The Electrical Entertainer's Program 





SOME of the most startling and spec- 

 tacular experiments of which the high 

 frequency apparatus is capable are pro- 

 duced in connection with the insulated 

 stool and the charging body of the per- 

 former. For most of these experiments, 

 the frequency of the current should be in- 

 creased by moving the primary clip of the 

 oscillation transformer to a point where 

 fewer turns are included in the circuit. 

 This will reduce the spark length of the 

 coil, but this loss can be tolerated in view 

 of the fact that the current is smoother 

 and the muscular contractive effects are 

 totally missing. It is difficult for the per- 

 former to do justice to his experiments 

 if he experiences any degree of shock, 

 which, while not at all dangerous, is still 

 disconcerting. 



The performer stands on the stool and 

 touches the discharge ball of the coil with 

 his metal wand. When the current is 

 turned on, a strong, snapping spark sev- 

 eral inches in length may be drawn from 

 any portion of the body by the assist- 

 ant. This spark will ignite a piece of 

 cotton dipped in alcohol, light a cigarette, 

 puncture a thin piece of glass, and do 

 many other equally interesting tricks. If 

 the spark is taken from the bare skin for 

 any length of time, a blister will form 

 from the burn which results, and it is 



. "This article is one of a series that has appeared 

 in past issues of Modern Mechanics and THE WORLD'S 

 ADVANCE since September, 1914. Previous instalments 

 have covered the construction of the apparatus re- 

 ferred to in this article. The series will be completed 

 m e A u S us t lssue - The demand for the back 

 numbers has been so great that several issues are 

 now out of print and can no longer be supplied. The 

 uthor has in preparation, however, a very complete 

 book .dealing with this subject in a thorough manner 

 and interested readers may obtain information rela- 

 tive to the work through our Book Department. 



therefore advisable to draw the spark 

 from a heavy ring worn on the perform- 

 er's free hand. An occasional spark 

 taken for a few seconds at a time will 

 not affect the skin and the lighting of 

 the cotton may be accomplished by the 

 assistant bringing the material in close 

 proximity with the performer's ear or 

 chin. Care should be taken to avoid 

 sparks near the eyes. If the performer 

 holds a metal spoon in his mouth, a spark 

 may be drawn from the handle and this 

 experiment seldom fails to bring ap- 

 plause. 



If the primary clip on the oscillation 

 transformer is carefully adjusted after 

 the performer has been connected with 

 the discharge ball, a point will be found 

 where his body seems literally to exude 

 a luminescent halo of bluish white fire. 

 When the free hand is raised directly 

 over the head, little tongues of fire dart 

 from the finger tips into the air. When 

 a second person approaches to within a 

 foot or so of the performer the space 

 between their bodies is apparently filled 

 with a luminous vapor, and a finger 

 pointed at the performer instantly calls 

 forth an intense, cone-shaped stream of 

 the light. A geissler or other vacuum 

 tube brought to within even six or eight 

 feet of the charged body lights up with 

 its characteristic glow, and, when it ap- 

 proaches to within a foot of the body, 

 the glow is practically as bright as it 

 would be if the current were passing 

 into it through a wire instead of through 

 space. 



An entertaining experiment is to bring 

 an incandescent lamp bulb, held by its 

 (Continued on page 116) 



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