Delaware tribune. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1867-1877, 1875-10-07
ALONE WITH A MOTOR flENp.
A Terrible Hours Expsrienco-The Soap Power
Let Loose.
Contributed for the Commercially

the "Keeley Motor" there seems to lave boon
given to invention a now impetus, and mechan-
ical genius promises to develop novelties at
least in tho application Of power il not in sctual-
ly producing forces hitherto unknown to tho sci
entiilc world.
The ground upon which the assertion is mnde
was an exhibition Of which wo were recently the
sole, and almost an unfortunate, witness. At
tho request OF the inventor, no description has
yet been gven.of his machine by the many prac-
tical men who have seen it but now that he IL
assured Of Its success lle permits us to break the
seal OF silen 20 aud publish an account though
necessarily an imperfect one, Of what must prove
formidable rival Of tho Kelley apparatus.
Calling at our friends residence to ascertain
why and where lle had boon hiding, wo were atl.
mltteu by himself, who, in his wan aud enact
ated appearance WAS almost unrecognizable.
lie explained that he had been working 80.
cretly, day and night. for weeks, with but little
food or rest, upon what, when announced to the
world, would startle every scientific mind and
eclipse the sstonishment which the Kelley Mo-
tor had awakened. Upon his invitation We pro.
ceedod to room next the roof, fitted up with
appliances and tools for machiue work; and we
entered expecting to see q boiler and not work
OF pipes entaDgling, ~ it were, All elaborate
ly constructed and complicated piece OF mocll-
anism. Expressing our ourdisappointment, our friend
merely smiled and pointed to corner of the
room where stood d modest looking little object
OF brass and iron upon two strong, dumpy
feet. 1t consisted OF body or generator
about tile size Of small watermelon, egg
shaped, with point uppermost. This rosted i'm.
medstely upon tho feet aud was surmounted
by q fsttened sphere called the head or "con-
tainer," in which were arranged set Of tsmall
valves inserted through two circular openings
which were then closed by two polished brass
plugs screwed in. These plugs wore at the
front OF the sphere near tho top, and looked not
unlike par OF eyes, which likeness was in-
creased by u sort OF nasal projection between
and Just below the plugs. This Was the stem to
II valve within called the "starter," and just be-
low this again was an oblong cover screwed over
an opening tho shining hoads Of the screws re-
sembling two rows of rather widely spread teeth
in a grinniig mouth this sphere, with its at
tachments presented the oldest carcature OF u
head and face that one could imagine 1t was
secured to tho body or generator" by short,
thick pipe which was very appropriately termed
To the body, on each side, was attached by
ball and socket long arm-like pipe, thick az Il
mans wrist and provided in tho middle Of its
length with joint like III e'bow, which enabled
it to be extended. or revolved III all directions.
At the lower ends Of those arms, which rested
upon the floor some inches in front OF the ma
chine they were provided with 'F' lends, cont ain
ing valves, whose office We cannot now describe,
although infinitely explained by the inventor.
one OF Lhehe pipes WAS Calleu Ile 'IobpIatOI
and the other tho "pnlsator.".
Altogether, the apparatus presented the ap-
pearance of prodgolls strength OF construction
but as we viewed it We could only with difficulty
suppress smile of incrednlity and contempt fol
the insignificant locking object, bearing, it die
a sngularly grotesque and comical resemblance
to u short-legged dwarf with It's rotund and dis
proportioned body, clad AZ it were, in stou,
jacket with seam extending up and down its
front, closely studded with ~ many bolts al
ii
conrt-page's livery. Its small head with the two
shining plugs turned up to our face like pal
OF eyes wearing an inprudent expression, whicl
seemed to say" Well, what do you think oil
me 7" The handled stem OF tho " Starter, " the
mouth-like cover, and the jointed arm-like pipe
ut the sides, completed the almost human anat
omy Of this strange looking figure. In the " res
pirator" pipe near the body was cayit
through which the ."generator" WIS supplied
and then covered with = screw cap.
We requested to be shown the operation OF
the apparatus, and by our united effort we NOV
cd it into the middle OF the floor, and while thu
inventor prepared for his experiment We assume
the popular Office or role OF Interviewer and pu
numerous questions to him, his replies to wlllc
we will endeavor to condense as follows Yol
observed the weight Of this generator was great
disproportionate to its size; this ID caused by til
great thickness OF tho metal which leaves but
small space within, yet it is quite large enoug
to contain tho diaphragm plates an
series OF small bent tubes which fill II
tho interior. Yon would be surprised to sc
its simplicity OF construction and when assur
you that the generator IS perfectly empty q
every element from which tho force is develope
you will be still more astonshed TO learn ths
This tumbler full OF water. which you saw IN
draw from tho hydrant, is the only fluid used i
the apparatus. have only to unscrew this ca
in the respirator Pipe pour in tho water, and ii
sert in the cavity piece OF this substane
which, from it's odor, you will at once pronounc
and quite correctly, nothing but the commone
l,o,nf soap-the ,gorst is the best-(which
the by is somewhat contradictory II sos
should not be available then any fatty substant
such as pork, piece Of tallow candle, ,ham-san
Wch, cheese, (Schweitzer IL goo
will answer M well. Indeed
hayo run the machine for twenty four hou
with scrap of stale bread and butter, ,wln'
one Of the children left on my work-bencl, Al
which curiosity led me to try. From which v
must conclude that bread-especially sta
bread-contains latent force truly wonde
full But / forgot that this powerful
strength--might have been i'll the butter,
that the bread may not be essential. ha
thought that a supply of short-cake i'll IL
generator would about equal tho effect pr
duced by Keeley's apparatus. That, t,however,ls
be tested. But to proceed with our expeiimel
81 will screw on the cap andswhile we wait
few minutes for the pressure to accumulate.
will tell you that many scientific and wealt
gentlemen have waited upon me offering 4
every inlucement to become superintendent
A company they wished to incorporate for t
manufacture and sale of my apparatus.
81 can have my choice of u number OF hal
somey furnished brown stone houses in a
part OF Now York city.
'.Ihe company starts with acapital OF i've II
lion dollars and the amount OF stock to be
limited My salary rs Superintendent guars
teed to be fifty thousand dollars per aunll
But, with all the splendid prospect,.l say. 'G
tlenien, wait;--within one month will have p
footed my plans and then it will bO time 20
proach tile subject of forming a company,
curing patents, &C., &C. These gehtlen
have admitted the superiority OF my genera
over the Keeley Motor in that mine is opera
by a piece of common brown soap, wlie hee
IL obliged to blow for some seconds into his;fi
which fact am confident that he thus impr
mates the elements within with the tunes
beer, from which he obtains his power. 1t
beeu reported to me that Kelley, on hear
that obtained my pressure from soap and, WI
became abusive and applied to me the epit
OF ..old suta' and called my apparatus ali
tight wash tub But all he can say or do
not prevent my machine from effectually
placing his when the merits of tho two s
have been compared. One notable feature
my apparatus il this that when the gener
bursts III it has several times under press
that no gauges that have used will indie
there is neither report nor scattering I
ments to 'endanger life. This bursting 1
prevent by the addition Of a valve called
regulator by which the pressure Of one NIL
tOlib p8f sluhIe ltieh tAhy hisohiu'S W Asa'
to zero, it being self acting when the pres
at,sins the slightest increase beyond that
anirtd and to which the regulator is set
Whi,e he WIS speaking, we heard within
gonsrator q kind OF simmering noise, aud
Gauge which he had attached now indicated
fhons.sd pounds per square inch! lncredi
Jsnt thene it WAS plainly pointed out and
pressure rapidly increasing. MIR. 3. now
tached the gnage and excused himself sa
he would return presently with ali engine he
,pyented for utilizing this tremendous pc
IA soon ~ he left the room we commenc
closer examination Of the machine, and int
ing such ali enormous pressure must be &C
panied by corresponding heat, We cauti'
placed our hand on the container ; but 1t
the coolest head We ever tot
considering the irascibility the. ma
seemed subsequently to manifest.
Curiosity, that unfortunate characterlH
our maternal parent, led us to press gently
tho spring handle Of the proboscs. like .sts
before mentioned. Better had it been for
have seized = hot tempered old gonlems
the nose, for knowing his resentment we
be prepared to meet it but, Unexpectedly
to our utter dismay, our leg was embraced
lightning rapidity by the two arm-like
Cthe ''respirstor' and "pulsator,D Of TIN
chine and hugged painfully tight agair
BODY. The movement was accompanied
strange, angry, grumbling noise within til
orator, and now it vibrsted from one foot
rother in the manner OF wrestler who
make sure Of his advantage before after
ito throw his opponent. For All instant w
paraiyzed with fright, ~ it occurred to us
Lwiri OF those long arms might crush ever
in our body.