PAINE'S ELECTRO-MAGNETIC ENGINE 



[Scientific American, XXV, 21, 1871] 



To the Editor of the Scientific American: 



Having noticed several articles in your paper with reference to 

 Paine's electro-magnetic machine, I believe I cannot do better than 

 describe a visit which I paid it about three months ago. 



Entering the office in company with a friend, at about twelve o'clock 

 one day, I was told that the machine was not running then, but would 

 be in operation at one. Proceeding there alone, at about that time, I 

 was, after the formality of sending up my name, conducted by a small 

 boy, through numerous by-ways and passages, to the second story of a 

 back building, where I was met by the illustrious inventor and a few 

 select friends. Mr. Paine began by showing the small model machines, 

 which he set in motion by a battery of four cups, of about a gallon 

 capacity each. These models revolved very well, but apparently with no 

 power, for they could be stopped easily. I then began to reason with 

 him on the absurdity of his position, and adduced in my support the 

 experiments of Joule, Mayer, Faraday and others. He, evidently, had 

 no very high opinion of these, and pronounced the conservation of force 

 an old fashioned idea, which had been overthrown in these enlightened 

 days by his " experiments," though what the latter were I have never 

 determined. 



After conversing some time, to no purpose, he prepared to over- 

 throw me and my authority at one blow, by an exhibition of The 

 Machine. This was standing in front of a chimney, on one side of the 

 room, with the axis of its wheels parallel to the wall. The wheel to 

 which the magnets were attached was, unlike the models, inclosed in a 

 cast iron case, which enveloped it closely above, but spread out into a 

 rectangular base below. The latter rested directly on the floor. The 

 axis of the wheel projected on each side, and, to one end, a pulley was 

 attached, and to the other, the brake for operating the magnets. The 

 machine had the general appearance of a fan blower with an enlarged 

 pulley. The battery was attached to two binding screws, fixed to a 



