Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1874-01-29
A Vermont Inventor.

4
One of the most remarkable of American
inventors was a Vermonter by the name
of Thomas Davenport. known also as the
s. Brandon blacksmith Few at the
present day in his own state ever heard OF
the man. or know what the invention was
which more than thirty years ago excited
the admiration of the scientific world and
which has not been without much useful
practical application.
Electro-magnetism was discovered in
1920 by II. c. Ocrsted of Copenhagen.
Prior to that time a close relation of cleo
t,icitv to magnetism was known. but the
mower which the former has of inducing
the latter was Oersted's discovery. In
1881 Prof Joseph Henry demonstrated that
electro-magnetism would produce 4 vibra-
tory motion. This of course gave it no
power over machinery, and it was reserved
for an medncated mechanic, Mr.. Daven-
p0rt. 10 originate an invention whereby
81 rotatorV motion could be given by this
power. He no doubt thought the discovery
of far more practical value in the mechanic
arts than it proved. Wherever electro
machinery. it has been by following out hi:
discovery, and that it is not in common use
a. a motive power is owing to its great
,.xnen.e and not to any want in the method
Of applying it to machinery as discovered
bv him. This power has been applied tC
propel boats. to pump water, to prope
lathe- and finally, under the experiments
of Charles G. Page, has driven lOcOmo-
tive But as before stated its great eX-
pensc as compared with steam prevents its
use outside of delicate machinery. In this
it has been applied to great advantage not
only in telegraphy but in various regula
tions of clocks, multiplying the indication:
Of single clock and the like, where
great accuracy is required. 1t has alsC
been successfully used in fire alarms anC
in electro-sorting, or separating ores.
The remarkable character of Mr.
Davenport invention is not testified to by
partial friends but by the best journals o
the time, as the following extract from
STItmul'S 4nlerjcnn Journal Of Science ii
1887 will show:
5. This gentleman prof Henry was not SLOW
n appiv hIs skill to the generation of motion an,
3. successful attempt of his Is recorded in tins jour
nal Vol. ~, p 3t5 y beam was suspended whlcl
reformed regular vibrations" etc
After men Onit some other successful attempt
to produce motion tbut by mems Ike that o
Pref Henry. entirely unavailable for the pro'tur
ton uf auV fuithrr power IN machinery the Jour
.. I'M beiev,. that Mr.. Davenport. named AT tn,
head oi h. tic, has been more successful than
suv other prrs"n n The discovery of n gaiyanI
rr5cbit q II srest simrlciv AMI efficiency. VI,
ave port :plira- To have been strictly the Inver
TOR uf - ~ ih,I "t apply ing salvanlsm 10 produr
Iv-il"rs motion
The mi 'tcrJ0ckc- Of June, 1887. afte
mentioning the experiments of Bio;
Araro. Davy. Farady, and others, said:
l;ut -pI.u,t, ~ ave been the contributions O
tee-,. u-It'n- iu'iivt iual- u the M re ~rire a.
,f..tr-.i,. ;;uur- iliu- trting il principles
tt,l. a. e. may vcuIutr 10 claim tn our iHGcrl"u
r.tIut. Eli ,i VI iiaTcHpHil me palm f"f -u
r,.,-. nj combination "i meCh1mCHl ing uuiy VII
thc -ci,uIu- iI-lpie- "i e-t'rr"-Int -IeIt: i'lp
Is ,r..t,f,f ~,ut a. n tIe mad been gui lt his
searches b, u sort of a Y1nSee intuition which "n
1ldes IN luI lI'u ui that nVei i've ace 10 ri
sh. .u-h "a whole ~-'e frc by -eriee eft -hre"
5-Ii. 10 hr omitted lie hr~t sdw Il .Hivamc MAJ
ut.t II af pens. about three Wears ago He pa
-t.t-ttl tn nu produced ihe first rotation
tf.,tl.if Il IuIV- 1854 onF TX months aite.
lort uT ,tt,- thi aupeIrs 10 he The frt successful
5Itrtr.tll.n ol 2tlv mi~n IL The = neratinn "f III
ton Ihat iIonl Ell 10 be OF p actcal application.
But lest our readers should think that tn,
above the verdict of judges that We're con
temporary and over estimated the cred
due Mr. Davenport we give the following
from the Encyclopedia britannica, thar
which there is no better authority in the
world. and which shows that Mr.. Daven
mort IS not without honor save in his owl
country:
The ilca Of applying the powerful agency thus
developed IN A bar of iron. a mechanical power
naturally suggested itself; but there is reason
hchavc that Mr.. Thomas Davenport OF Brandon
IN the County of Rutland and state of Vermon t.
was the first person who thought of applying 1t II
producing roIatory motion, 1 his uneducatcd lndI
yItual by trade blacksmith, having IN lS};
accidentally one of Professor Henry electro
magnets, purchased it with the idea of employing i
as a mechanical power. In July, 1884 lie is said to
have cOnst uctcd vOltaic engine; and on the lott
If March 1881. he took TO New Haven two machines
nbrg1sels 1rit tired permanent and the other
r0tatOTy machine composed entirely Of etecrO-n mag
NETS fJcd and TerOiUiHg MEMBERS which being
wholly made of soft iron may be magnetized in ar
Iustan by very small battery. Prof. Henry how
ever had previously and so early 1881, produced
a reciprocating motion by magnetic attraction ant
ropulsion, aided by electromagnetic action