Eastern times. [volume] (Bath, Me.) 1846-1857, 1850-05-16
The HydrO-EIectrie Light.

After period OF six years, employed in a
series of experiments, conducted upon the
most philosophical principles, and continued
viii, interchangeable perseverance, Mr. Henry
Nj. Paine, of Worcester, has completed his
'Magueto-electric Decomposer,-an ingen-
ious apparatus for evolving hydrogen and OK
ygen gases from water, by The agency oi
electricity, generated by mechanical means.
The gases thus obtained may be used for
light, heat, and motive power, and have al
ready been practically tested for the two first
| named purposes on considerable scale,
with wonderful effect.
At his residence, on Tuesday evening,
April 23d, Mr.. Paine exhibited the operation
Of his invention to a number of gentlemen of
| Boston and Worcester, some of whom have
had considerable experience in the gas bust
ness, and others have taken great interest in
plans and projects, having in view the pro-
duciion of artificial light at cheaper rates than
it can be furnished by the means hitherto
employed by gas manufacturers. Mr.. Paine
had his house brilliantly lighted up, although
he used only one small burner for each room.
The light was exceedingly strong and white,
and so pure that tie most delicate shades OF
blue and green in some colored prints could
be instantly distinguished at a distance of
several feet from the burner Ia common gas
burner) which was supplied with gas from
pipe, whose diameter did not exceed one
quarter of an inch.
AT the same time that the light was being
exhibited, the mode Of using the gas for heat
ing was also shown. A small jet of pure hy-
drogen, between two circular plates OF iron,
raised few inches from the floor, was light
ed, and in few minutes an equal and genial
4 IL. Oh.
Thus the astonished party had the light and
heat together, supplied from the same source
below, and their expressions of admiration
were unbounded nor were they abated when
they were led down into the cellar to exam
inc the exceedingly small machine by which
the gas was made. The box containing il
was about Is inches square and eight in
depth. We canno, give the details Of the in
terror of the machine, but will simply state
that, as its name indicates, it evolves mag
neto-elec ricity by purely mechanical aciion.
From the above mentioned box there ran Hat
copper wires into the decomposing jar, which
was about Two feet in height and SIX or eight
inches in diameter, and partly filled with wa
ter; in this jar, by the action of the eiectrici-
~ Just spoken of, pure hydrogen gas alone
was formed from the water, whence 1t passed
into two gasometers or reservoirs, about tn 3
size of a barrel each. The pole, at which
oxygen gas is liberated, on this occasion
passed into the ground, SO that hydrogen on
lv was evolved by the action of the machine.
The process of carbonising the hydrogen for
illumination is exceedingly simple, and was
open 10 view: it is very cheap, so much SO
tha, Dir. Paine says that the cost of carbonis-
ing the gas he has burned in his house in
three burners every evening for week has
not amounted TO one cent. The hydrogen is
used for the general purposes Of light and
heat. and the oxygen can also be secured in
a second jar and may be used with the hy-
drogen to produce the calcium light lor light
houses.
Mr. Paine has also discovered principle
by which he can regulate the quantity of
electricity to be discharged into the compos>
ing jar. A large machine has recently been
perfected by Mr.. Paine, Of sufficient power to
supply three thousand burners with gas it is
SET up in the Worcester Exchange, and only
occupies space Of three ieet square BY six
in height.
Nine cubic foot OF water will make 2100
feet of gas, and weight f67 lbs falling nine
feet in an hour will make from this larger
machine 1000 feet of gas. The apparatus
can be applied to gas works of any kind, and
be used with any of the gas fixtures at pres
ent in tashion.-Post.