The Portland daily press., 1871-09-15

PANE's ELECTRIC MoToR.-Sceutifc cir
cles have lately been amused and interested
by ian exposure" of an invention by Mr. q.
NJ. Paine, of "water gas'' notoriety, of an
electric engine which attracted some atten-
ton year ago.
A general impression among scientific men
is that this machine is really run by a belt
from steam engine in daily use in the same
building; and one of the skeptics has pub
lished letter in the Scientific American,
making his charge directly. The writer says
that he visited the curiosity about three
months ago. Entering the Office about twelve
o'clock, he was told that the machine would
not be running till one o'clock. Calling at
that hour, he found Mr.. Paine, who began
showing the small model machines, which re-
velved we'll by the help OF four cup
battery, but apparently with no power, as
they could be stopped without effort. The
visitor becoming critical, Mr.. Paine under
took to convert him by showing the machine
ITSELF The wheel to which the magnets were
attached was, unlike the models, enclosed in
cast iron case, which enyeloped il closely
above, but spread out into rectangular base
below. The latter rested directly on the floor.
A belt connected the machine with O small
circular saw.
'As soon as the connection was made with
the battery" the writer says, "the whole sp-
paratus began to move, and soon the saw at
tained great velocity. When well in motion,
boards were applied and sawed with the
greatest care. To show the excess oil power,
they were sometimes placed on edge and pass
ed over the saw, so as wholly TO envelop it,
and the cut made from end to end, without
the velocity being at all diminished. On
throwing off the belt from the saw, the ma
chine still proc, eded at the same velocity,
with entire indifference to external resistance.
On mentioning this to Mr.. Paine, he informed
me that when the saw was attached, and the
resistance greater, tie increased pull on the
magnets brought them them nearer together,
by bending the heavy iron frame; and, as
magnetic attraction varies inverjely as the
square OF the distance, it only required a
small change OF distance to account for the
increased power.
The visitor candidly told the inventor that
he believed that the steam engine which he
heard moving on the next building was the
real cause OF this great power; whereupon Mr..
Paine threatened TO throw him out of the
window. He sums up as follows:
"My visits there have established the fol-
lowing facts: First, that my friend and were
invited 10 come at one. Second, that the
shaft in the room below does not revoive be-
tween the hours of twelve and one. Thnd,
that the room below, containing power, was
rented by Mr.. Paine, but that he kept it care
fully locked, and misguided me as TO the ten
ant. Fourth that the working parts are con-
cealed in an unnecessarily strong case, we'll
adapted to the concealment of another
source Of power. Fifth, that part of the sp-
paratus is attached to the wall, so that the
machine must always occupy the same posi-
ton on the floor. Sixth, that the models
have not power proportionate to their size.
Seventh, that the machine runs at the same
velocity, whether producing one horse power
or a fraction of horse power, and this WITH
out a governor"
There does not appear to have been any
attempt to reply 10 this very positive state
ment; and the public are lett to inter that the
electromagnetic engine" is not success
Technologist.