Posted by Joel Wright (152.163.252.134) on August 06, 2003 at 20:12:41:
In Reply to: Re: John Collins how accurate is this statement from Count Karl from altered dimensions website posted by ovyyus on August 05, 2003 at 23:07:40:
Hi Ovyyus As so far as Frank Edwards story about the disappearing townsfolk I'd would say the inspuration for that stretch of imagination would be biblical, sounds a lot like the rapture at the second coming of Jesus.But that aside There's a statement attributed to Orffyreus by Frank that says,
Orffyreus explained that he had conceived a system whereby the weights one side of the wheel were farther from the axle than the weights on the other side of the wheel, creating an imbalance which caused the wheel to move. The secret, if there was a secret, lay in the ingenious manner in which the weights on the ascending side of the wheel were prevented from following their normal path next to the rim. Is there any credance any where in Orffyreus writings affirming this statement?I'm trying to affirm if the is a eccentric configuration orbiting a concentric flywheel as I suspect must be the case.Thanks ....Joel
: Forgot to mention, if you do a search using google with the parameters - "frank edwards" "stranger than science" - you'll get a good idea of the man and his collected literary interests.
: As a kid, I loved reading scary and strange stories like his. I remember he wrote a story about a whole village of people in Canada, I think it was, dissapearing - including all the bodies in the graveyard!!! Totally spooky idea - what an imagination:)
: Apparently there are even people today who think the government covered up this case of the dissapearing villagers. Just goes to show the timeless power of a good yarn! Ripley would be proud, if not jealous.
: All great fun.
: Regards, ovyyus
:
: : When the oiled cloth was stripped away, said Count Karl, he found himself gazing upon a very simple arrangement of weights and levers. Orffyreus explained that he had conceived a system whereby the weights one side of the wheel were farther from the axle than the weights on the other side of the wheel, creating an imbalance which caused the wheel to move. The secret, if there was a secret, lay in the ingenious manner in which the weights on the ascending side of the wheel were prevented from following their normal path next to the rim. Count Karl said that these weights were blocked by small pegs which swung back out of the way as the weight passed the zenith."