Rapides gazette. (Alexandria, La.) 1869-187?, 1872-06-22
Perpetual Motion"

There is on exhibition now at No.
315 East Washington street a ponder
GUS machine that seems to possess the
long-sought, long g-hidden power of in
heren perpetual motion. We say
seems to possess such power, because
it 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 it 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 exps RI
menting for the last fourteen years,
but who has jnst succeeded in com
pleting his initial work. The machine
is twenty-five feet long, twelve feet
high and FIVE feet wide, weighing with
the platform upon which it rests, about
one thousand pounds, and costing for
its construction about $500.
Eight pounds Of ordinary gunsfOt
are placed in the boxes of an OvershOt
wheel six feet in diameter, which puts
the wheel in motion. At the base is
receiver for the shot after its specific
gravity has acted upon the wheel.
Running into the receiver is an Archi-
medean screw, connecting with the
wheel. The shot are picked up 10y this
screw. carried up to the proper eleva-
ton and emptied into a hoped, 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.s
Attached to the axle of the overshot
Is another large wheel, ten feet in
diameter, resembling the paddle-wheel
of side-wheel steamboat. This is
provided with three series of ladies, at
tached 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 regulation and distribution of
the motive power. These wheels are
connected by cOgs, piui0ns, shafts,
bars, etc, with other points OF mechan-
ism, too intricate to admit of expl.Ha-
ton here. Indeed, the whole coutri
vance is systematic network of parts
ingeniously placed to constitute a
whole, and he must he a mechanic and
a philosopher who can understand it.
And the object of all this mass of
wheels, belts, shafts, pinions, etc., is
70 provide self-sustaihing motive
power capable of running clock re-
quiring but eight ounces. The clock is
very much like the ordinary time
keeper in appearance, but it, with the
remainder of the machine, was con-
structed by Mr.. Anderson, assisted by
Mr.. Christian, also an Indianapolis
uiachinst.
Onr reporter asked Mr. Anderson to
point out the utility of the cOntrivance
other than that of marking time by
hours, minutes and seconds, and he
answered that, at present, it had none,
but that he hoped yet to apply the
power to machinery as motive power !;
that he was still experimenting and
frequently discovered new ideas con-
cerning its action He had attempted
TO apply it to two other purposes, but
found that of keeping time the sim
plest, and so adopted it.
Perhaps we sheuhd have said before
that the large wheel requires about
one week in which to make a reyOlu-
tiOn. 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 'front.' Indian
dpolis Journal.