The New York herald., 1845-08-23

The ELEcTRIcAL MAcHINE-BExJAMrN FRANKLIN.
I'VE yesterday paid visit to this monster ma
chine, which - now being prepared for exhibition
in Castle Garden. II Is, in comparison with other
electrical machines, what the Great Britain is to q
ferry boat And as it operates upon an entirely new
principle, it will be source of great curiosity to the
American people. The machine consists of a cylin-
drica shaped boiler about ten feet long, similar in
construction to a locomotive boiler, having the fire
contained within, and passing through tubes which
are surrounded by the water and thence into chm
ney On the top.of the boiler, running its entire
length, are 24O bent iron tubes, terminating in jets,
having peculiar shaped apertures formed of very hard
wood, which experience has proved to be best cal
culated to develope the electric actlon from these
the steam issues-the tubes spring from one COM
mon pipe which is divided in the middle, and COM
muncates with the boiler by two elbows; by this
contrlvance, the steam is admitted either to the
whole or part Of the tubes.
Above the boiler are two hollow metal arms, to
each OF which are attached 70 small iron tubes, the
ends Of whichare furnished with proper ets and by
the passage of steam through which, the electricity
is produced; the steam is admitted to the arms, and
consequently through the small tubes, by turning
handle, which is connected internally with valve
covered by cap, and allows the steam to flow
through the junction pipes. ofpipes are fitted
to the metal arms, through which the steam issues
and are enclosed by casing.
This casing or box is termed the condenser, and
for the purpose of producing certain condensation
Of the steam in its passage through the ppes preyi-
GUS to Its emission from the caps on their extremi-
ties this condenser is supplied with water, as it is
rod Az tDA> II II -
lic cap through which the steam issues, and is blown
upon points situated about foot distant When the
machine Is In action, the positive electricity is pro-
duced and may be collected from ball connected
with the points, and the negative from all parts of
the boiler; the electricity is occasioned by the fc-
tion OF the PARTICLES OF water after condensation.
II appears that the phenomenon was first noticed
by the engine men having the care of an engine at
Seghil; 1t happened that the cement, by which the
safety valve was secured to the boiler, had crack
IN 1t, and though this fissure copous horizontal jet
Of steam continually issued. Soon after this took
place, the engine man having one of his hands acci-
dentally immersed in the issuing steam presenting
the other to the lever of the valve with view Of ad
lustlng the weight, when he was greatly surprised
by the appearance of brilliant spark which passed
between the lever and his hand, and was accompa-
MED by violent wrench in his arms, wholly unlike
anything he had ever before experienced. The same
effect was produced whenever he attempted to
touch any part OF the boiler, any iron work con-
nected with it, provided his other hand was exposed
to the action of the steam He next found that while
he held one hand in the jet Of steam he communica-
ted shock to every person whom he touched with
the other whether such person were in contact with
the boiler or merely standing on the brick work
which supported 1t; but that person touching the
boiler received much stronger shock than one who
merely stood on the bricks.
The power of this machine is such that it will
instantly kill OK, but may be so graduated that
a child could receive the shock without injury This
is the only machine of the kind in this country,
there being but one other in the world, which is but
one-fourth the power of this A single spark from
the prime conductor will ignite shavngs. 1t Is i'm
possible to give an adequate description of this
splendid machine. It will be ready for exhibition at
Castle Garden, on Monday evening next when all
who have any curiosity In scientific matters, will,
of course, attend.