They were not co-laborers; they were not even compatriots, nor
contemporaries. Worcester was an Englishman and Orffyreus a Frenchman,
though most of his labors were in what is now Germany. The former died
thirteen years before the latter was born.
Edward Sommerset, of England, Sixth Earl and Second Marquis of
Worcester, was born in the year 1601, and died in 1667. He was famous
not only for his noble birth and family rank, but for personal
attainments. He was the author of a work entitled "Century of Names
and Scantlings of Such Inventions as at Present I Can Call to Mind
Have Tried and Perfected" (1663), which has often been reprinted,
and is usually referred to simply as "Century Inventions." He was
very prominent in public life; was greatly interested in mechanical
experiments, and made valuable suggestions, inventions and improvements
in connection with the use of steam as a motive power.
Henry Dircks, who is so frequently mentioned in this book, wrote a
book which was published in 1865, entitled "Life, Times and Scientific
Labors of the Second Marquis of Worcester." The Marquis appears to
have been all his life greatly interested in science, mechanics and
mathematical contrivances. His first wife died in 1635, and it seems
probable that thenceforth he became and remained more than ever
devoted to mechanics, and sometime after that period announced a
successful Perpetual Motion machine, the gist of all known information
concerning which appears from the articles and discussions hereinafter
set forth in this chapter.
Jean-Ernest Eli-Bessler (Councillor) Orffyreus was born in 1680, near
Zittan, Alsace, France. He was a man of great ability and attained an
eminent place in public life. The title "Councillor," he acquired by
having been selected Councillor to the Prince of Hesse Castle. The
best information concerning him indicates that he was of very erratic
temperament, given to fits of melancholy and extreme anger. In early
life he was a student of theology and medicine, but his penchant was
really for mechanics. He claimed that in his search for whatever might
prove curious and valuable he had discovered Perpetual Motion, and that
between the years 1712 and 1719 he had made two successfully working
machines on his system. The following discussions disclose all that is
known of the claimed inventions of these two distinguished Perpetual
Motion workers.
The alleged inventions of the Marquis of Worcester is stated by him in
the 56th article of his book entitled "Century of Names and Scantlings
of Such Inventions as at Present I Can Call to Mind to Have Tried and
Perfected," and translated from the ancient English style in which his
book is written into modern style of English, reads as follows:
The inventor offers the accompanying sketch, with description of an
Hydraulic Mover, for communicating power to machinery, and recently
invented by him:--
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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