 
292 
 
 PERPETUAL MOTION 
 
 the weight is multiplied according to its distance 
 from the center. 
 
 Thus, suppose the center to be at A, and the 
 diameter of the wheel, D C, to be divided into 
 equal parts (as is here expressed), it is evident, 
 
 according to the former ground, that one pound 
 at C will equiponderate to five pound at B, because 
 there is such a proportion betwixt their several 
 distances from the center. And it is not material 
 whether or no these several weights be placed 
 horizontally ; for though B do hang lower than C, 
 yet this does not at all concern the heaviness ; or 
 though the plummet C were placed much higher 
 than it is at E, or lower at F, yet would it still re- 
 tain the same weight which it had at C ; because 
 these plummets (as in the nature of all heavy 
 bodies), do tend downwards by a straight line; 
 
PERPETUAL MOTION 293 
 
 so that their several gravities are to be measured 
 by that part of the horizontal semi-diameter, 
 which is directly either below or above them. 
 Thus, when the plummet C shall be moved either 
 to G or H, it will lose one-third of its former 
 heaviness, and be equally ponderous as if it were 
 placed in the balance at No 3; and if we sup- 
 pose it to be situated at I or K, then the weight 
 of it will lie wholly upon the center, and not at all 
 conduce to the motion of the wheel on either side ; 
 so that the straight lines which pass through the 
 divisions of the diameter may serve to measure 
 the heaviness of any weight in its several situa- 
 tions. 
 
 These things thoroughly considered, it seems 
 very possible and easy for a man to contrive the 
 plummets of a wheel, that they may be always 
 heavier in their fall, than in their ascent ; and so, 
 consequently, that they should give a perpetual 
 motion to the wheel itself; since it is impossible 
 for that to remain unmoved as long as one side in 
 it is heavier than the other. 
 
 For the performance of this, the weights 
 must be so ordered : 1 . That in their descent they 
 may fall from the center, and in their ascent may 
 rise nearer to it. 2. That the fall of each plum- 
 met may begin the motion of that which should 
 succeed it, as in the following diagram : 
 
 Where there are sixteen plummets, eight in 
 the inward circle, and as many in the outward. 
 (The inequality being to arise from their, situa- 
 tion, it is therefore most convenient that the num- 
 ber of them be even. ) The eight inward plummets 
 
294 
 
 PERPETUAL MOTION 
 
 are supposed to be in themselves so much heavier 
 than the other, that in the wheel they may be of 
 equal weight with those above them, and then the 
 fall of these will be of sufficient force to bring 
 down the other. For example, if the outward 
 be each of them four ounces, then the inward 
 must be five ; because the outward is distant from 
 
 the center five of those parts whereof the inward 
 is but four. Each pair of these weights should 
 be joined together by a little string or chain, 
 which must be fastened about the middle, betwixt 
 the bullet and the center of that plummet which is 
 to fall first, and at the top of the other. 
 
 When these bullets, in their descent, are at 
 their farthest distance from the center of the 
 wheel, then shall they be stopped, and rest on the 
 pins placed to that purpose ; and so, in their rising, 
 
. PERPETUAL MOTION 295 
 
 there must be other pins to keep them in a con- 
 venient posture and distance from the center, lest, 
 approaching too near unto it, they thereby become 
 unfit to fall when they shall come to the top of the 
 descending side. 
 
 This may be otherwise contrived with some 
 different circumstances, but they will all redound 
 to the same effect. By such an engine it seems 
 very probable that a man may produce perpetual 
 motion; the distance of the plummets from the 
 center increasing with weight on one side, and 
 their being tied to one another, causing a constant 
 succession in their falling. 
 
 But now, upon experience, I have found this 
 to be fallacious; and the reason may sufficiently 
 appear by a calculation of the heaviness of each 
 plummet, according to its several situation; which 
 may easily be done by those perpendiculars that 
 cut the diameter (as was before explained, and is 
 here expressed in five of the plummets on the 
 descending side). From such a calculation it 
 will be evident, that both the sides of this wheel 
 will equiponderate ; and so consequently, that the 
 supposed inequality whence the motion should 
 proceed, is but imaginary and groundless. On the 
 descending side, the heaviness of each plummet 
 may be measured according to these numbers 
 (supposing the diameter of the wheel to be di- 
 vided into twenty parts, and each of those sub- 
 divided into four) : 
 
296 
 
 PERPETUAL MOTION 
 
 The Outward Plummets. The Inward Plummets. 
 7.01 1.0 
 
 7 9 
 
 The sum 19. 
 
 10.0 [The sum 24. 
 
 7.0 
 
 7.2 
 
 7.2 
 3.0 
 
 On the ascending side, the weights are to be 
 reckoned according to these degrees : 
 
 The Outward. 
 
 1.3 
 
 7.2 
 
 9.0 
 5.3 
 0.0 J 
 
 -The sum 24. 
 
 The Inward. 
 4.1 
 
 7.0 
 
 5.2 
 
 2.1 
 
 The sum 1 9. 
 
 The sum of which last numbers -is equal with 
 the former, and therefore both the sides of such 
 a wheel in this situation will equiponderate. 
 
 If it be objected, that the plummet A should 
 be contrived to pull down the other at Bj and then 
 the descending side will be heavier than the other ; 
 for answer to this, it is considerable 
 
 1. That these bullets towards the top of the 
 wheel, cannot descend till they come to a certain 
 kind of inclination. 
 
 2. That any lower bullet hanging upon the 
 other above it, to pull it down, must be conceived, 
 as if the weight of it were in that point where its 
 string touches the upper ; at which point this bullet 
 will be of less heaviness in respect of the wheel, 
 than if it did rest in its own place; so that both 
 the sides of it, in any kind of situation, may 
 equiponderate. 
 
PERPETUAL MOTION 297 
 
 CHAP. XV. Of composing, a Perpetual Motion 
 by Fluid Weights Concerning Archimedes 
 his Water Screw The great probability of 
 accomplishing this enquiry by the help of 
 that, zvith the fallibleness of it upon experi- 
 ment. 
 
 That which I shall mention as the last way, 
 for the trial of this experiment, is by contriving it 
 in some Water Instrument ; which may seem al- 
 together as probable and easy as any of the rest ; 
 because that element, by reason of its fluid and 
 subtle nature (whereby, of its own accord, it 
 searches out the lower and more narrow pass- 
 ages), may be most pliable to the mind of the arti- 
 ficer. Now, the usual means for the ascent of 
 water is either by suckers or forces, or something 
 equivalent thereunto; neither of which may be 
 conveniently applied unto such a work as this, 
 because there is. required unto each of them so 
 much or more strength, as may be answerable to 
 the full weight of the water that is to be drawn 
 up ; and then, besides, they move for the most part 
 by fits and snatches, so that it is not easily con- 
 ceivable, how they should conduce unto such a 
 motion, which, by reason of its perpetuity, must 
 be regular and equal. 
 
 But, amongst all other ways to this purpose, 
 that invention of Archimedes is incomparably the 
 best, which is usually called Cochlea, or the Water 
 Screw; being framed by the helical revolution of 
 a cavity about a cylinder. We have not any dis- 
 course from the author himself concerning it, 
 nor is it certain whether he ever writ anything 
 
298 PERPETUAL MOTION 
 
 to this purpose; but if he did, yet, as the injury of 
 time hath deprived us of many other of his excel- 
 lents works, so likewise of this amongst the rest. 
 
 [Near five pages are occupied in describing 
 the use of this screw, and the form and manner 
 of making it ; then follows : ] 
 
 The true inclination of the screw being 
 found, together with the certain quantity of water 
 which every helix does contain ; it is further con- 
 siderable, that the water by this instrument does 
 ascend naturally of itself, without any violence 
 or labor; and that the heaviness of it does lie 
 chiefly upon the centers or axis of the cylinder, 
 both its sides being of equal weight, (said Ubal- 
 dus) ; so that, it should seem, though we suppose 
 each revolution to have an equal quantity of 
 water, yet the screw will remain with any part 
 upwards, according as it shall be set, without 
 turning itself either way ; and, therefore, the least 
 strength being added to either of its sides should 
 make it descend, according to that common 
 maxim of Archimedes any addition will make 
 that which equiponderates with another to tend 
 downwards. 
 
 But now, because the weight of this instru- 
 ment and the water in it does lean wholly upon the 
 axis, hence is it (said Ubaldus) that the grating 
 and rubbing of these axes against the sockets 
 wherein they are placed, will cause some inepti- 
 tude and resistency to that rotation of the cylin- 
 der ; which would otherwise ensue upon the addi- 
 tion of the least weight to any one side ; but (said 
 the same author) any power that is greater than 
 
PERPETUAL MOTION 299 
 
 this resistency which does arise from the axis, 
 will serve for the turning of it round. 
 
 These things considered together, it will 
 hence appear how a perpetual motion may seem 
 easily contrivable. For, if there were but such a 
 water-wheel made on this instrument, upon which 
 the stream that is carried up may fall in its de- 
 scent, it would turn the screw round, and by that 
 means convey as much water up as is required to 
 move it; so that the motion must needs be con- 
 tinual, since the same weight which in its fall 
 does turn the wheel is, by the turning of the wheel, 
 carried up again. 
 
 Or, if the water, falling upon one wheel, 
 would not be forcible enough for this effect, why 
 then there might be two or three, or more, accord- 
 ing as the length and elevation of the instrument 
 will admit ; by which means the weight of it may 
 be so multiplied in the fall that it shall be equiva- 
 lent to twice or thrice that quantity of water 
 which ascends ; as may be more plainly discerned 
 by the following diagram: 
 
 Where the figure L M, at the bottom, does 
 represent a wooden cylinder with helical cavities 
 cut in it, which at A B is supposed to be covered 
 over with tin plates, and three water-wheels upon 
 it, H I K; the lower cistern, which contains the 
 water, being C D. Now, this cylinder being 
 turned round, all the water which from the cistern 
 ascends through it, will fall into the vessel at E, 
 and from that vessel being conveyed upon the 
 water-wheel H, shall consequently give a circular 
 motion to the whole screw. Or, if this alone 
 
300 
 
 PERPETUAL MOTION 
 
 should be too weak for the turning of it, then the 
 same water which falls from the wheel H, being 
 received into the other vessel F, may from thence 
 again descend on the wheel I, by which means the 
 force of it will be doubled. And if this be yet un- 
 
 sufficient, then may the water which falls on the 
 second wheel I, be received into the other vessel 
 G, and from thence again descend on the third 
 wheel at K; and so for as many other wheels as 
 the instrument is capable of. So that, besides the. 
 greater distance of these three streams from the 
 
PERPETUAL MOTION 3d 
 
 center or axis by which they are made* so much 
 heavier, and besides that the fall of this outward 
 water is forcible and violent, whereas the ascent 
 of that within is natural besides all this, there 
 is thrice as much water to turn the screw as is 
 carried up by it. 
 
 But, on the other side, if all the water falling 
 upon one wheel would be able to turn it round, 
 then half of it would serve with two wheels, and 
 the rest may be so disposed of in the fall as to 
 serve unto some other useful delightful ends. 
 
 When I first thought of this invention, I 
 could scarce forbear, with Archimedes, to cry out 
 ev^Ka, tvprjKa.; it seeming so infallible a way 
 for the effecting of a perpetual motion that noth- 
 ing could be so much as probably objected against 
 it; but, upon trial and experience, I find it alto- 
 gether insufficient for any such purpose, and that 
 for these two reasons : 
 
 1. The water that ascends will not make any. 
 considerable" stream in the fall. 
 
 2. This stream, though multiplied, will not 
 be of force enough to turn about the screw. 
 
 1. The water ascends gently, and by inter- 
 missions ; but it falls continually, and with force ; 
 each of the three vessels being supposed full at 
 the first, that so the weight of the water in them 
 might add the greater strength and swiftness to 
 the streams that descend from them. Now, this 
 swiftness of motion will cause so great a differ- 
 ence betwixt them that one of these little streams 
 may spend more water in the fall than a stream 
 six times bigger in the ascent, though we should 
 
302 PERPETUAL MOTION 
 
 suppose both of them to be continuate ; how much 
 more, then, when as the ascending water is vented 
 by fits and intermissions, every circumvolution 
 voiding so much as is contained in one helix ; and, 
 in this particular, one that is not versed in these 
 kind of experiments may be easily deceived. 
 
 But, secondly, though there were so great a 
 disproportion, yet, notwithstanding, the force of 
 these outward streams might well enough serve 
 for the turning of the screw, if it were so that 
 both its sides would equiponderate the water being 
 in them (as Ubaldus had affirmed ). But now, 
 upon farther examination, we shall find this as- 
 sertion of his to be utterly against both reason 
 and experience. And herein does consist the chief 
 mistake of this contrivance; for the ascending 
 side of the screw is made, by the water contained 
 in it, so much heavier than the descending side, 
 that these outward streams, thus applied, will not 
 be of force enough to make them equiponderate, 
 much* less to move the whole, as may be more 
 easily discerned by this figure : 
 
 Where A B represents a screw covered over, 
 C D E one helix or revolution of it, C D the as- 
 cending side, E D the descending side, the point D 
 the middle ; the horizontal line C F showing how 
 much of the helix is filled with water, viz., of the 
 ascending side, from C the beginning of the helix, 
 to D the middle of it; and on the descending side, 
 from D the middle, to the point G, where the 
 horizontal does cut the helix. Now, it is evident 
 that this latter part, D G, is nothing near so much, 
 and consequently not so heavy as the other, D C ; 
 
PERPETUAL MOTION 303 
 
 and thus is it in all the other revolutions, which, 
 as they are either more or larger, so will the diffi- 
 culty of this motion be increased. Whence it will 
 appear that the outward streams which descend 
 must be of so much force as to countervail all that 
 weight whereby the ascending side in every one 
 of these revolutions does exceed the other. And 
 though this may be effected by making the water- 
 wheels larger, yet then the motion will be so slow 
 that the screw will not be able to supply the out- 
 ward streams. 
 
 There is another contrivance to this purpose, 
 mentioned by Kircher de Magnete, 1, 2, p. 4, de- 
 
 pending upon the heat of the sun and the force of 
 winds ; but it is liable to such abundance of excep- 
 tions that it is scarce worth the mentioning, and 
 does by no means deserve the confidence of any 
 ingenious artist. 
 
 Thus have I briefly explained the probabili- 
 ties and defects of those subtle contrivances 
 whereby the making of a perpetual motion has 
 been attempted. I would be loath to discourage 
 the enquiry of any ingenious artificer by denying 
 the possibility of effecting it with any of these 
 
304 PERPETUAL MOTION 
 
 mechanical helps; but yet (I conceive) if those 
 principles which concern the slowness of the 
 power in comparison to the greatness of the 
 weight were rightly understood and thoroughly 
 considered, they would make this experiment to 
 seem, if not altogether impossible, yet much more 
 difficult than otherwise, perhaps, it will appear. 
 However, the inquiring after it cannot but de- 
 serve our endeavors, as being one of the most 
 noble amongst all these mechanical subtilties. 
 And, as it is in the fable of him who dug the vine- 
 yard for a hidden treasure, though he did not 
 find the money, yet he thereby made the ground 
 more fruitful, so, though we do not attain to the 
 effecting of this particular, yet our searching 
 after it may discover so many other excellent sub- 
 tilties as shall abundantly recompense the labor of 
 our inquiry. 
 
 And then, besides, it may be another en- 
 couragement to consider the pleasure of such 
 speculations, which do ravish and sublime the 
 thoughts with more clear angelical contentments. 
 Archimedes was generally so taken up in the de- 
 light of these mathematical studies of this fa- 
 miliar siren (as Plutarch styles them) that he 
 forgot both his meat and drink, and other neces- 
 sities of nature ; nay, that he neglected the saving 
 of his life, when that rude soldier, in the pride and 
 haste of victory, would not give him leisure to fin- 
 ish his demonstration. What a ravishment was 
 that, when, having found out the way to measure 
 Hiero's crown, he leaped out of the bath, and (as 
 if he were suddenly possessed) ran naked up and 
 
PERPETUAL MOTION 305 
 
 down, crying ev^/ca, evp^a/ It is storied of 
 Thales that, in his joy and gratitude for one of 
 these mathematical inventions, he went presently 
 to the Temple, and there offered up a solemn 
 sacrifice ; and Pythagoras, upon the like occasion, 
 is related to have sacrificed a hundred oxen ; the 
 justice of Providence having so contrived it, that 
 the pleasure which there is in the success of such 
 inventions should be proportioned to the great 
 difficulty and labor of their inquiry. 
 
 The Paradoxical Hydrostatic Balance 
 
 The following was contributed to an English 
 scientific journal in 1831, the name of the author 
 
 of the article is unknown to us, but here is what 
 he wrote : 
 
 This hydrostatic balance, like the compound 
 balance of Desaguliers, may be introduced to il- 
 lustrate the impossibility of perpetual motion by 
 a weight removed from the centre of a wheel. 
 
 Take the hollow-rimmed wheel A B; let it 
 be air-tight and half filled with water. Let C be 
 
306 PERPETUAL MOTION 
 
 the axle ; at B place a hollow ball loaded to near 
 sinking. Such a wheel, however fine its axle may 
 be, or however well lubricated, will not make a 
 single revolution, though the weight B occupies 
 that part at which every deluded perpetual-mo- 
 tionist is desirous it should be placed ; concluding 
 that, by such an arrangement, the production of 
 another Orffyrean wheel must be inevitable. 
 
 Discussion by P. Gregorio Fontana 
 
 P. Gregorio Fontana was professor of higher 
 mathematics at the Royal University of Pavia, 
 in the Province of Lombardy, Italy. In 1786 he 
 published what he designated "Examination of a 
 New Argument in Favor of Perpetual Motion." 
 In part he says : 
 
 1. A vertical wheel (Fig. 2) divided in two 
 halves by a vertical plane which passes through 
 its diameter F O, has the half F P O immersed in 
 water under the level M N, and the other half 
 wholly out of the water, being cut off in F O by a 
 peculiar mechanism from all communication with 
 the reservoir, the exterior half of the wheel being 
 F Q O ; this turns freely round on an axle passing 
 through the centre C. Now the wheel being spe- 
 cifically lighter than the water, the immersed part 
 F P O comes with a continual rotation to the top 
 with a force equal to the excess of the weight of 
 a volume of water corresponding to the immersed 
 portion, over the weight of the immersed portion ; 
 which rotation passing through the centre of 
 gravity of the exterior part, and consequently 
 
PERPETUAL MOTION 
 
 307 
 
 out of the centre C, obliges the wheel to turn 
 around C. 
 
 Such being the case, the question to be asked 
 is whether the wheel has itself a perpetual motion, 
 as may be judged at first sight. 
 
 2. To reply adequately, it is at first necessary 
 to know what effect is produced on the wheel by 
 
 FIG. 2. 
 
 FIC. 3. 
 
 the horizontal pressure which the water exercises 
 on the semi-circumference FLO. 
 
 Having taken for this purpose, a part P p, 
 and having drawn to the diameter the ordinate 
 P. R, p r, and marked the radius P C, and from it 
 P G perpendicular to the radius C L, which de- 
 termines the quadrant O L, the distance of the 
 lowest point O from the level of the water will be 
 = b, the semi-diameter of the wheel = a, C R = 
 x, and the specific gravity of the water = 1 ; the 
 perpendicular pressure against the part P p = 
 P p . R D, which resolved in two, one horizontal 
 
308 PERPETUAL MOTION 
 
 P R, the other vertical P G, gives the proportion 
 
 P p . P R . R D 
 
 PG :PR ::P/>.RD : 
 
 PG 
 Thence the horizontal pressure against P p, 
 
 P />.PR.RD. 
 
 and , that is to say P p . P R 
 
 PG 
 
 = R r . P G, the given horizontal pressure is found 
 to be = R r.R D = (b x) d x, and which, 
 multiplied by R D, giving b x, becomes the 
 momentum of the pressure relatively to M N = 
 (b x) 2 d x, and the sum of the momenta of 
 pressure exercised upon the indefinite arc, O P 
 
 1 
 
 = f (b xydx = (b *)* + the side. 
 
 3 
 
 And since acting together such momenta equal x, 
 
 1 
 
 there comes the side = b s ; and as the already- 
 
 3 
 
 1 
 given sum of the momenta = (b 3 (b ^r) 3 ) 
 
 3 
 1 
 
 = b 2 x b x? H ^r 3 . Whence, taking x = 2 a, 
 
 3 
 
PERPETUAL MOTION 309 
 
 the sum of all the momenta of the horizontal 
 pressure exercised on the whole semi-circumfer- 
 ence O L F of the wheel, will be = 2 b 2 a 4 & a 2 
 
 8 
 H a 3 , and dividing that sum by the whole lion- 
 
 3 
 zontal pressure, that is to say by / (& .r) d x = 
 
 1 1 
 
 (& 2 (b A-) 2 ) =bx x* = 2ba 2 
 
 2 2 
 
 a 2 , gives x = 2 a, we have the formula 
 
 8 4 
 
 2 b 2 4 b a H a 3 fr 2 2 & a. + a 2 
 
 3 3 
 
 2b 
 
 a 2 a 2 
 
 
 b d 
 
 
 
 1 
 
 2 
 
 (b 
 
 -ay + 
 
 a 2 
 
 a 2 
 
 
 
 3 
 
 3 
 
 (& a) 6 a 
 
 which represents the distance of the level M N 
 from the result of all the horizontal pressure 
 against the circumference, which distance exceeds 
 D C, and consequently the direction of the result 
 passes from below the centre C of the wheel to a 
 
310 PERPETUAL MOTION 
 
 I 
 0? 
 
 3 
 
 distance from the said centre, which is = . 
 
 b a 
 
 If this distance be multiplied by the result of 
 all the horizontal pressure, that is, by 2 a. (b 
 
 2 
 a) ; there is obtained a 3 for the momentum of 
 
 3 
 
 the force which tends to make the wheel revolve 
 from L towards O. This being established, it is 
 known that the force which causes the half of the 
 wheel F L G to revolve vertically to the top (call- 
 ing g the specific gravity of the wheel) is = (1 
 g) F C O L, and which force passes through 
 the center of gravity of F L O. And conse- 
 quently the gravity of any circular segment 
 divided by the half of the radius, is distant from 
 the centre of the circle by a quantity equal to the 
 twelfth of the cube of the chord divided by the 
 segment; and therefore the centre of gravity of 
 the semicircle F C O L, will be distant from the 
 
 1 2 
 
 8 a 3 a 3 
 12 3 
 
 centre C by the quantity 
 
 ECOL ECOL 
 
 Consequently the momentum of this force tending 
 to make the wheel revolve from O towards L will 
 
PERPETUAL MOTION 311 
 
 2 
 
 a 3 
 
 3 2 
 
 .(1 g) 
 
 ECOL 3 
 
 But moreover a certain momentum will be 
 derived from the other half F Q O of the wheel, 
 which being out of the water, tends by its own 
 weight downwards with a force = g . E C O Q = 
 g.E C O L, which multiplied by the distance 
 
 ECOL ^ ^ e centre f g ray ity of the semi- 
 
 circle F Q O from the centre of the wheel gives 
 as a momentum of force tending to turn the wheel 
 
 2 
 
 from O to L the quantity -~- g a 8 . Thus the whole 
 
 momentum to make the wheel turn from O to L, 
 
 2 22 
 
 will be-~- (1 g) a 8 , + ~=-g a 8 =-y a 8 , that is 
 
 to say the same that is found to turn the wheel in 
 the opposite direction, viz., from L to O, and 
 thence the wheel remains perfectly motionless. 
 
 3. Cor. I. If the wheel were specifically 
 heavier than the water, one would not be able to 
 conceive in that case any motion from L to O, as 
 seemed probable in the former supposition. Since, 
 then, the momentum of the force, which turns 
 vertically downwards the portion of the wheel 
 F C O L, and tends to make it revolve from L to 
 
312 PERPETUAL MOTION 
 
 2 
 
 O is =-T- (g 1 ) a 3 to which momentum should 
 o 
 
 be added a certain portion of the horizontal pres- 
 
 2 
 sure, that is to say -~-, and thus is obtained the 
 
 o 
 2 
 whole momentum -~- g a*, tending to cause the 
 
 wheel to turn from L to O ; and to which momen- 
 tum precisely, is equal such of the weight of the 
 half F C O Q as tends to give to the wheel a con- 
 trary revolution, that is, from O to L. 
 
 3. Cor. II. If the wheel in place of being a 
 circular plane were a zone bounded by two con- 
 centric peripheries (Fig. 3), then from the sum 
 of the horizontal pressure of the water against 
 the exterior periphery should be taken the sum 
 of the opposite horizontal pressure against the 
 other interior semi-periphery of the zone. So 
 calling a the greater radius of the zone, and A its 
 breadth, the sum of the first horizontal pressure 
 is = 2 a (b a) and the sum of the second 2 
 (a A) (b \) (a A) =2 (a A) (b 
 a). Then subtract the latter from the former 
 and there remains 2 (b a) A for the sum of the 
 whole pressure, which acts upon the zone (sic) of 
 the half of the wheel immersed in the fluid in a 
 direction tending from the outside to the interior 
 of the wheel. 
 
 Moreover the sum of the momenta of all the 
 horizontal pressure on the exterior circumference 
 relatively to the level 
 
PERPETUAL MOTION 313 
 
 8 
 3 
 
 And similarly the sum of the momenta of 
 the horizontal pressure opposite, on the interior 
 semi-circumference, relatively to the given level is 
 = 2 (b A) 2 (a A) 4 (b A) X (a 
 
 Subtracting this sum from the preceding, 
 there remains the sum of the momenta acting on 
 the zone of the half-wheel from the exterior to 
 
 the interior = 2 b 2 a 4 b a 2 +-f- a 3 2 (6 
 
 o 
 
 A)*( A) +4(6 A) (a A)_.(a A) 3 
 
 - a) fca + 2 a 2 a A -f-JL XV=fr2A 
 
 (b a) (b a) + a 2 a A -f J. x 2 ^ Then 
 
 dividing this sum of the momenta by the sum of 
 the pressure there will be 
 
 (b a) (b a) + a 2 a^+\^ 
 ' 
 
 a 2 - 
 
 a 
 
 the distance of the 
 
314 PERPETUAL MOTION 
 
 center of the pressure from the level of the fluid, 
 that is, to the distance of the result of all the 
 pressure from that level. From this it is evident 
 that the center of pressure falls under the center 
 
 1 
 a 2 a A +-3* 
 
 of the wheel, C, to the distance r 
 
 o a 
 
 Whence multiplying this distance by the result 
 of the pressure, or by 2^(b a), we obtain 
 
 2 A / a 2 a A -f- A 2 j to express the momentum 
 
 of the horizontal pressure of the water, directed 
 to make the wheel turn from L to O. 
 
 Now the momentum with which the vertical 
 impulse of the fluid tends to make the semi-circle 
 F C O L turn from O to L (supposing the wheel 
 not with a simple zone, but with a circular plane) 
 
 2 
 
 is = -~- a 3 . Likewise the momentum of the im- 
 pulse of the fluid to cause the internal semi-circle 
 VCIG from O to L is ~ (a A) 3 . Then 
 
 o 
 
 taking this second momentum from the first, the 
 momentum of the zone from the fluid V G I O 
 L F to give the wheel an impulse from O to L will 
 
 be = J-(a 3 (a A) 3 )=2A( a 2 aA+y 
 
 which is precisely the momentum with which the 
 horizontal pressure of the fluid to impress on the 
 wheel an impulse in the opposite direction, that is 
 to say from L to O. Consequently from the pres- 
 
PERPETUAL MOTION 315 
 
 sure of the fluid the wheel cannot have any motion 
 around its center. 
 
 The weight of the wheel itself, by which the 
 half-zone immersed in the water tends to make 
 the wheel turn from L to O, and the half which 
 is out of the water, to make it turn in the reverse 
 direction, such a weight, I say, cannot induce any 
 motion of rotation, and both halves remain in 
 equilibrium around the center C. 
 
 Article by William Nicholson 
 
 William Nicholson was born in London in 
 1753; died in 1815. He was a scientist of note, 
 and a writer of scientific subjects. In 1797 he 
 established in London and continued publishing 
 until 1814, a periodical entitled "Journal of Nat- 
 ural Philosophy, Chemistry and the Arts," 
 known, however, throughout the civilized world 
 as "Nicholson's Journal." 
 
 A Perpetual Motion device of Dr. Conradus 
 Schwiers, in 1790, and the Richard Varley device, 
 in 1797, described at page 132 et seq., ante, had 
 attracted a great deal of attention, and were the 
 occasion of much discussion. A consequent in- 
 creased interest in the subject of self-moving 
 mechanism was thus created. 
 
 Mr. Nicholson, whose scientific attainments 
 were recognized by all, was asked to publish an 
 article on the subject. His article appeared in 
 
.,,G PERPETUAL MOTION 
 
 his publication, "Nicholson's Journal," and is as 
 follows : 
 
 On the Mechanical Projects -for Affording a 
 Perpetual Motion 
 
 In consequence of the notice taken of Mr. 
 Varley's attempt to produce a perpetual motion, 
 I have been requested by several correspondents 
 to state how far the mechanical scheme for which 
 Dr. Conrad Schwiers took out a patent in the 
 year 1790, for the same object may be worthy of 
 attention. I have, on that occasion, mentioned 
 the difficulties which have prevented any clear 
 general demonstration of the absurdity of this 
 pursuit from being produced, though it has not 
 been difficult to show the fallacy of the individual 
 plans. It does not, indeed, seem easy to enunciate 
 the scheme itself. What in universal terms is the 
 thing proposed to be done ? Is it to cause a body 
 to act in such a manner that the reaction shall be 
 greater than the action itself, and by that means 
 generate force by the accumulation of the sur- 
 plus? Or, can the motion communicated be 
 greater than that lost by the agent ? Since these 
 positions are evidently contrary to the physical 
 axioms called the laws of nature, and frictions 
 and resistances would speedily destroy all motions 
 of simple uniformity, it may be presumed that 
 's Gravesande, who thought that all the demon- 
 strations of the absurdity of schemes for perpet- 
 ual motion contained paralogism, would have 
 stated the proposition under different terms. 
 But without entering upon this apparently un- 
 
PERPETUAL MOTION 317 
 
 profitable disquisition, it may be useful, as well 
 as entertaining, to make a few observations on 
 the mechanical contrivances which depend on a 
 mistaken deduction from the general theorem re- 
 specting the balance, among which that of Dr. 
 Schwiers must be classed. 
 
 There is no doubt but numerous arrange- 
 ments have been made, and still are labored at by 
 various individuals, to produce a machine which 
 shall possess the power of moving itself perpet- 
 ually, notwithstanding the inevitable loss by fric- 
 tion and resistance of the air. Little, however, 
 of these abortive exertions has been entered upon 
 record. The plans of Bishop Wilkins, the Mar- 
 quis of Worcester, and M. Orffyreus, are all 
 which at this time occur to my recollection. 
 
 There is no doubt but the celebrated Wilkins 
 was a man of learning and ability. His essay 
 towards a real character and a philosophical lan- 
 guage is sufficient to render his name immortal. 
 Twenty years before the appearance of that work 
 he published his "Mathematical Magic," namely, 
 in the year 1648, containing 295 pages, small 
 octavo, which, from the number of copies still in 
 being, I suppose to have been a very popular 
 treatise. It is in this work that I find, among 
 other contrivances for the same purpose, a wheel 
 carrying sixteen loaded arms, similar to that de- 
 lineated in Fig. 4, plate 15, in which, however, 
 for the sake of simplicity, I have drawn but six. 
 Each lever, A B C D E F, is movable through an 
 angle of 45 degrees, by a joint near the circum- 
 ference of the wheel, and the inner end or tail of 
 
318 
 
 PERPETUAL MOTION 
 
 each is confined by two studs or pins, so that it 
 must either lie in the direction of a radius, or else 
 in the required position of obliquity. If the 
 wheel be now supposed to move in the direction 
 EF, it is evident that the levers AB-CD, by 
 hanging in the oblique position against the ante- 
 cedent pins, will describe a less circle in their 
 ascent than when, on the other side, they come 
 to descend in the positions E F. Hence, it was 
 
 (.Pig. 4, pi 15.) 
 
 B 
 
 expected that the descending weights, having the 
 advantage of a longer lever, would always pre- 
 dominate. Dr. Wilkins, by referring the weights 
 to an horizontal diameter, has shown that in his 
 machine they will not. A popular notion of this 
 result may also be gathered from the figure, 
 where there are three weights on the ascending 
 and only two on the descending side ; the obliquity 
 
PERPETUAL MOTION 319 
 
 of position giving an advantage in point of num- 
 ber, equal to what the other side may possess in 
 intensity. Or, if this contrivance were to be 
 strictly examined, on the supposition that the 
 levers and weights were indefinitely numerous, 
 the question would be determined by showing that 
 the circular arcs A K, H I, are in equilibrio with 
 the arcs A G, G L. 
 
 The simplest method of examining any 
 scheme of this kind with weights, consists in in- 
 quiring whether the perpendicular ascents and 
 descents would be performed with equal masses 
 in equal times. If so, there will be no preponder- 
 ance, and, consequently, no motion. This is 
 clearly the case with the contrivance before us. 
 
 The Marquis of Worcester, who will ever be 
 remembered as the inventor of the steam engine, 
 has described a perpetual motion in the fifty-sixth 
 number of his "Century of Inventions," published 
 in the year 1655, and since reprinted in 1767 by 
 the Foulis's at Glasgow. His words were as fol- 
 lows: 
 
 'To provide and make, that all the weights of 
 the descending side of a wheel shall be perpetually 
 further from the center than those of the mount- 
 ing side, and yet_equal in number and heft to the 
 one side as the other. A most incredible thing 
 if not seen, but tried before the late King (of 
 blessed memory) in the Tower by my directions, 
 two extraordinary ambassadors accompanying 
 his Majesty, and the Duke of Richmond and Duke 
 Hamilton, with most of the Court attending him. 
 The wheel was fourteen feet over, and forty 
 
320 PERPETUAL MOTION 
 
 weights of fifty pounds apiece. Sir William Bal- 
 four, then Lieutenant of the Tower, can justify 
 it with several others. They all saw that no 
 sooner these great weights passed the diameter 
 line of the lower side, but they hung a foot further 
 from the center ; nor no sooner passed the diam- 
 eter line of the upper side, but they hung a foot 
 nearer. Be pleased to judge the consequence." 
 
 Desaguliers, in his "Course of Experimental 
 Philosophy," Vol. I, page 185, has quoted this 
 passage, and given a sketch of a pretended self- 
 moving wheel, similar to Fig. 5, plate 15, as re- 
 sembling the contrivance mentioned by the Mar- 
 quis of Worcester. The description of this last 
 engineer agrees, however, somewhat better with 
 the contrivance Fig. 4. It must, of course, be a 
 mistake in terms, when he says the weight re- 
 ceded from the center at the lower diameter and 
 approached towards it at the upper : the contrary 
 being, in fact, necessary to afford any hope of 
 success ; and accordingly in the quotation it is so 
 stated. I am, therefore, disposed to think that 
 Fig. 5 represents the wheel of Orffyreus at Hesse 
 Cassel, much talked of about the year 1720, and 
 which probably was made to revolve, during the 
 time of exhibition, by some concealed apparatus. 
 It consists of a number of cells or partitions, dis- 
 tinguished by the letters of the alphabet, which 
 are made between the interior and exterior sur- 
 faces of two concentric cylinders. The parti- 
 tions being placed obliquely with respect to the 
 radius, a cylindrical or spherical weight placed on 
 each, it is seen from the figure, that these weights 
 
PERPETUAL MOTION 321 
 
 will lie against the inner surface of the larger 
 cylinder whenever the outer end of the bottom 
 partition of any cell is lowest: and, on the con- 
 trary, when that extremity is highest, the weight 
 will rest on the surface of the interior cylinder. 
 Let the wheel be made to revolve in the direction 
 A B C ; the weights inCDEFGHI being close 
 to the external circle, and the weights K L M A B 
 
 5, pi. 15.) 
 
 close to the inner, for the reasons last mentioned. 
 As the cell B descends, its weight will likewise 
 run out, at the same time that the weight in the 
 cell I will run in in consequence of its partition 
 being elevated. By the continuation of this proc- 
 ess, since all the weights on the descending side 
 pass down at a greater distance from the center, 
 while those of the ascending side rise for a con- 
 siderable part of their ascent at a less distance 
 from the same point, it is concluded that the wheel 
 will continue to maintain its motion. On this, 
 however, it is to be remarked that the perpendic- 
 ular ascent and descent are alike, both in measure 
 and in time of performance ; and that the familiar 
 
322 PERPETUAL MOTION 
 
 examination, even to those who know little of 
 such subjects, is sufficient to show that the pre- 
 ponderance is not quite so palpable as at first it 
 appears. For the weights G and F, H and E, 
 I and D are evidently in equilibrio, because at the 
 same horizontal distance from the center ; and if 
 the favorable supposition that the weight B has 
 already run out be admitted, it will then remain a 
 question whether these two exterior weights, B 
 and C, can preponderate over the four inner 
 weights, K L M A. The more accurate exam- 
 ination of this particular contrivance will lead to 
 the following theorem : In two concentric circles, 
 if tangents be drawn at the extreme points of a 
 diameter of the smaller, and continued till they 
 intersect the larger, the common center of gravity 
 of the arc of the greater circle included between 
 the tangents and of the half periphery of the 
 smaller circle on the opposite side of the diam- 
 eter, will be the common center of the circles. 
 If, therefore, the balls were indefinitely numer- 
 ous and small, the supposed effective parts of the 
 wheel (Fig. 5) would be in equilibrio, as well as 
 the parts beneath the horizontal tangent of the 
 inner circle. 
 
 Fig. 6 represents the contrivance of Dr. 
 Schwiers, which, in a periodical publication, in 
 other particulars respectable, has been said to 
 continue in motion for weeks and even months 
 together. There is not the smallest probability 
 that it should continue in motion for half a 
 minute, or nearly as long as a simple wheel would 
 retain part of its first impulse. The external 
 
PERPETUAL MOTION 323 
 
 circle denotes a wheel carrying a number of buck- 
 ets, A B I L, etc. C represents a toothed wheel, 
 on the same axis which drives a pinion D; and 
 this last drives another pinion E upon the axis of 
 a lanthorn, or wheel intended to work a chain- 
 pump with the same number of buckets as in the 
 larger wheel A B I. The lanthorn G is made of 
 such a size as to receive the buckets a b i I with a 
 due velocity. K represents a gutter through 
 which a metallic ball, contained in the bucket m, 
 may run and lodge itself in the bucket A of the 
 wheel. Each of the buckets of the wheel, B I 
 L M, which are below the gutter, is supplied with 
 a metallic ball, and so likewise are the ascending 
 buckets, abilm, of the chain-pump. As the 
 pump supplies the wheel, it is again supplied at 
 M, where the balls fall into its ascending buckets. 
 Now, it is presumed that the balls in the wheel I 
 suppose on account of their distance from the 
 center of motion, will descend with more than 
 sufficient force to raise those on the chain, and, 
 consequently, that the motion will be perpetual. 
 The deception in this contrivance has much 
 less seduction than in the two foregoing, because 
 it is more easily referred to the simple lever. 
 This, like the others, exhibits no prospect of suc- 
 cess, when tried by the simple consideration of 
 the quality of the ascent and descent in the whole 
 time of the rotation of a single ball. It may also 
 be shown from the principles of wheel-work, 
 which are familiar to artisans, that whatever is 
 gained by the excess of the diameter of the great 
 wheel beyond that of the wheel C, is again lost 
 
324 
 
 PERPETUAL MOTION 
 
 by the excess of the lanthorn A beyond the 
 pinion E. 
 
 The fundamental proposition of the simple 
 lever or balance, that equal bodies at an equal dis- 
 
 (Fig. 6) 
 A 
 
 B 
 
 N 
 
 tance from the fulcrum will equiponderate, but 
 that at unequal distances the most remote will 
 descend, has, in these and numberless other in- 
 stances, led mechanical workmen and speculators 
 to pursue this fruitless inquiry with labor and ex- 
 pense often ill-afforded, and with a degree of 
 
PERPETUAL MOTION 
 
 325 
 
 anxiety and infatuation which can hardly be con- 
 ceived by those who have never suffered the pain 
 of hope long deferred. For this reason chiefly, 
 it has appeared desirable and useful to treat the 
 subject in a familiar way without descending to 
 those expressions of contempt, which ignorance, 
 harmless to all but itself, is surely not entitled to. 
 If such reasoners were well convinced that the 
 power of a machine is to be estimated by the 
 excess of motion referred to the perpendicular, 
 without any regard to the apparent center of the 
 
 Compound Balance. (Fig. 3, pi. 15) 
 
 machine, and that in machines very little com- 
 pounded it is possible to produce effects directly 
 contrary to the rule which is true of the simple 
 lever, they would probably renounce many flatter- 
 ing projects, grounded only on the supposition 
 of its universality. Desaguliers contrived an ap- 
 paratus in which two equal weights may be placed 
 at any distance whatever from the center of mo- 
 
326 PERPETUAL MOTION 
 
 tion, and still continue in equilibrio. Fig. 3 rep- 
 resents this instrument. A D denotes a balance 
 with equal arms, and E F another of the same 
 dimensions. These move on the centers B and C, 
 and are connected by the inflexible rods A E and 
 D F ; the motion being left free by means of joints 
 at the corners. Across the rods A D, E F, are 
 fixed two bars, I K, L M. Now, it is unnecessary 
 to show that the weight G will describe exactly 
 the same line or circular arc, when the levers are 
 moved into the position adfe.or any other posi- 
 tion, as it would have described in case it had been 
 suspended at A, or K, or E ; and that it is of no 
 consequence in this respect at what part of the 
 line A E or I K it be fixed. The same observa- 
 tions are true of the weight H on the other side. 
 And accordingly it is found that these equal 
 weights may be suspended anywhere on the lines 
 I K and L M without altering their equilibrium. 
 By this contrivance it is most evidently 
 proved to those who are totally unacquainted with 
 the theory, that weights do not perponderate in 
 compound engines on account of their distance 
 from the center. Several contrivances may be 
 made to the same effect. The following combina- 
 tion of wheel-work presented itself to me as one 
 which would most probably be mistaken for a per- 
 petual motion. (Fig. 2, plate 15.) The five 
 circles represent the same number of wheels of 
 equal diameter and number of teeth, acting to- 
 gether. The middle wheel A is fixed between 
 two upright pillars, so that it cannot revolve. The 
 other four wheels are pinned in a frame H I, in 
 
PERPETUAL MOTION 
 
 327 
 
 which they can revolve, and through which the 
 axis of A likewise passes. From the extremity 
 of the axis of D, and also of d, proceed the hori- 
 zontal levers H K and I L, which are equal, and 
 point in the same direction parallel to the plane 
 of the wheels. At the extremity of these arms 
 
 (Fig.*, 
 
 hang the equal weights P and p. Let it now be 
 imagined that the end I of the frame is de- 
 pressed, the wheel B will turn round by the re- 
 action of the fixed wheel A in the same direction 
 as H I, and it will make one revolution in the 
 same time relative to the frame, or two with re- 
 gard to absolute space, by reason of its being 
 carried round. The action of B upon D will 
 
328 PERPETUAL MOTION 
 
 produce a rotation relative to the frame in the 
 opposite direction during the same time. Instead, 
 therefore, of two revolutions like the wheel B, 
 this wheel D, with regard to absolute space, will 
 not revolve at all, and in every position of the 
 apparatus the arm I L will continue horizontal, 
 and point the same way. For similar reasons the 
 arm H K will retain its position. Consequently, 
 it is seen that the descending weight will move 
 at a great horizontal distance from the center N, 
 while the ascending weight rises very near that 
 center. But there will, not on this account, be a 
 perpetual motion: for the action of the levers 
 H K and I L upon the frame H I, by means of the 
 toothed wheels, will, in the detail, be found pre- 
 cisely alike, and in the general consideration of 
 the motions of P and p, the opposite motions in 
 the circle E F G will be accurately the same. 
 
 It has always been considered as essential 
 to a perpetual motion that it should be derived 
 from some energy which is not supposed to vary 
 in its intensity. Such are the inertia, the gravity 
 or magnetism of bodies. For an occasional or 
 periodical variation of intensity in any force is 
 evidently productive of motion, which requires 
 only to be accumulated or applied, and the ap- 
 paratus for applying it cannot be considered as a 
 machine for perpetual motion. Neither in strict- 
 ness can any machine whose motion is derived 
 from the rotation of the earth, and the consequent 
 change of seasons and rotation of events, be so 
 considered, because it does not generate, but only 
 communicates. The perpetual flow of rivers ; the 
 
PERPETUAL MOTION 329 
 
 vicissitudes of the tides ; the constant, periodical 
 and variable winds ; the expansions and contrac- 
 tions of air, mercury, or other fluids, by daily 
 or other changes of temperature; the differences 
 of expansions in metals, by the same change ; the 
 rise and fall of the mercury in the barometer ; the 
 hygrometric changes in the remains of organized 
 beings, and every other mutation which continu- 
 ally happens around us, may be applied to give 
 motion to mills, clocks, and other engines, which 
 may be contrived to endure as long as the ap- 
 paratus retains its figure. 
 
 Mr. Nicholson's article, published above, 
 shows, if nothing else had ever shown, the fact 
 that he was endowed with a real scientific mind. 
 It also shows what is still most interesting that 
 his mind anticipated and that he had a subcon- 
 scious conception of the principle of Conserva- 
 tion of Energy. 
 
 In 1824 and 1825 there was published in 
 London a mechanical journal called "The Ar- 
 tisan"; or "Mechanic's Instructor." In one of 
 the issues the following occurred on the subject 
 of Perpetual Motion: 
 
 Perpetual motion is a motion which is sup- 
 plied and renewed from itself without the inter- 
 vention of any external cause : to find a perpetual 
 motion, or to construct a machine which shall 
 have such a motion, is a subject which has en- 
 gaged the attention of mathematicians for more 
 than 2,000 years; though none perhaps have 
 
330 PERPETUAL MOTION 
 
 prosecuted it with so much zeal and hopes of ulti- 
 mate success as some of the speculative philoso- 
 phers of the present age. 
 
 Infinite are the schemes, designs, plans, en- 
 gines, wheels, etc., to which this longed-for per-, 
 petual motion has given birth; and it would not 
 only be endless but ridiculous to attempt to give 
 a detail of them all, especially as none of them 
 deserve particular mention, since they have all 
 equally proved abortive ; and it would rather par- 
 take of the nature of an affront than a compli- 
 ment, to distinguish the pretenders of this dis- 
 covery, as the very attempting of the thing con- 
 veys a very unfavorable idea of the mental pow- 
 ers of the operator. 
 
 For among all the laws of matter and motion, 
 we know of none which seems to afford any prin- 
 ciple or foundation for such an effect. Action 
 and reaction are allowed to be ever equal ; and a 
 body which gives any quantity of motion to an- 
 other, always loses just so much of its own ; but, 
 under the present state of things, the resistance 
 of the air, and the friction of the parts of ma- 
 chines, necessarily retard eyery motion. 
 
 To keep the motion going on, therefore, there 
 must either be a supply from some foreign cause, 
 which, in a perpetual motion, is excluded. 
 
 Or, all resistance from the friction of the 
 parts of matter must be removed; which neces- 
 sarily implies a change in the nature of things. 
 
 For by the second law of motion the changes 
 made in the motions of bodies are always propor- 
 tional to the impressed moving force, and are pro- 
 
PERPETUAL MOTION 331 
 
 duced in the same direction with it; no motion, 
 then, can be communicated to any engine, greater 
 than that of the first force impressed. 
 
 But, on our earth, all motion is performed 
 in a resisting fluid, namely, the atmosphere, and 
 must, therefore, of necessity, be retarded; conse- 
 quently, a considerable quantity of its motion will 
 be spent on the medium. Nor is there any engine 
 or machine wherein all friction can be avoided; 
 there being in nature no such thing as exact 
 smoothness or perfect congruity; the manner of 
 the cohesion of the parts of bodies, the small pro- 
 portion which the solid matter bears to the vacui- 
 ties between them, and the nature of those consti- 
 tuent particles not admitting it. 
 
 Friction, therefore, will also, in time, sensibly 
 diminish the impressed or communicated force; 
 so that a perpetual motion can never follow, un- 
 less the communicated force be so much greater 
 than the generating force as to supply the diminu- 
 tion occasioned by all these causes; but the gen-' 
 crating % force cannot communicate a greater de- 
 gree of motion than it had itself. Therefore, the 
 whole affair of finding a perpetual motion comes 
 to this, viz., to make a weight heavier than itself, 
 or an elastic force greater than itself; or, there 
 must be some method of gaining a force equiva- 
 lent to what is lost by the artful disposition and 
 combination of the mechanical powers : to this last 
 point then, all endeavors are to be directed; but 
 how, or by what means such a force can be gained, 
 is still a mystery! 
 
 The multiplication of powers or forces avails 
 
332 PERPETUAL MOTION 
 
 nothing; for what is gained in power is lost in 
 time ; so that the quantity of motion still remains 
 the same. 
 
 The whole science of mechanics cannot really 
 make a little power equal or superior to a larger ; 
 and wherever a less power is found in equilibrio 
 with a greater as, for example, twenty-five 
 pounds with one hundred it is a kind of decep- 
 tion of the sense; for the equilibrium is not 
 strictly between one -hundred pounds and twenty- 
 five pounds moving (or disposed to move) four 
 times as fast as the one hundred pounds. 
 
 A power of ten pounds moving with ten 
 times the velocity of one hundred pounds would 
 have equalled the one hundred in the same man- 
 ner ; and the same may be said of all the possible 
 products equal to one hundred: but there must 
 still be one hundred pounds of power on each side, 
 whatever way they may be taken, whether in 
 matter or in velocity. 
 
 This is an inviolable law of nature ; by which 
 nothing is left to art, but the choice of the several 
 combinations that may produce the same effects. 
 
 The only interest that we can take in the 
 projects which have been tried for procuring a 
 perpetual motion must arise from the opportunity 
 that they afford of observing the weakness of 
 human reason. 
 
 For a better instance of this can scarcely be 
 supplied than to see a man spending whole years 
 in the pursuit of an object, which a single week's 
 application to sober philosophy would have con- 
 vinced him was unattainable. 
 
PERPETUAL MOTION 333 
 
 But for the satisfaction of those who may 
 not be convinced of the impossibility of attaining 
 this grand object, we shall add a few observations 
 on the subject of a still more practical nature than 
 the above. 
 
 The most satisfactory confutation of the no- 
 tion of the possibility of a perpetual motion is 
 derived from the consideration of the properties 
 of the center of gravity; it is only necessary to 
 
 examine whether it will begin > to descend or 
 ascend when the machine moves, or whether it 
 will remain at rest. If it be so placed that it 
 must either remain at rest or ascend, it is clear, 
 from the laws of equilibrium, that no motion de- 
 rived from gravitation can take place; if it may 
 descend, it must either continue to descend for- 
 ever with a finite velocity, which is impossible, 
 
334 PERPETUAL MOTION 
 
 or it must first descend and then ascend with a 
 vibratory motion, and then the case will be re- 
 ducible to that of a pendulum, where it is obvious 
 that no new motion is generated, and that the fric- 
 tion and resistance of the air must soon destroy 
 the original motion. 
 
 One of the most common fallacies by which 
 the superficial projectors of machines for obtain- 
 ing a perpetual motion have been deluded, has 
 arisen from imagining that any number of 
 weights ascending by a certain path on one side 
 of the center of motion, and descending on the 
 other at a greater distance, must cause a constant 
 preponderance on the side of the descent ; and for 
 this purpose weights have been made to slide or 
 roll along grooves or planes, which lead them to a 
 more remote part of the wheel, from whence they 
 return as they ascend, as represented in the fol- 
 lowing figure : Or they have been fixed on hinges 
 which allow them to fall over at a certain point s<5 
 as to become more distant from the center ; but it 
 will appear on the inspection of such a machine 
 that although some of the weights are more dis- 
 tant from the center than others, yet there is 
 always a proportionally smaller number of them 
 on that side on which they have the greater 
 power; so that these circumstances precisely 
 counterbalance each other. 
 
 We have heard it proposed to attach hollow 
 arms to a wheel by joints or hinges at the circum- 
 ference, and to fill these arms with quicksilver or 
 small balls instead of the plan represented by the 
 above figure ; but though we have never heard of 
 
PERPETUAL MOTION 335 
 
 it having been tried, we are perfectly convinced 
 that it would end as all other attempts have done ; 
 that is, in a total failure. 
 
 The Possibility of Perpetual Motion Asserted 
 
 The enthusiastic earnestness with which the 
 subject of Perpetual Motion was formerly dis- 
 cussed is illustrated by the fact that the Holy 
 Scriptures were dragged in to support arguments 
 on the proposition. 
 
 The following is a verbatim copy of an ar- 
 ticle published in an English scientific magazine 
 in 1829: 
 
 "Notice to Perpetual Motion Seekers." The 
 following is a literal copy of a communication 
 which we have received under this head. We 
 publish it for the benefit of all concerned: "Per- 
 petual Motion Seekers! see Coloss., ch. ii.,-v. 8 
 'Beware lest any man spoil you, through phil- 
 osophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of 
 men, after the rudiments of the world/ Ye are 
 making the words of God of none effect by your 
 traditions in publishing these things to the world. 
 How can such toys and baubles as these be per- 
 petual? See Malachi. ch. iv., v. 1 Tor behold 
 the day cometh that shall burn as an oven; and 
 all the proud, yea, all that do wickedly, shall be as 
 stubble/ Here is the end of them. I, the un- 
 dersigned, have to inform the public, the model 
 for making perpetual motion is to be found in that 
 too much neglected book of models, the Bible. I 
 called upon the Lord, and he showed it to me. I 
 
336 PERPETUAL MOTION 
 
 said, 'Lord, shall I show this unto them? This 
 was the answer to me: See Iraiah, ch. xli., v. 29 
 'Behold, they are all vanity; their works are 
 nothing/ I said, 'Lord, be pleased to show me 
 some more about it.' 'Bring forth your strong 
 reasons, saith the King of Jacob/ Isaiah, ch. 
 xli., v. 21. This was the answer: See Isaiah, ch. 
 xli., v. 14 'Fear not, thou worm Jacob. * * 
 Behold, I will make thee a new sharp threshing 
 instrument having teeth; thou shalt thresh the 
 mountains, and beat them small, and shall make 
 the hills as chaff/ See also Jeremiah, ch. vii., 
 v. 9 'The wise men are ashamed; they are dis- 
 mayed and taken/ etc. See also Jeremiah, ch. 
 ix., v. 12 'Who is the wise man that may under- 
 stand this?' If there is not a wise and learned 
 man who can show this, there is a deaf and un- 
 learned man that will, by the blessing of God, set 
 it forth to you. I am that deaf and unlearned 
 man, George Lovatt, Stafford. 
 
 "P. S. Mr. Editor : I have told you what I 
 Avas commanded to do. See Ezekiel, ch. iii., v. 4 
 to the end. Now, see thou forget it not ; let those 
 models which come from the Word of God have 
 the first place. Joshua, ch. xxiv., v. 15." 
 
 John Bernoulli's Dissertation on Perpetual 
 Motion 
 
 John Bernoulli was born in 1667, and died in 
 1748. He belonged to the famous Belgian family 
 bearing the name. His family seems to have 
 been peculiarly prolific in men of great genius for 
 mathematics and science. Almost any encyclo- 
 
PERPETUAL MOTION 337 
 
 pedia with any pretense for thoroughness will 
 mention and give the sketch of the life of from 
 five to nine members of the Bernoulli family. 
 
 John Bernoulli possessed perhaps the great- 
 est genius of any bearing the name for pure 
 mathematics and pure mechanics. He was a 
 contemporary of such men as Leibnitz, Euler and 
 Newton, a co-laborer with the two former, but 
 never conceded the merits of Newton. He was 
 of a peculiar disposition, of intense likes and dis- 
 likes and among his peculiarities it may be men- 
 tioned that he harbored an unreasonable hatred 
 toward a worthy and deserving son. 
 
 In 1742 he wrote a work entitled "Disserta- 
 tion on Effervescence and Fermentation/' To 
 this work he added an appendix entitled "Con- 
 cerning Artificial Perpetual Motion." The ap- 
 pendix translated into English and as published 
 by Dircks, is as follows : 
 
 Scarcely had I finished this dissertation, 
 when, attentively considering the nature of pre- 
 cipitation and secretion, briefly explained in the 
 last pages, there accidentally occurred to me a 
 mode of constructing, by means of some continu- 
 ally flowing liquid, the much-talked of and long- 
 desired Perpetual Artificial Motion ; and this as a 
 completion to my work, on account of the affinity 
 of the subject, I now propose for the consider- 
 ation of the learned. 
 
 No one need be told how eagerly for a length 
 
338 . PERPETUAL MOTION 
 
 of time this same Perpetual Motion has been 
 sought after by the most celebrated men, how 
 ardently desired ; what indeed have they not con- 
 trived? To what expense have they not gone? 
 How many machines have they not constructed? 
 But all in vain. 
 
 The secret desire of this Perpetual Motion 
 still perplexes and torments many, and excites 
 their minds to such a degree that we see the ears 
 and minds of learned men carried away by it ; yet 
 many philosophers reject the idea, unanimously 
 asserting that Perpetual Motion cannot be com- 
 municated and cannot be invented ; which opinion 
 is nevertheless not of any weight, seeing that they 
 rashly judge that no one should be listened to 
 who boasts of having found out such a thing; 
 and their reasons (as I confess) do not suffice to 
 convince me; for I do not hesitate to assert not 
 only that Perpetual Motion may be discovered, 
 but that it has now actually been discovered, as 
 will be confessed by any one who reads these 
 lines; and what is this labor to many? does not. 
 Nature herself (who is never said not to operate 
 by mechanical laws) indicate Perpetual Motion 
 to be possible ? To recall but one instance, what is 
 the constant flux and reflux of the rivers and seas 
 but Perpetual Motion ? Does it not all belong to 
 Mechanics? Therefore, you must confess that it 
 does not exceed the limits of mechanical laws, and 
 is not impossible ; what then hinders that follow- 
 ing Nature in this, we should be able perfectly to 
 imitate her ? as indeed I shall so conclude, by de- 
 
PERPETUAL MOTION 
 
 339 
 
 daring to these the possibility of Perpetual Mo- 
 tion and the manner of obtaining it ; and lest thou 
 come to an adverse conclusion, or regard it as a 
 Titanic enterprise, I pray that thou mayest first 
 well weigh the thing, or, if it so please thee, put 
 its truth to the test of experience. 
 
 First of all the following must be premised : 
 
 1. If there are two fluids of different density, 
 the weights of which respectively are in the ratio 
 G to L ; the altitudes of cylinders of equal weight, 
 and having the same base, will be in the ratio 
 L to G. 
 
 2. Therefore, if the altitude A C of one fluid 
 contained in the vessel A D to be the altitude 
 E F of the other fluid contained in an open tube, 
 as L to D ; the fluids so placed will remain at rest. 
 
 3. Therefore, if A C to E F be in a greater 
 ratio than L to G, the fluid in the tube will ascend ; 
 
 or if the tube be not suffi- 
 ciently 'long, the fluid will 
 escape by the orifice E. 
 (These are proved by Hy- 
 drostatics.) 
 
 4. It is possible to 
 have two fluids of differ- 
 ent gravity, which are 
 capable of being mixed 
 one with the other. 
 
 5. It is possible to 
 have a filter, strainer or other separator, by means 
 of which the lighter fluid may be separated from 
 the heavier. 
 
 (Table I, Fig *.) 
 
 e 
 
340 PERPETUAL MOTION 
 
 Construction 
 
 These being pre-supposed, I construct Per- 
 petual Motion in the following manner:- 
 
 Let two fluids of different gravity and capa- 
 ble of mixing together (which is possible by Hyp. 
 4) be taken in any quantities, in equal quantities, 
 if desired ; let the ratios of their gravities be first 
 determined, which suppose as G to L, the heavier 
 to the lighter ; and being mixed, let a vessel, A D, 
 be filled to A. 
 
 This having been done, let a tube be taken, 
 open at both ends E F ; and of such a length that 
 AC : E F > 2 L : G + L; and the orifice F 
 stopped, or rather filled with a filter or some sub- 
 stance separating the lighter fluid from the 
 heavier (as is possible also by Hyp. 5) ; when the 
 tube filled in this manner with fluid is immersed 
 to the bottom of the vessel C D ; I say that the 
 fluid will continually ascend by the orifice of the 
 tube F, and by the orifice E will fall into the fluid 
 below. 
 
 Demonstration 
 
 Because the orifice of the tube F is occupied 
 by a filter (by Constr.) which separates the 
 lighter fluid from the heavier ; it follows, that if 
 the tube be immersed to the bottom of the vessel, 
 the fluid lighter by itself, which is mixed with the 
 heavier fluid, must ascend in the tube, and as it 
 will ascend above the surface of the surrounding 
 fluid asAC:EF = 2L:G + L: which is (by 
 Const.) AC:EF>2L:G+L, it necessarily 
 follows (by Hyp. 3) that the lighter liquid, 
 through the orifice E, will fall in the vessel below ; 
 
PERPETUAL MOTION 341 
 
 there it again mixes with the heavier (by Hyp. 
 4) ; and then, penetrating the filter, ascends again 
 into the tube, and escapes by the upper orifice. 
 So, therefore, the flow is continued perpetually. 
 Q. E. D. 
 
 Corollary 
 
 Hence a reason may easily be given, why 
 water from the depths of the ocean, ascending 
 into the summits of the mountains, bursts from 
 them in the form of rivers and flows again into 
 the ocean; so does Nature offer to us the spec- 
 tacle of perpetual motion. 
 
 Hence I say, they do not well explain who 
 allege that the water ascends to these heights 
 through the pores of the arth, as a fluid ascends 
 in narrow tubes above the surface of the fluid sur- 
 rounding; for if such were the explanation of the 
 thing, they would never be able to demonstrate 
 it; for the water so raised to a height from the 
 bosom of the earth, falls again, whereas we see 
 that the fluid in these narrow tubes, although 
 slightly elevated above the surrounding surface, 
 never issues from their orifices and falls into the 
 fluid below. The following is then the more 
 feasible explanation. It is known that water in 
 which much salt is held in solution is heavier than 
 fresh water ; now sea-water, as is sufficiently evi- 
 dent from the taste, contains many saline par- 
 ticles; consequently it is heavier than spring or 
 river water ; so that it is credible that the earth 
 acts like a filter through the pores of which only 
 fresh water can pass, the saline particles being 
 left behind, and this increases the weight of the 
 
342 PERPETUAL MOTION 
 
 water; the fresh water must ascend 'much higher 
 on account of the immense profundity of the 
 ocean, as it is forced to the highest peaks of the 
 mountains by the presence of the sea-water ; and 
 thence, not being able to ascend any higher, it 
 falls in rivers. 
 
 P. Christopher Scheiner 
 
 That an earnest belief in the possibility of 
 Perpetual Motion has not been confined entirely 
 to scientific tyros and enthusiastic dreamers, is 
 sufficiently attested by the fact that a respectable 
 number of eminent scientists, many of whom had 
 done great service in their scientific labors, have 
 believed in such possibility. 
 
 Among these is to be mentioned P. Chris- 
 topher Scheiner, a German, born 1575, and died 
 1650. He was a mechanic of note; in his day 
 made valuable additions to what was known of 
 light and optics, invented the Pantagraph, dis- 
 covered solar spots, besides benefiting mankind 
 by many other distinguished fruits of his genius. 
 
 The subject of Perpetual Motion claimed 
 some of his attention. He wrote in defense of its 
 possibility. The substance of what he said, trans- 
 lated into English, is as follows : 
 
 Let the centre of the universe then, or of 
 gravity, be A, and the gnomon A B C, of which 
 the extremity A is pierced and traversed by an 
 axis going through the centre of the world, so 
 that it may turn and revolve freely and easily 
 
PERPETUAL MOTION 
 
 343 
 
 around the said centre; to the other extremity 
 of the gnomon, C, let a phial full of water be 
 attached. 
 
 The weight C will turn around the centre A 
 and will first come to D, thence to E, thence to F 
 and G; then it will return 
 to C, having described a 
 complete circle, C D E F G ; 
 then it will again move to 
 D, E, F, etc., and so per- 
 petually, since there is no 
 reason for its stopping in 
 any point of the circle rather 
 than in another. 
 
 That indeed the weight 
 
 C affixed to the gnomon will move from C to D, 
 is proved by daily experience, by which it is es- 
 tablished that a gnomon so contrived and placed 
 erect on any flat space, will not be able to stand, 
 but the arm B C, C preponderating, w r ill move 
 towards D. 
 
 It may in the second place be proved, that if, 
 on the other hand, another arm B G be added to 
 the gnomon, equal in weight and similar to the 
 other, the whole G B C A will remain motionless 
 in equilibrium; therefore the arm B G being 
 taken away and equilibrium being destroyed, 
 the arm B C must move in the opposite direction. 
 The above, from Scheiner, called forth the 
 following from Schott, who was also an eminent 
 mathematician : 
 
 Whether there could be a perpetual artificial 
 motion around the centre of the earth ? 
 
344 
 
 PERPETUAL MOTION 
 
 FIG. 10. 
 
 We have treated this question in our Hy- 
 draulico-pneumatic Mechanics, Part 2, Class 2, 
 Machine 13, not however universally, but only in 
 
 one particular case, 
 that of the Gnomon 
 of Scheiner. For P. 
 Christopher S c h e i- 
 ner, in "Mathemat- 
 ical Disquisitions," 
 in Number XV., Co- 
 rollary 4, asserts 
 Perpetual Artificial 
 Motion not to be re- 
 pugnant to Nature, 
 and attempts to prove 
 
 it in the following 
 manner. Let a 
 gnomon of a certain 
 weight A B C be sus- 
 pended around A, the 
 centre of the universe, and bound to the beam D 
 F, which is supported by the columns D F and 
 E G and turns at the pole D or E ; or let it be fixed 
 at the poles, but the gnomon revolving at A. 
 
 These being the conditions, I say that the 
 gnomon ABC will revolve from C to H and to- 
 wards I, thence will return to C, thence to H as 
 before, and so on perpetually. The cause of this 
 continual motion is the forcible suspension; for 
 the whole gnomon preponderates in C on account 
 of the perpendicular tangent B A; which effect 
 becomes more marked if a globe of iron S be sup- 
 posed suspended at C. As therefore the whole of 
 
PERPETUAL MOTION 345 
 
 this mass, as well from the supports of the bal- 
 ance as from the momentary diameter, hangs sus- 
 pended at C, and the vertex A, on account of the 
 firm beam D E, cannot fall from the centre of the 
 universe ; it comes to pass that all points as well 
 of the globe S, as of the gnomon ABC, with a 
 continual motion turn round A ; but because, by 
 the line B A in the fixed point A, they are held 
 from falling to the centre; therefore the greatest 
 force of that tendency is exerted in the line B, 
 and induces it to inclination ; which inclination on 
 account of the continuous solidity of the gnomon 
 cannot be at all abated, so that the whole impetus 
 is exerted either at the point A about the movable 
 beam or at the movable poles of the beam D and 
 E ; which poles being free in their sockets D and 
 E, abandon themselves to the motion of Nature, 
 and thus do not in any wise hinder a perpetual 
 circular motion. What indeed is self-evident in 
 this, reason confirms, and daily experience in 
 statics manifests. For if a short gnomon stand 
 either on the terrestrial superficies M N, O P, or 
 Q R; it will always fall towards the part C, or N, 
 by the preponderating portion M K C ; which is 
 manifested in daily experiments. 
 
 Thence it is evident that if the gnomon were 
 entire, the force which it exerts at N would pass 
 into the line B A still hanging over the centre. 
 And this is one argument. The other is from the 
 contrary. For if an equal and similar gnomon 
 were attached towards the part D, then the whole 
 mass hanging on its centre would remain in 
 equilibrium and there would be no motion ; conse- 
 
346 PERPETUAL MOTION 
 
 quently the one half being taken away, the other 
 would necessarily move according to the laws and 
 experience of statics. If the shortened gnomon 
 M B C N were bound only to the point M, the rest 
 being left free, it would certainly revolve, and in 
 the same case, the point C would describe almost 
 a semicircular arc till, coming down to a perpen- 
 dicular position, it would there remain. 
 
 Now as the force of the' entire gnomon falls 
 in the vertex A, there would be an entire and per- 
 petual revolution around A. Much more would 
 this be the case if on the centre C stood either the 
 small curve A C L A or the larger one A K C, 
 or finally the globe S' alone, hanging from two 
 iron rods A B and B C, or from one arc, A N C. 
 From this, therefore, it may be demonstrated that 
 a perpetual circular motion is possible. 
 
 In 1825, the following was contributed to 
 and published in "Mechanics' Magazine." We 
 are unable to give the name of the contributor, 
 but he writes in encouragement of Perpetual Mo- 
 tion. The gist of his article is as follows : 
 
 We can now, however, soar above the clouds, 
 explore the depths of the ocean, and skim over its 
 surface. * * * And be it remembered that 
 we owe these and many other advantages to a 
 few persevering individuals who were, in all 
 probability, stigmatized as chimerical visionaries 
 by those who seem to have an unconquerable pro- 
 pensity to condemn .everything above the level of 
 their own understanding. 
 
 If by perpetual motion nothing more is meant 
 
PERPETUAL MOTION 347 
 
 than the putting in motion some of the most 
 durable substances with which we are acquainted, 
 in such a manner as to ensure a continuance of 
 motion as long as those substances will resist the 
 effects of time and friction, I do not despair of 
 seeing it accomplished. * * * [He thinks 
 there is] reasonable ground to hope that the time 
 is not far distant when even this impossibility 
 must yield to persevering ingenuity. In the pres- 
 ent state of public opinion with regard to its prac- 
 ticability, it would be looked upon as an empty 
 boast, were I to assert that the discovery is al- 
 ready made. 
 
 T. H. Pasley 
 
 T. H. Pasley in 1824, contributed an article 
 to "Mechanics' Magazine," asserting the possi- 
 bility of Perpetual Motion. The following ex- 
 cerpts give the substance of his article : 
 
 I feel no hesitation in standing up in. support 
 of this grand desideratum, this almost forsaken 
 friend of science, whether the thing be prac- 
 ticable or not. 
 
 On the contrary, "Persevere" should be 
 every one's advice ; to do so, or discontinue, every 
 one's own pleasure. And why should the impos- 
 sibility of anything be pronounced unless it be es- 
 tablished wherein the limits of possibility consist ? 
 
 It is puerile in the extreme to be foretelling 
 defeat when so many other objects may be gained 
 by the highly laudable pursuit, perhaps of greater 
 advantage to society at large than the discov.ery 
 in question. * * * In a word, were the per- 
 
348 PERPETUAL MOTION 
 
 petual motion discovered tomorrow, it would be 
 wise of all the governments of the world to offer 
 a very high reward for some species of discovery 
 that would be universally sought after, although 
 it might never be found out. * * * The 
 effects of industry are enlargement of the mind, 
 accumulation of knowledge, and rendering our- 
 selves ignorant of the torments which idleness 
 and dulness always engender. * * * In the 
 next place, there are no solid grounds for the as- 
 sertion that the discovery of a perpetual motion 
 is an impossibility. In the present state of human 
 knowledge respecting the powers of nature, it is 
 not demonstrable one way or another. * * * 
 The stucly of what relates to the perpetual motion 
 has this great advantage, that it directs to the 
 discovery of error as well as of truth; whereas, 
 what are they which are called truths of science 
 at present but vacillating human opinions, or 
 erroneous assumptions of what we call natural 
 causes? What are they but such as consist in 
 mere assumption, sanctioned by time, and ad- 
 mitted by existing authorities in science, and of 
 course generally acquiesced in, without previous 
 investigation ? 
 
 So far, then, from being guided in our de- 
 cision respecting what is possible by the "unerring 
 laws of nature," by "mathematical demonstra- 
 tion," and by "experimental proofs," we are con- 
 tinually misled by an erroneous faith in the non- 
 entity, attraction. 
 
 On such an imperfect knowledge of the 
 
PERPETUAL MOTION 349 
 
 causes of phenomena, who should say he knows 
 what can or what cannot be discovered? 
 
 Article From Pamphleteer 
 
 In the "Pamphleteer," published in London, 
 the following by a correspondent whose name we 
 cannot give was published in March of 1822 : 
 
 "A few words inducing towards the discov- 
 ery of Perpetual Motion, perhaps the actual dis- 
 covery thereof:" 
 
 London, March, 1822. 
 
 What is meant by the term "Perpetual Mo- 
 tion?" Is it supposed that there is an undis- 
 covered substance in the world, that will of itself 
 perpetually move, with as little apparent cause as 
 that which actuates the needle in becoming mo- 
 tionless in one particular position? Or, is it to 
 be found in the combined reaction of mechanical 
 powers ? 
 
 The first idea is stamped with a degree of 
 probability, by the mystery of the needle; yet I 
 imagine the latter is relied on with the greater 
 confidence of mankind, and is the pith of the 
 following few words : 
 
 It is well known that the weight of a pendu- 
 lum will almost regain the level from which it de- 
 scended, losing a little space at every vibration, 
 until it becomes motionless; if of itself it could 
 exceed or even regain the level, doubtless it would 
 become a perpetual motion. 
 
 To find a power that will aid the motion of 
 the pendulum, and in conjunction renew its 
 
350 PERPETUAL MOTION 
 
 strength, is what is wanted to create perpetual 
 motion. 
 
 What I shall endeavor to explain will at least 
 induce towards the discovery of this power. 
 
 The principal parts of the machinery about 
 to be shown are in number three : 
 
 A vibrating pendulum. 
 
 A revolving pendulum, and 
 
 A tubular lever. 
 
 A vibrating pendulum in motion describes a 
 segment of a circle, and returns on the same seg- 
 ment, and at every vibration its described seg- 
 ment decreases. 
 
 A revolving pendulum is composed of two or 
 more pendulums, united at their lighter extrem- 
 ities, there revolving on an axis, the heavier ex- 
 tremities being placed at equal distances in the 
 outer circle: this, I believe, is what is termed a 
 fly-wheel when affixed to hand-mills, etc. 
 
 The tubular lever is the chief instigator of 
 the whole, and must contain a weight apportioned 
 to the weights of the two pendulums. 
 
 Fix the lever on a cross axis; thus, on an 
 axis within a circle, the circle on an axis at oppo- 
 site angles, thereby is given to each extremity of 
 the lever a revolving power of motion ; attach one 
 extremity of the lever to the outer circle of a 
 revolving pendulum, the other extremity confine 
 within the bar of the vibrating pendulum; thus 
 combined, the effect to be produced when put in 
 motion will be this : 
 
 The two pendulums will guide the motion of 
 the lever, which then partakes of the power of a 
 
PERPETUAL MOTION 351 
 
 pendulum, giving fresh impulse at every vibration 
 of the pendulum, and every half revolution of the 
 revolving pendulum; for, as each extremity of 
 the lever rises, the weight within falls to the 
 opposite extremity, and gives fresh impulse to the 
 whole: thus (if my idea is correct) will be pro- 
 duced motion perpetual that is to say, perpetual 
 so long as the materials of which it is made will 
 hold together. I have given this short descrip- 
 tion merely by way of example, as I believe there 
 are several ways of combining these three powers, 
 so as to produce perpetual motion, if my idea on 
 the subject is correct. 
 
 The lever may contain mercury or a solid orb 
 of heavy substance ; and if the tube be exhausted 
 of air the weight will pass more freely, and cer- 
 tainly increase the power of the lever. 
 
 J. Welch 
 
 In 1825 the following article was published 
 in "Mechanics' Magazine," having been contrib- 
 uted by J. Welch : 
 
 Those who condemn the notion altogether 
 seem to have taken but a very confined view of 
 the subject. What they say about mere matter is 
 right enough; but they seem to forget that there 
 are other active agents in nature which possess 
 wonderful powers, that have nothing to do with 
 either bulk, weight, or form. Such are electricity, 
 magnetic attraction, capillary attraction, and the 
 irregular pressure of the atmosphere. The 
 powers of electricity are great, and, indeed, it 
 seems to be the primum mobile that gives life and 
 
352 PERPETUAL MOTION 
 
 motion to the animated part of the creation. Dr. 
 Franklin shows us how to give a circular coated 
 plate, revolving on an axle, sufficient power to 
 roast a chicken, merely by once changing (charg- 
 ing?) it. Could not a plate of this kind be made 
 to turn a small electrical apparatus, so situated as 
 to keep the charge in the plate always at its 
 maximum ? The whole might be kept dry by hav- 
 ing it enclosed in a glass case. 
 
 It has often been attempted to give motion to 
 a wheel by the power of a loadstone, but hitherto 
 without effect; no substance in nature being 
 found to have the power, by interposition, of cut- 
 ting off its attractive property. Still I think it 
 should be further investigated. Is a small piece 
 of steel in the form of a wedge as strongly at- 
 tracted at the smaller end as at the thicker ? And 
 would not twenty or thirty pieces of steel, of that 
 form, placed round the circumference of a circle, 
 the point of one towards the head of the other, 
 cause a magnet placed in the centre, to revolve in 
 the direction in which their points lie? I think, 
 perhaps not ; but still such experiments should be 
 tried. 
 
 In capillary attraction we have a power that 
 at once raises fluids above their level. It is this 
 which carries the oil up the wick of a lamp as fast 
 as the flame consumes it. Water and other fluids 
 rise through cotton even quicker than oil ; and he 
 who can contrive to collect them as they arrive at 
 the top will discover perpetual motion. Would 
 not water run constantly through a siphon, one 
 which was made of a collection of capillary 
 
PERPETUAL MOTION 353 
 
 tubes, and the other in the usual way? or would 
 the water above and below the tubes neutralize 
 and destroy their power? 
 
 I now come to the pressure of the atmos- 
 phere, a thing easily understood. * * * Make 
 a cast-iron barometrical tube, with a top suffi r 
 ciently large to contain 2 cwt. of mercury ; invert 
 it in a basin large enough to contain 2 or 3 cwt. 
 more, and let a piece of iron of 10 or 12 stones 
 weight float on the mercury in this basin, so as to 
 rise and fall along with it at every change of the 
 weather. We have here both motion and power. 
 The motion, indeed, will sometimes stand still, 
 but then it can easily be regulated, and made a 
 constant quantity in the machine to be attached. 
 I have no doubt but clocks, etc.., may be made to 
 derive their chiming principle from a contrivance 
 of this nature. 
 
 Article From Mechanics' Magazine 
 
 In 1831, the following article was con- 
 tributed by an unknown correspondent to, and 
 published in "Mechanics' Magazine": 
 
 "Yes ; we shall conquer ! All those dangers past 
 Will serve to enrich the future story." 
 
 The application to the subject, on my part, 
 has been accompanied by continual experimental 
 elucidations of the subjects considered, and com- 
 parisons of these with the axioms, theorems, and 
 demonstrations of one of the best authorities, if I 
 
354 PERPETUAL MOTION 
 
 may be allowed so to call my favorite author, 
 Emerson, whose / says are generally correct. 
 
 I disagree with Mr. B., and do trust that even 
 a perpetual motion seeker might deserve en- 
 couragement, if it be found that such a character 
 may exist in a person who is not so ignorant of 
 first principles as Mr. B. supposes all are who 
 have this bias ; especially if it be found that the 
 person's researches have been connected with 
 subjects of a more tangible nature, relating to the 
 improvement of the useful arts, and particularly 
 to some modern inventions of high importance 
 that are not perfectly correct in their construc- 
 tion. 
 
 In this article, Mr. B. advises those who are 
 misspending their time in this pursuit, to consider 
 the question in its most simple form, divested of 
 more complicated operations, which simple form 
 is that of a pulley accurately constructed so as to 
 reduce the resistance to motion as much as pos- 
 sible. He says, "it will be found, as long as the 
 weights are equal/' there will be no motion pro- 
 duced, but wherever the weights are placed they 
 will remain; and to produce vertical motion in 
 the smallest degree, it will be necessary to add a 
 weight to one of the former to create a preponder- 
 ancy. This weight he calls the mechanical loss, 
 and an insurmountable bar to perpetual motion, 
 etc. We need not follow Mr. B. to his conclusion, 
 as I think this insurmountable bar can be easily 
 removed; and I shall be able to show that this 
 equilibrium, for such it merely is, can be de- 
 stroyed without adding to one of the weights, or 
 
PERPETUAL MOTION 
 
 355 
 
 absolutely taking from the other; though this 
 may virtually be considered to be the case, inas- 
 much as we can at least produce an effect on the 
 system as if the weight were reduced. Mr. B. 
 says, under this arrangement, "wherever the 
 weights are placed they will remain, unless an 
 addition is made to one of them." We will there- 
 fore suppose the following diagram to represent 
 the arrangement on a small scale, delicately con- 
 structed. 
 
 A B are the two weights con- 
 nected to each other by the string 
 passing over the pulley, and being 
 nicely equalized in their weight, 
 here would, of course, be an equi- 
 librium on the principle of the lever. 
 But take a flat piece of wood, such 
 as a ruler, and place it obliquely in 
 a way so as not to interfere with 
 the pulley m in the direction d, and 
 then bring the weight to impinge 
 upon it in a way so as not to move 
 the weight A m, C d, the least, or 
 alter its position. What will be the 
 consequence? Some would say, 
 why, the weight A would then de- 
 scend, and cause the weight B to 
 ascend. But I should rather say, the reaction of 
 the plane when acted on by the weight B, having 
 destroyed the equilibrium of the forces, motion 
 takes place. Now, if we attribute this motion to 
 the reaction of the plane on the weight, though 
 we will not go so far as to say motion is gener- 
 
356 PERPETUAL MOTION 
 
 ated, yet if we say, by this simple arrangement 
 the equilibrium is destroyed and motion takes 
 place, the least we can admit is, that motion is 
 communicated to the system, and that by the 
 agency of part of the machine itself, the appar- 
 atus employed being considered as such. Then, 
 why so much objection to the term self -moving 
 machine in limited sense? But I will not dispute 
 about words, which are but the images of things, 
 and images may be strangely distorted by the 
 medium through which they are received of 
 which distorting mediums, there is none equal to 
 that of prejudice in favor of abstract notions 
 which notions perhaps, if rigidly examined, would 
 be found to have no foundation in facts or in 
 common sense. 
 
 Another demonstrator of the impossibility 
 of perpetual motion, is Mr. Mackinnon (see "Me- 
 chanical Magazine," Vol. 1, Page 363). As 
 no doubt the different attempts to produce, or 
 communicate , continued and perpetual motion, at 
 least, such as are often brought forward by per- 
 sons unacquainted with the science of mechanics, 
 are generally to those who are acquainted with 
 that science, if not absolutely ridiculous, yet of a 
 nature to excite a smile at their futility: still 
 there are a few (perhaps a very few) who enter- 
 tain an opinion that such a thing is not imprac- 
 ticable, and who have, from practical experience 
 as well as study, acquired a tolerable insight into 
 the laws of nature (so far as relate to this sub- 
 ject) ; who in their turn cannot help smiling at 
 the weak reasoning of some other would-be phil- 
 
PERPETUAL MOTION 357 
 
 osophers, who gravely give their dictum in the 
 case. In this class I include Mr. Mackinnon, who 
 very gravely goes to work to prove, etc., and flat- 
 ters himself he shall, if rightly understood, help 
 to prevent much future waste of time on the sub- 
 ject. He then goes on to give us his definition of 
 inertia, by which he informs us that a body in a 
 state of rest will remain so until it is moved 
 (wonderful!) that it cannot move itself that 
 it has not that power and that no mechanical 
 contrivance can give it that power. (How pro- 
 found!) 
 
SUMMARIZED TABLE OF CONTENTS 
 
 Page 
 
 Introduction 3 
 
 Contents 5-6 
 
 Preface 7-10 
 
 Introductory Essay 11-21 
 
 CHAPTER I DEVICES BY MEANS OF 
 WHEELS AND WEIGHTS 
 
 Wilars De Honecort; A Repetition of Wilars 
 Honecort's plan; Leonardo da Vinci; A. Cap- 
 ra's Device; The Device of Dixon Vallance; 
 Furman's Device; Schirrmeister's "Mechanical 
 Movement;" James Ferguson's Device; B. Beli- 
 dor's Device; Desagulier's Proposition on the 
 Balance; John Hay wood's Device; Explanation 
 of the Failure of Wheels and Weights Devices 
 to Accomplish Perpetual Motion 22-67 
 
 CHAPTER II DEVICES BY MEANS OF ROLL- 
 ING'WEIGHTS AND INCLINED PLANES 
 
 Device by Mercury in Inclined Glass Tube and 
 Heavy Ball on Inclined Plane; Series of In- 
 clined Planes; Devices by Oscillating Trough 
 and Cannon Balls; Unpublished Inclined Plane 
 and Weights Devices Noted by the Author 6875 
 
 CHAPTER III HYDRAULIC AND HYDRO-ME- 
 CHANICAL DEVICES 
 
 Enbon and Anderson's Pump; Device of ""Ed. 
 Vocis Rationis;" Bockler's Plates; John Lin- 
 ley's Hydraulic Device; Device of Author of 
 the "Voice of Reason;" An Italian Device; P. 
 Valentine Stansel's Device; Vogel's Device; A 
 Water Wheel-Driven Pump; "A Journeyman 
 Mechanic's" Device; James Black's Device; 
 Archimedean Screw and Liquid; John Sims's 
 Problem; A Perpetual Pump, by an Unknown 
 Inventor; Explanation of the Failure of Hy- 
 draulic and Hydro-Mechanical Devices to Ac- 
 complish Perpetual Motion 76-117 
 
SUMMARIZED TABLE OF CONTENTS 359 
 
 CHAPTER IV PNEUMATIC, SIPHON AND 
 HYDRO-PNEUMATIC DEVICES 
 
 Page 
 
 The Hydrostatical Paradox; Pickering's Device; 
 Stuckey's Device; Prof. George Sinclair's De- 
 vice; Jacob Brazill's Device; Laserson's Device; 
 VonRathen & Ellis' Device; Richard Varley's 
 Device; Siphon and Funnel Device; Orchard's 
 Vacuum Engine; Robert Copland's Device; Ea- 
 ton's Ptrpetual Siphon; Legge's ^Hydro-Pneu- 
 matic Power Device; Waterblowing Machine; 
 Device by Means of Buoyancy Through Media 
 of Different Densities; Device by Compressible 
 and Distensible Bags in Liquid; George Cun- 
 ningham's Mercurial Pneumatic Device; Ex- 
 planation of the Failure of Pneumatic, Siphon 
 and Hydro-Pneumatic Devices to Accomplish 
 Perpetual Motion 118-162 
 
 CHAPTER V MAGNETIC DEVICES 
 
 A Magnetic Pendulum; Magnetic-Driven Wheel; 
 Mackintosh's Experiment; Spence's Device; 
 Joannis Theisneri's Semi-Circle; Device of Dr. 
 Jacobus 163-174 
 
 CHAPTER VI DEVICES UTILIZING CAPIL- 
 LARY ATTRACTION AND PHYSICAL 
 AFFINITY 
 
 Ludeke & Wilcken's Device; the Jurin Device; 
 Sir William Congreve, Notice of; His Perpetual 
 Motion Devices and Writings 175-194 
 
 CHAPTER VII LIQUID AIR AS A MEANS OF 
 PERPETUAL MOTION 
 
 Liquefaction of Air; Explanation of Conserva- 
 tion of Energy Aplied to; Perpetual Motion by 
 Means of Liquid Air Pompously Heralded; Fail- 
 ure Explained 195-196 
 
 CHAPTER VIII RADIUM AND RADIO-ACTIVE 
 SUBSTANCES CONSIDERED AS A CON- 
 CEIVED SOURCE OF PERPETUAL MO- 
 TION 
 
 Perpetual Emanation of Energy; Radium Clock 
 by Lord Rayleigh (Hon. R. J. Strutt); Lord 
 Rayleigh Not a Perpetual Motion Worker but 
 Thoroughly Scientific 197-199 
 
360 SUMMARIZED TABLE OF CONTENTS 
 
 CHAPTER IX PERPETUAL MOTION DEVICES 
 ATTEMPTING ITS ATTAINMENT BY A 
 MISCONCEPTION OF THE RELATION 
 OF MOMENTUM AND ENERGY 
 
 Page 
 
 Works of Tyros Known to Author; Momentum 
 Defined, Differentiated, Measured and Ex- 
 plained; Energy Defined, Differentiated, Meas- 
 sured and Explained; Explanation, by Author of 
 Common Misconception of the Relation of Mo- 
 mentum and Energy and Attempts to thus Real- 
 ize Perpetual Motion; the Fallacy Explained 
 by Illustrations of Energy Required for and 
 Represented by Acceleration and Retardation of 
 Velocity; Property of Numbers Relating to; 
 Arithmetical Progression Illustration 200-211 
 
 CHAPTER X THE ALLEGED INVENTIONS 
 OF EDWARD SOMMERSET, SIXTH EARL 
 AND SECOND MARQUIS OF WORCES- 
 TER, AND OF TEAN ERNEST ELI-BESS- 
 LER (COUNCILLOR) ORFFYREUS 
 
 Intense Interest Caused by; Notice of Marquis 
 of Worcester and Councillor Orffyreus and Pe- 
 riods in Which They Lived; Description by 
 Marquis of Worcester of the Essentials of His 
 Claimed Inventions; Excerpts From Remarks 
 of Councillor Orffyreus on His Claimed Inven- 
 tion; Dedication by Councillor Orffyreus to God, 
 the Public, to Men of Learning and to Himself 
 as the Discoverer; Article Concerning the Orffy- 
 rean Wheel Published 1720 in Gentlemen's Mag- 
 azine; Criticism by "A Constant Reader" of 
 Attitude of W. Kenrick Concerning the Orffy- 
 rean Wheel; Article by Rev. J. T. Desagulier 
 Concerning the Device of Marquis of Worces- 
 ter and the Orffyrean Wheel; Excerpt from Dr. 
 William Kenrick's Lecture on Perpetual Mo- 
 tion; De la Hire's Remarks Concerning Per- 
 petual Motion; Letter from Prof. f s Gravesande 
 to Sir Isaac Newton; Animadversions of Prof. 
 Alliman on the Neglect of the Orffyrean in- 
 ventions; Dr. Charles Hutton's Scientific Works 
 and Notice of the Orffyrean Wheel; Remarks 
 by the Author on the Historical Celebrity of 
 These Inventions 212-255 
 
SUMMARIZED TABLE OF CONTENTS 361 
 
 CHAPTER XI CONSERVATION OF ENERGY 
 A DISCUSSION OF THE RELATION OF 
 THE DOCTRINE OF CONSERVATION OF 
 ENERGY, AND THE POSSIBILITY OF 
 PERPETUAL MOTION 
 
 Page 
 
 Statement of Doctrine of Conservation of En- 
 ergy; Upon What Pfoof of Doctrine Rests; 
 Not Mathematically Proved; Conforms to Nat- 
 ural Phenomena; Multiplied Illustrations; Inter- 
 changeability and Convertibility of Heat with 
 Mechanical and Other Forms of Energy; Ex- 
 planation of Heat and Energy Units, and Their 
 Relative Equivalents; British Thermal Unit, 
 Foot-Pound and Horse-Power and Their Mu- 
 tual Relationship Explained; Further Illustra- 
 tions; Galileo's Famous Pendulum Experiment; 
 Apparent Anticipation of the Principle of Con- 
 servation of Energy 256-269 
 
 CHAPTER XII WILL PERPETUAL MOTION 
 EVER BE ACCOMPLISHED? 
 
 The Antiquity of the Problem; Remarks by 
 Dircks, Newton, Galileo, Huyghens and Des- 
 cartes; Generalizations of; Remarks by Au- 
 thor Concerning the Possibility of Perpetual 
 Motion. Comments from Other Sources: 
 
 1 Denying the Possibility of Perpetual Motion, 
 Article by Dr. Papin; Article by Rev. John 
 Wilkins; Article Based on Paradoxical Hydro- 
 statical Balance; Article by P. Gregorio Fpn- 
 tana; Article by William Nicholson; Article 
 Published in "The Artisan"; Article Published 
 in "Mechanic's Magazine." 
 
 2 Asserting the Possibility of Perpetual Motion, 
 Scriptural Argument; Article by John Bern- 
 oulli; Article by P. Christopher Scheiner; 
 Article by T. H. Pasley; Article Published in 
 "The . Pamphleteer"; Article by J. Welch; 
 Article Published in "Mechanic's Magazine".. 270-357 
 
INDEX 
 
 Page 
 Air (See Liquid Air). 
 
 "A Journeyman Mechanic's" Device 99 
 
 Allaman's Animadversions on the Neglect of Orffyreus's 
 
 Inventions 239 
 
 Anderson & Enbom's Pump 76 
 
 Archimedean Screw and Liquid, Device by Means of.. .. 104 
 "Artisan, The," Article Published in 329 
 
 Bags in Liquid, Compressible and Distensible, Device 
 
 by Means of 155 
 
 Bellidor, B., His Account of Perpetual Motion Device... 46 
 Bernoulli, John, Notice of, 336; Arguments Supporting 
 
 Possibility of Perpetual Motion 336 
 
 Black, James, His Device. 102 
 
 Bockler, George Andrew, His Plates 81 
 
 Buoyancy Through Media of Different Densities 151 
 
 Brewster, Sir David, Edited Lectures of James Ferguson, 
 44; In Appendix to Ferguson's Lectures Gives De- 
 scription of "Water-Blowing Machine," 148; Is At- 
 tracted by Spence's Device, and Writes Letter Af- 
 fording Description of Same 170 
 
 British Patents, 58; 120; 121; 125; 127; 129; 132 140 
 
 British Thermal Unit Denned and Explained 264 
 
 Cannon Balls and Oscillating Trough 71 
 
 Capillary Attraction and Physical Affinity, Devices by 
 
 Means of (See Table of Contents) 5 
 
 Capra, A., His Device 32 
 
 Compressible and Distensible Bags in Liquid 155 
 
 Congreve, Sir William, Notice of; His Perpetual Motion 
 
 Devices 182 
 
 Conservation of Energy, Its Relation to Possibility of 
 Perpetual Motion (See Table of Contents), 5; Con- 
 sidered with Reference to Perpetual Motion, 269; 
 Proof and Illustration of, 200; Anticipated by New- 
 ton, Galileo, Huyghens and Descartes 272 
 
 Copland, Robert, His "Improved Method of Gaining 
 
 Power" 140 
 
 Cunningham, George, His "Mercurial Pneumatic De- 
 vice" 157 
 
 "Darius Green and His Flying Machine" 16 
 
 Desagulier, Rev. J. T., Proposition on the Balance, 47; 
 Article of, Concerning the Device of Marquis of 
 Worcester and the Orffyrean Wheel. 223 
 
INDEX 363 
 
 Page 
 
 Dircks, Henry, Title Page Mention, 3; His Books Men- 
 tioned, 7; Comments by Author on His Works, 8; 
 Information Furnished by, Rearranged, 9; His Class- 
 ification of Devices, 19; His "Life, Times and Scien- 
 tific Labors of the Second Marquis of Worcester," 
 213; Excerpt from, 228; His Statement Concerning 
 Arguments For and Against the Possibility of Per- 
 petual Motion, 270; Arguments by Others For and 
 Against the Possibility of Perpetual Motion, Pub- 
 lished by Dircks, Copied in This Work 274 
 
 Eaton's Perpetual Siphon 145 
 
 "Ed. Vocis -Rationis," His Device 78 
 
 Ellis, George Henry (See Rathen & Ellis) 
 Energy (See Momentum and Energy). 
 Energy, Conservation of (See Conservation of Energy). 
 Energy and Heat Convertible and Commensurable. . . . 262 
 Energy Defined, Explained and Distinguished from Mo- 
 mentum 203 
 
 Enbom and Anderson's Pump. . 76 
 
 Explanation by Author of Failure of Hydraulic and 
 Hydro-Mechanical Devices, 112; of the Failure of 
 Pneumatic, Siphon and Hydro-Pneumatic Devices, 
 159 of the Failure of Momentum and Energy De- 
 vices, 206; of Failure of Wheels and Weights Devices 61 
 
 Failures (See Explanation of Failures). 
 
 Ferguson, James; "Peasant Boy Philosopher," His De- 
 vice ' 43 
 
 Fontana, P. Gregorio, Notice of; His Arguments on the 
 
 Impossibility of Perpetual Motion 306 
 
 Foot-Pound, Defined and Explained 265 
 
 Furman, George H., "A New and Improved Motor," 
 U, S. Patent 36 
 
 Gallileo, His Pendulum Experiment 267 
 
 Gravesande, Prof. S., Letter to Sir Isaac Newton 236 
 
 Haywood, John, His Device 58 
 
 Heat and Energy Convertible and Commensurable 261 
 
 Helmholtz, Notice of 258 
 
 Honecort, Willars de, Account of His Device 22 
 
 Horse-Power, Defined and Explained 264 
 
 Hydro-Pneumatic Devices (See Table of Contents) 5 
 
 Hydrostatical Paradox 118 
 
 Hydrostatical Paradoxical Balance, Article on 305 
 
 Hydraulic and Hydro-Pneumatic Devices (See Table of 
 
 Contents) 5 
 
 Inclined Planes and Rolling Weights (See Table of 
 
 Contents) 5 
 
364 INDEX 
 
 Page 
 Inclined Planes and Weights Devices, Unpublished. 
 
 Noted by the Author 73 
 
 Inclined Planes, Series of 69 
 
 Italian Device, An 92 
 
 Introductory Essay 11 
 
 Jacobus, Dr., His Magnetic Device 173 
 
 Joule, Notice of 258 
 
 Jurin's Device 176 
 
 Kenrick, Dr. William, His Remarks Concerning the In- 
 ventions of the Marquis of Worcester and Councillor 
 Orffyreus and Perpetual Motion in General 228 
 
 Langley, Prof. Samuel P., His Attempts and Labors at 
 
 Heavier Than Air Flight 14 
 
 Lardner, Ignatius, Attempts to Show Impossibility of 
 
 Crossing Ocean With Steam Power 14 
 
 Leonardo da Vinci (See Vinci). 
 
 Laserson, Louis Diodor, His "Improvements in Produc- 
 tion of Motive Power" 127 
 
 Legge's Hydro-Pneumatic Power Device 146 
 
 Linley, John, His Hydraulic Device 87 
 
 Liquid Air, ^as a Means of^ Perpetual Motion 195 
 
 Lord Rayleigh (See Rayleigh). . 
 
 Mackintosh, F. S., Experiment by 166 
 
 Magnetic Devices (See Table of Contents) 5 
 
 Magnetic-Driven Wheel 164 
 
 Magnetic Pendulum 163 
 
 Magnetic Semi-Circle 172 
 
 Mechanic, A Journeyman (See "A Journeyman Me- 
 chanic")- 
 
 Mechanics' Magazine, Article Published in .278; 353 
 
 Media of Different Densities, Devices by Means of 
 
 Buoyancy Through 151 
 
 Mercurial Pneumatic Device (See Cunningham, George). 
 
 Mercury, Inclined Glass Tube and Ball 68 
 
 Momentum, Defined, Explained and Distinguished from 
 
 Energy 201 
 
 Momentum and Energy, Account and Explanation of 
 
 Perpetual Motion Devices by Means of 205 
 
 Momentum and Energy, Distinguished and Considered; 
 Attempted Devices for Perpetual Motion by Means 
 
 of (See Table of Contents) 5 
 
 Munro, R., Comments on Mackintosh's Experiment 169 
 
 Newcomb, Simeon, Notice of 15 
 
 Newton, Sir Isaac, Mention of 135, 220 
 
 Letter to from Prof, 's Gravesande 236 
 
INDEX 365 
 
 Page 
 Nicholson, William, Notice of, 315; His Article Against 
 
 the Possibility of Perpetual Motion 316 
 
 Orchard's Vacuum Engine 137 
 
 Orffyreus, Jean Ernest Eli Bessler (Councillor), His Per- 
 petual Motion Labors (See Table of Contents), 5; 
 Remarks of Author Concerning Claims of 252 
 
 Papin, Dr., Argument by Against the Possibility of 
 
 Perpetual Motion 275 
 
 Pasley, T. H., Article by 347 
 
 "Pamphleteer, The," Article Published in 349 
 
 Paradox, Hydrostatical 118 
 
 Patents, U. S. (See U. S. Patents) ; Patents, British (See 
 
 British Patents). 
 "Peasant Boy Philosopher" (See Ferguson, James). 
 
 Pendulum, Gallileo's Experment with 268 
 
 Perpetual Motion Defined 11 
 
 Perpetual Pump 109 
 
 Perpetual Motion, Its Possibility Considered with Ref- 
 erence to Conservation of Energy 269 
 
 Perpetual Motion, Consideration of Its Possibility 270 
 
 Arguments Against Its Possibility Article by Dr. 
 Papin, 275; Article by Rev. John Wilkins, 281; Ar- 
 ticle Based on Paradoxical Hydrostatical Balance, 
 . 305; Article by P. Gregorio Fontana, 306; Article 
 by William Nicholson, 316; Article Published in 
 "The Artisan," 329; Article Published in "Me- 
 chanic's Magazine," 278. 
 
 Arguments Maintaining Its Possibility Scriptural 
 
 Arguments, 335; Article by John Bernoulli, 336; 
 
 Article by P. Christopher Scheiner, 342; Article 
 
 by T. H. Pasley, 347; Article Published in "The 
 
 Pamphleteer," 349; Article by J. Welch, 351; Article 
 
 t Published in "Mechanic's Magazine," 353. 
 
 Physical Affinity and Capillary Attraction, as a Means of 
 
 Perpetual Motion (See Table of Contents) 5 
 
 Pickering, Peter, His "Atmospheric Engine" 120 
 
 Pneumatic Devices (See Table of Contents) 5 
 
 Preface 7 
 
 Proposition on the Balance (See Desagulier, Rev. J. T.) 
 
 Radium and Radio-Active Substances as a Means of Per- 
 petual Motion (See Table of Contents) 5 
 
 Rayleigh, Lord, His Radium Clock, Notice of 197, 199 
 
 Rangley's Patent Roller Pump, Adaptation of 97 
 
 Rathen and Ellis's Device 129 
 
 Rationis, Ed. Vocis (See "Ed. Vocis Rationis"). 
 Rolling Weights and Inclined Planes as a Means of Per- 
 petual Motion (See Table of Contents) 5 
 
366 INDEX 
 
 Page 
 
 Scheiner, P. Christopher, Notice of; Argument by Sup- 
 porting Possibility of Perpetual Motion 342 
 
 Schirrmeister, Charles, His "Mechanical Movement"... 38 
 Schott, Caspar, Mention of in Connection with Perpetual 
 
 Motion 172, 173 
 
 Scriptural Argument 335 
 
 Self-Motive Power Defined 11 
 
 Semi-Circle, Magnetic 172 
 
 Siphon Device for Perpetual Motion (See Table of Con- 
 tents). 
 
 Sims, John, His Perpetual Motion Problem 106 
 
 Sinclair, Prof. George, His Pneumatic Device 124 
 
 Siphon, Eaton's Perpetual 145 
 
 Siphon and Funnel Device 135 
 
 Sleigh, Burrowes, Willcocks Arthur, His Perpetual Mo- 
 tion Labors Ill 
 
 Sleigh, William Willcocks, His Perpetual Motion Labors 110 
 Sommerset, Edward (Marquis of Worcester) (See Table 
 
 of Contents) 5 
 
 Spence, John, Notice of; His Magnetic Device 170 
 
 Stansel, P. Valentine, Device of 95 
 
 Strutt, Hon. R. J. (See Rayleigh). 
 
 Stuckey, William Henry, His "Pneumatic Engine" 121 
 
 Theisneri, Joannis, His Magnetic Semi-Circle 172 
 
 Trough, Oscillating and Cannon Balls 71 
 
 U. S: Patents 36, 38, 76 
 
 Vacuum Engine, Orchard's 137 
 
 Vallance, Dixon, His Device 34 
 
 Varley, Richard, His "New Perpetual Moving Power".. 132 
 Vinci, Leonardo da, Notice of, 27; His Perpetual Mo- 
 tion Labors 29, 32 
 
 "Voice of Reason," Device by Author of 88 
 
 Vogel, A. F., His "Hydrostatic General Mobile": 96 
 
 Water Blowing Machine 147 
 
 Water- Wheel Driven Pump 97 
 
 Welch, J., Article by 351 
 
 Wheel, Magnetic Driven (See Magnetic-Driven Wheel). 
 Wheels and Weights Devices (See Table of Contents) ... 5 
 Wilckens (See Ludeke and Wilckens). 
 Wilkins, Rev. John, Argument Denying Possibility of 
 
 Perpetual Motion 281 
 
 Worcester, Marquis of (Edward Sommerset) (See Som- 
 merset). 
 
 X-Ray Machine, Notice of 16 
 
 2 7(5 4 
 
oo m 
 
 THIC 
 
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 MAR 16 19S2 
 
 -2 1992 
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 LIBRARY, UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, DAVIS 
 
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 PHYG CCI LIBRARY 
 
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 Verance, P. 
 
 Perpetual motion. 
 
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 OF CALIFORNIA