The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1850-10-08
NUMBER "a.

not be improper for me to state to the pub
lie the size and power Of some of the elcc-
tro-msgnciic engines which have invented
and applied to moving machinery, that they
may be compared TO the engine lately con-
srruricd BY Prof Page. Early in 1888
ascortained that a bolt of iron could be
drawn with great force into helix Of wire
whenever the battery current was suffered
to pass through the coll. ! Immediately in
vented a small engine on this principle,
which. when in motion, very mitch resem
blcd little steam engine with two pcrpch-
dicular cylinders. During the same season
filed caveat for this improvement in the
United States Patent Office, and sent sever
al models to Europe. A patent for this in
venion was obtained in England AMI Prov
inccs, and money patti into several other
European patent offices where no letters par
tent have ever been obtained.
In 1889 experimental on much larger
scale. with the magnetic cylinder, or helix
and constructed lrli,; two feet in length
with an aperture through the centre two in
chcs in diameter a bolt Of iron two feet
long and two and half inches in diameter,
weighing abou, 2s pounds, was forced into
the helix whcii the current Of galvanism
passed through the wire, with power equal
10 six pounds to the square inch of its diam
eier. This ties; was made with the helix
and bolt placed in a horizontal position, so
that the weight of the iron should not be
reckoncd When the helix was in per-
pendicular position aud raised one foot from
a platform, with the lower end Of the bolt
resting upon the platform, AMI the upper
end entering one foot into the helix, the
battery current would raise this bar of iron
with such force that it would often PASS
through the coil two feet in length, and ar
upon the platform.
In January, 1910, had completed an en-
gine with two magnetic cylinders weighing
so pounds each. The engine made twelve
inch stroke, and weighed about two hun
drcl pounds The battery was made Of
lead and zinc plates two feet long and five
inches wide, weighing in its most improved
state 100 pounds. In the same month
commenced publishing newspaper, Which,
was printed on press propelled by this en-
sinc. When the press worked of but ten pa
pcrs per minute the engine made 20 strokes
in the same time. Many, who Witnessed the
working of this machine, estimated it 10 be
n two horse power; but from my own test,
could not make it exceed the power OF one
horse. The cost of zinc and acid in works
ing did not exceed 2j cts. per day. In the
course Of my experiments up to the time OF
printing by this power, had constructed in
all more than one hundred engines Of varI-
Gus dimensions, and all different in point OF
construction, for the purpose of ascertalnins
the best proportions and mechanical ar
raneement for the increase of power. My
experiments with helices. using long and
short, large and small, hollow and solid bars
of iron, were very numerous My press
was first moved by horizontal helix engine,
next by rotary, and lastly by pcrpcndic-
ular double helix engine. Now, as Prot
Pages experiment with his lG0 pounds of
iron dancing like feather in the air."
seems to be precisely like the experiment
made in 1882 when the IS pounds of iron
jumped through helix two feet in length,
by magnetic action, and, as the Professors
engine is constructed on tho same plan and
principle with my own, above described,
presume the scientific gentleman lays no
claim to having presented any ne~ route in
his application Of the power, or to have
made any important Improvement whatever
in my invention. II Prof. Page, by the
completion Of his engine, has finally come
to the point at which arrived ten years a.
20 in testing electro magnetism as a prime
mover in the arts, and has expended as
much money in series Of experiments
which he, Of course, would be obliged TO
make, think | could have saved him the
needless expenditure OF several thousand
dollars, by giving hin the results Of some Of
my experiments in ls3s-9-4o, which !
should have been happy to do, If had beer
consulted in due lime.
THOMAS DAVENPORT.
Salisbury, VI. Sept IL, 1850