New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1851-01-07
PAlNE's HYDRo-EL ECTIC LIGHT
Description of the Apparatus.
From the Boston Evening Transcript


BosToN, Thursday, jana
Mr.. EplTOR: Having been favOred-in company
with Mr.. Huse of this city, Mr.. Ames OF Spring
Acid, and Mr.. Merrick, President OF the Gas Com
pany Of that city-with view OF Mr. Pane
annsratus for producing light from water, and Of
Witnessing the whole machinery in operation, as
well as operating it myself, yield to the advice
of friends in giving publicity to my observations
Although have been more or less cOnversant
with chemistry and chemical experiments, tor the
past eight years-yet, let it not be supposed that
l consider myself deeply learned In these matters
because venture to write upon subject so full
Of mysteries and apparent contradictions as Nj
Paine's light This article is not intended exclu
syely for the scientific, bat fer the general reader
and shall endeavor to give such explain at o rs Of
the apparatus used by Mr.. Paine that all can I'M
derstand IL.
Mr.. Paine claims, among other things. 20 have
discovered means OF increasing the power OF
magnetc-electric machine, to such al extent that
he can decompOse water rapidly with II; that he
can take jar OF water and, by means of the cleo
tricity induced by this machine, can convert the
~hOle Of u into hydrogen gas, without the produc-
ton OF any Orggea whatever. He claims, Also
that by changing the electrical poles, he can con-
vert the whole of the jar OF water into Oxygen gas
without producing any hydrogen. That after pro-
ducing the hydrogen, as above, and passing II
through spirits Of turpentine, it becomes ztailsed
and then will burn with clear and brilliant tame
by the passage OF the gas through It. In regard 10
LIGHT, independent OF the other applications OF
the power, MIR. Paine claims to have discovered
means of producing it from water, by electricity,
at cost infinitely less than any mode now in ops-
ration.
The above are startling propostions,-cGH Do.
Pane demonstrate them by practical experiments !?
The object OF this article is to describe the appa
ratus used, and the result OF the experiments, as
they appeared to ne. l shall not advance or de-
fend any theory.
Before giving the result Of the experiments, let
me describe the apparatus This consists OF four
pieces, all placed upon pine table or shelf, aud
In no ways connected with anything else
First; A common Magneto.Electric Machine,
consisting of two permanent horseshoe magnets
about tpelpe inches long. These were placed
horizontally on q mahogany frame, about four
inches apart one being placed above the other
Between the ends of these magnets were & pair
OF heliees, and these so attached 10 wheel above
that they could be set into rapid rotary motion
The peculiar construction Of these helices, from
which the immensely increased power is said to
be obtained, viii hereafter describe.
Second A large open mouth Glass Jar. capa
Die oil holding twelve quarts This was q little
more than hall filled with water We tasted
the water TO satisfy ourselves that il acdS water)
Within this jar was placed common bell-gass
open at the bottom, and reaching within four
inches OF the bottom OF the large Jar The ton of
the bellglsss was closed tightly with brass cap,
which extended over il, so as to rcst upon the
sides Of the outer jar. Passing through the cap of
the bell glass, were two wires, which extended
down nearly to the bottom Of the bell glass, and
these terminated in a circular metallic box, one
and half inches long, and one inch in diameter
This box was hollow and perforated with small
holes In the upper part. The electrodes or points
oil connection between the poles were in this box.
The water in the jar and ball glass, reached some
six inches above the electrodes.
Ihtrd' quart glass jar, half filed with spirits
OF turpentine. tube or aspipe passed from
the top of the bell glass. (aboye mentioued) aud
into this jar OF turpentine terminating the bot.
tom Of the turpentiHe. From the cap which Gov.
cred the jar Of turpentine, another tube or gas
pipe passed to jet or burner, about twelve inches
from the jar.
Fourth: A common glass tumbler half filed
with water.
The above comprised all the apparatus used by