Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-06-20
THE ELECTRIC MOTOR,
The Father of Rev. Mr.. Davenport Said +
Have Invented One in 1884

The Father of Rev. Mr.. Davenport Said to
Have Invented One in 1884.
The biographical sketch of Rev. w. G.. Day.
export of Emmanuel P. E. parish. published in
last Saturdays STAR. contained the statement
that Mr.. Davenport's father. Thomas Daven-
port of Vermont, was the inventor Of the cleo
trio motor. An interview by STAR reporter
with Rev. Mr.. Davenport elected the following
facts: In 1881 the Penfeld iron works OF
Crown Point. n. u, introduced cylinder with
magnetic and steel teeth for the purpose of at
tracing iron from the pulverized ore In Or
der to recharge this device an electro-magne;
was procured of Prof. Henry at Albany Day.
export, senior, lived at Forestdale. Ny. Be-
ing an electrical expert and about to begin a
series OF public lectures on his hobby he Jour-
neyed to Crown Point to witness experiments
with the new magnet. His interest in it in
duced him 20 buy it. This magnet was COM
posed OF three pounds of iron and copper wire
and two zinc and copper cells, and would at
tract 100 pounds of iron. In company with a
brother enthusiast. named Orange A. Smalley.
Davenport set to work to utilize this power.
In July. 1884. he had perfected the model of
what is claimed to be the embodiment of the prin-
clple OF the electric motor. nayenport's ma
chine consisted OF a wheel on which two electro
magnets were placed, while two stationary
magnets were placed near the periphery OF the
Wheel The south poles of the stationary mag
nets attracted the north poles of the revolving
ones until the opposltes were parallel. The
conducting wire from the battery would then
reverse the polarity of the stationary magnet
and thus repel the north poles Of the revolving
ones. causing the wheel 10 rotate. The petition
and specification for patent were prepared BY
Professor Turner of the Middleton (Vt) Col
lege. and bear date of january /, 1885 Mr..
Davenport came to Washington but the journey
had SO far depleted his finances that he was
forced to return to Vermont without
ming his application or depositing his
model This he sold to Van Rensselaer,
College. Troy, n. Y. In the winter of
1886 Mr.. davenport completed circular
railway On which locomotive. propelled by
the novel motive power travelled with great
speed. About this time accounts of the rotary
motion acquired by MOritz Herman Won jacob
began to reach this country, but the inventors,
though contemporaneous, were independent
In lo4O Mr.. Davenport began to issue at New
York a scientific journal called 'sThe Electro
Magnet and run the press by electricity. Mr.
Davenport motor was patented. but the patent
expired In February, 1851. Davenport was also
the inventor OF a machine for the electric trans
mission of messages. His apparatus consisted
OF tWenty-slX wires, each one connecting "A
letter and key. When the KEY was touched
the letter at the opposite end of the wire re-
sponded. In this way the message was spelled
Prof. Samuel +. T. Morse was. il is stated n
frequent visitor TO Davenport's rooms. where
the model OF this last device was on exhibition.
various articles which have recently appeared
III the Electrical Engineer. reports OF the trans
actions OF the American Institute of Electrical
Engineers and scientific magazines concede the
invention OF the electric motor to Davenport