Posted by ovyyus (150.101.145.118) on August 06, 2003 at 21:00:35:
In Reply to: Re: John Collins how accurate is this statement from Count Karl from altered dimensions website posted by Joel Wright on August 06, 2003 at 20:12:41:
Hi Joel,
Bessler claimed that his weights worked in pairs and that as one weight moved closer towards the axle, the other moved further away. I believe he was referring to the action of his dual-direction wheel.
But that could mean anything considering the possible differences between the uni-direction design and the dual-direction design. If the dual-direction wheel was comprised of two counterbalanced back-to-back uni-direction systems, as first proposed in John's book, then 'weights working in pairs' takes on a whole new meaning.
As far as I can ascertain there was never any description of 'pegs', or weights not being allowed to follow their 'normal ascending path at the rim', or a 'simple arrangement of weights and levers', anywhere other than in Frank Edwards story. Bessler gave very little away and Karl apparently said virtually nothing at all.
IMO, to attribute these statements as coming from Karl is wrong and misleading. These statements came from Frank Edwards not the Landgrave.
Bessler may well have used an eccentric arrangement of weights within his whee (I agree with you, how else could it overbalance?), but how this arrangement was effected and what methods he used remains a mystery because neither he nor Karl described any details of the interior workings of the wheel. Unless some as yet unknown historical evidence comes to light (wishful thinking), any assertions otherwise would have to be treated as pure speculation.
Regards, ovyyus
: 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."