Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1872-05-02
"PERPETUAL NOTION"
Mirac ul0us workings of AN Gmd
annapolis Machfntst-Or Or a Hun

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From the indianapolis Sentinel 'l- i'
There is on exhibition now, at No. 3l5
East Washington street, this city, pom
derous machine that seems to possess
the long-sought, long-hidden power Of
inherent perpetual motion, We say
seems to possess such power, because ii
is known to have been in motion now for
some days, and, it is believed, has not
been tampered with since its completion,
This being true, brief description of il
may be considered in place.
The machine is the invention of Mr..
J.J. Anderson, a machinist OF this city,
who has been engaged in experimenting
for the last fourteen years, but who has
just succeeded in completing his initial
work. The machine is twenty-five feet
long, twelve feet high, and five wide,
weighing, with the platform upon which
it rests, about one thousand pounds, and
costing for its construction about $500.
Eight pounds Of ordinary gunshot are
placed in the boxes of an overshot wheel
six feet in diameter, which puts the
wheel in motion. At its base is re-
ceiver for the shot after its specific
gravity has acted upon the wheel. Run
ming into this receiver is an Archime-
dian screw, connected with the. large
wheel The shot are picked up by this
screw, carried up to the proper eleva-
ton and emptied into hopper, from
which it is conveyed back to the boxes
of the overshot. This completes the
circuit, and so long as the machine is in
motion it will remain unbroken.
Attached to the axle of the overshot
is another large wheel, ten feet in diam
eter, resembling the paddle-wheel of a
sidewheel steamboat. This is provided
with three series of ladies, attached with
hinge, ranged obliquely across its
width. These ladies are loaded with
four.pound blocks, which, with the wheel,
as we understand it, is for the regula-
ton and distribution of the motive
power. These wheels are connected by
cogs, pinions, shafts, oars, etc., with
other parts Of the mechanism, too in
tricate to admit Of explanation here.
Indeed, the whole contriYance is sys-
tematic network Of parts ingeniously
placed to constitute whole, and he
must be a mechanic and philosopher
who can understand it. sI GE.I
And the object of all this mass OF
wheels, belts shafts pinions, etc., is to
provide a selfsustainihg motive power
capable of running clock requiring
but eight ounces. The clock is very
much like the ordinary time-keeper in
appearance, but it, with the remainder
Of the machine, was constructed by Mr..
Anderson, assisted by Mr.. Christian,
also an Indianapolis machiHist.
Our reporter asked Mr.. Anderson to
point ont the utility OF the continuance
other than marking time by hours, min
utes and seconds, and he answered that,
at present, it had none, but that he
hoped yet to apply the power to ma
chinery as a motive power; that he was
still experimenting and frequently dis
covered new ideas concerning its action.
BE had attempted to apply it to two
other purposes, but found that Of keep
ing time the simplest, and so adopted it.
Perhaps we should have said before
that the large wheel requires about one
week in which TO make revolution.
An observer sees no motion whatever,
except that Of the pendulum of the
clock, and hears no noise. save that Of
the quick, regular click Of the. clock,
mounted up in frsnt.