The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1851-01-11

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n. M. Paine's Apparatus, as described in the fol.
lowing communication:
M. NJ Permanent mag B. Bell glass.
n. revolving helices. L. Jar of turpentine.
~ Negative wire. w. Tumbler of water.
P.P. Positive wire G. G. Gas pipes.
J. Jar Of water.
pAIsE's HYDRO LIGHT.
Mr.. EDITOR: Having been avored-in company
with Mr.. Huse, of this city, Mr.. Ames, of Spring
field, and Mr.. Merrick, President of the Gas Com
pany Of that city-with view of Mr.. Paine's APP
paratus for producing light from water, and of
witnessing the whole machinery in operation as
well as operating it myself, yield to the advice of
my friends in giving publicity to my observations
Although have been more or less conversant with
be supposed that consider myself deeply learned
IN these matters because venture to write upon a
subject so full of mysteries and apparent contradc
tions as Mr. Paine's light. This article is not in
general reader and shall endeavor to give such
explanations Of the apparatus used by Mr.. Paine
that all can understand it.
Hir. Paine claims, among other things, to have
uncovered means OF increasing the power Of a
magnetic electric machine to such an extent that
ne can decompose water, rapidly with it that he
can take jar Of water, and, by means of the cleo
tricity induced by this machine, can convert the
,ohoie Of it into hydrogen gas, without the produc.
ton OF any Oxygen whatever. He claims, also, that
oy changing the electrical poles, he can convert the
s jar OF into with
uuring the hydrogen, as above, and passing it
through spirits of turpentine, it becomes cafalixed
and then will burn with clear and brilliant hame
by the passage of the gas through it, In regard to
light, independent of the other applications of the
power, Mr. Paine claims to have discovered a
means of producing it from water, by electricity
n Az nn1a r,nr ,sN
ration.
The above are startling propositions. Can Mr.
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 me. 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 SHELF and in
no ways connected with any thing else.
FIRST. common magnetic electric machine,
about t,ceive inches long. These were placed hori-
zontally on q mahogany frame, about -four inches
apart, one being placed above the other. Be-
tween the ends of these magnets were pair
above that they could be set into rapid rotary
motion The peculiar construction of these heces,
from which the immensely increased power is said
to be obtained, will hereafter describe.
Second. large open-m mouth glass jar, capable
OF holding twelve quarts. This a little more
than half full of water. owe tasted the water to
satisfy ourselves that it toas water) Within this
jar was placed common bell glass, open at the
bottom, and reaching within four inches of the bot
tom OF the large jar. The top of the bell glass
closed tightly with brass cap, which extended
over IT, 30 as to rest upon the sides of the outer jar
Passing through the cap of the bell glass two
wires, which extended down nearly to the bottom
of the bell glass, and these terminated in circular
metallic box, one and half inches long, and one
inch in diameter. This box was hollow, and per-
forated with small holes in the upper part. The
electrodes or points of connection between the poes
were in this box. The water in the jar and bell
glass reached some six inches above the electrodes
Third. quart glass jar, half filled with spirits
of turpentine. tube or gas pipe passed from the
top of the bell glass, and into this jar of turpentine
From the cap which covered the jar of turpentine
about twelve inches from the jar
Fourth A common glass tumbler half filed with
water.
The above comprised all the apparatus used by
Mr.. Paine, with the exception OF three wires, or
rather flat strips of copper, by which he connected
the magnetic electric machine with the jar of
water. These wires were connected in the follow
ing peculiar manner. The end of one wire
screwed to the negative pole of the magnetic ma
chine; and the other end to the first Of the wires
coming up from the electrodes through the top of
the bell-g glass. second wire was screwed to the
positive pole of the magnetic machine, with the
other end terminating in the glass of water above
mentioned. The third wire was screwed to the bell
glass, or rather the second wire which passes
through it from the electrodes within and termi
mating in the same glass of water, although the
wires in the glass did not touch each other / have
spoken OF these as ,oires-they were not wires-but
merely thin strips of copper, having the appear
ance of being rolled out from wire.
Now for the operation of the machinery. Mr..
Paine commenced turning the wheel in the magnetic
electric machine, and We all looked TO see the gas
arise from the electrodes in the jar of waterbut no
gas appeared. Mr.. Paine was surprised-we were
all surprised. At length Mr.. Ames discovered that
one OF the wires, or copper ribands, had been de-
tached, or had not been screwed on TO the wire at
4 ha< 1ftk n kolI ~loo -. Lo,. ,xol
Mr.. Paine again commenced turning the machine,
and instantly large bubbles of gas arose from the
electrodes, and filled the jar in less than minute
After taking out stopper from the bell glass, and
allowing several jars full of gas to escape, in order
to expel the common air. and prevent an explosion,
these were stopped, and the gas forced on through
the gss pipe into the tupentine and through this to
the jet or burner. Between the jar Of water where
the gas generated and the Jar of turpentne,
jet issued from the pipe. This was lighted, and
proved to be hydrogen gas The flame, in front OF
a window, was SO pale that it could not be per-
ccived. We could see it by placing dark body
behind it. While this burning, the gas was
forced along through the turpentne to the other
burner flame was applied to this, and bril-
liant light ioas sh01Un
Here were two flames, burning at the same time,
from the same gasthe first, before passing through
the turpcntine, burning with pale, almost inn
pcrceptibe lightthe second, after passing through
the turpentine, burning with light superior to
any gas that ever saw before. When the magnetic
machine was stopped, not a bubble Of gas would
appear in the jar, and the lights went out. This
small machine generated gas enough to supply
dozen burners, any one of which should think
sufficient to light a room.
Now, it will naturally be asked, could not this
tremendous electrical power, which decomposcd
the water, be obtained from some other than
the magnetic machine?" This question occurred
to me before saw the operation; and determined,
if possible, to satisfy myself upon the subject.
therefore, with Mr.. Painc's full permission,
amined the table. could easily that wires
or pipes entered the glass jar OF turpentne, the
glass jar Of water, except the two connected with
the magnetic machine. II therefore to the
magnetic machine that my attention mainly
directed. This machine took up, and lifted it
entirely away from the table-saw that wires,
pipes, or metallic substances whatever had any
connexion with it from the table. placed
the machine again on the table, and turned the
crank, and produced the gas in the jar, in the
same manner and with the same success that
MIR. Paine had done. Mr.. Amos and Mr.. Mer-
rick did the same, and we're all satisfied,
perfectly satisfied, that the todfer tpas dscornposed
by the electricity rom the magnetic machine and no
,phere else. To deny this we must deny tho cvi.
dencc of our own senses. The gas was also pro-