The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-06-09

Mr. KELLY, of Philadelphia, has again gone
through the monthly farce of exhibiting his
wonderful "motor," or ''etheric vibrator" as
he now calls it. A dozen or more stockholders
were in attendance, and q few reporters were
also present, the latter, without exception
pronouncing it fraud. This time he made a
very specious pretense of building the ''vi-
orator in the presence of his spectators, each
piece being placed in position in full view of
all, and the completed machine in
sulated, so as to preclude deception
by the employment of electricity.
After the complex arrangement was completed
the Finventor" made it evident, Intentionally,
that the new machine, like the motor, de-
pended wholly upon the expansive force of
compressed air, and the demonstration made
was of necessity limited to few minutes,
though Kecly said the machine would run in
definitely. 1t requires great deal of patience
to follow the fellow through the absurdity Of
his demonstration, which is but the hocus-
pocus Of mountebank by which he
diverts attention from the secret of his
tricks. He explains" his vibrator by stating
that the force is liberated from air or water
by series of vibrations of different degrees
of intensity, naming them severally "molec-
ular," "atomic' ''etheric" and 'inter-
etheric," and that these are produced by using
q greater or less number of vibrators, from
one octave upward. The vibrations, he claims,
produce a radical change in the physical
structure of the elements used, giving a
product of resistless energy. He sets this
force in motion by drawing a fiddle-bow
across an ordinary tuning fork, or by striking
such fork, attached to the machine with a
rubber tube in which bullet is held, much
after the make up of a "billy," or slung shot
enlisted to put up their money to further
the schemes of this mechanical igno-
ramus, for he is either wholly ignorant
of the laws of mechanics or he is a
swindler. His very ignorance seems to be a
winning card for him, as it serves to throw
his patrons off their guard in the belief that
he is incapable Of such systematic deception.
1t is not forgotten that all, or nearly all, great
inventors have been derided in their expert
ments. George Stephenson was when he pro-
posed the locomotive engine. Robert Fulton
was in his claims that he would navigate the
waters by means of steam, and propel boat
Cup stream" by that power. Morse
had great opposition to contend against before
he succeeded in compelling respect. But
each Of these demonstrated that he knew
what he was talking about. Keely, while
evidently using well known force pretends
that such is not the case and, by the employ
ment of senseless terms, and the practice Of
show that he has made discovery. The
credulity of his dupes, wealthy though
they may be, is surprising, in that they do
not insist upon Keely demonstrating that his
vibrator will run for hours without changing
any of its parts, and compelling him to supply
the force in the manner he claims it is sup
piled. If any of them had an atom of good
hard sense, he would provide Mr.. Keely with
a dozen fddle-bows, corresponding number
of tuning forks, with rubber pipes and leaden
balls ad libitum. This done, it would be but
reasonable to ask that the vibrator be kept in
motion for some hours. The success of this
fellows scheme is an uncomplimentary COM
mentary on Philadelphia common-sense.