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· THE WHEEL AT GERA ( 1712 )

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THE WHEEL AT DRASCHWITZ (1714 )
WANDERING ORFFYREUS AND HIS ENEMIES
THE WHEEL AT MERSEBERG 1715 .
THE EXAMINATION AT MERSEBURGH
ORFFYREUS DESTROYS MESEBURGH WHEEL
COUNT KARL, LEIBNIZ AND ORFFYREUS
WHEEL AT THE WEISSENSTEIN ( 1717 )
KARL WATCHES THE SECRET
EXAMINATION OF WEISSENSTEIN WHEEL ( 1717 )
EYE WITNESSES OF WEISSENSTEIN WHEEL
DIALOGUES AT THE CASTLE OF WEISSENSTEIN
ORFFYREUS DESTROYES THE WHEEL
CONTRACT WITH CZAR : SILVER LINING
CONSPIRACY BY GARTNER AND MAID
1730 : COUNT KARL DIES
DEATH OF ORFFYREUS 1745
PERSONALITY OF ORFFYREUS
DRAWINGS OF ORFFYREUS WHEELS
ORFFYREUS' APOLOGIA POETICA
DAS TRIUMPHIRENDE PERPETUUM MOBILE ORFFYREANUM
MASCHINEN TRACTATE (TREATISE ON MACHINES)
QUALITY OF EVIDENCE : CONCLUSION
ORFFYREUS' TIMES
Collection of Clues about Bessler Wheel
FALSE SPECULATIONS AND WEIRD EXPLANATIONS
WHERE DOES ENERGY COME FROM ?
A TRIBUTE TO ORFFYREUS
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6th June 1712.
Orffyreus Proclaimed that He Solved the Riddle of Perpetual Motion.   

On 6th June 1712, Orffyreus proclaimed that he solved the riddle of perpetual motion.  He announced to the world that he had invented a wheel that would move forever without any source of power from outside.  Orffyreus was thirty-two years of age when he constructed his "self moving wheel” at his home in Gera.

 

According to witnesses, his first wheel was three feet in diameter and four inches thick. This machine was a hollow wooden wheel about 3 feet diameter and 4 inches thick with a horizontal axle supported at each end by vertical posts. Orffyreus used the Leipzeg ell in his measurements (1 ell = 22.3 inches). Once the wheel was set in motion with a gentle push, it would augment its speed to about fifty revolutions per minute and would maintain that speed forever without any outside assistance. Orffyreus   said it would continue turning at this speed as long as desired or until it was forcibly stopped. Orffyreus fastened the wheel with a rope to keep the wheel motionless or sometimes he used   a wooden peg to hold the wheel.   When fixing peg was drawn out of it, it would begin to revolve again with the weights thumping inside. Power of this wheel was good enough to lift about twenty pounds a few feet high. This was incredible but we must believe it because Orffyreus demonstrated it many times to the public with the help of the rope that curled around its axle as shown in his drawing.  Interior of the machine was completely hid by heavy oilcloth, which stretched tightly all over the wheel. The wheel was also used to power his grinder in his workshop.

 

It was indeed a world-shaking event.  In the history of mankind, first time, the long cherished dream of getting  “free Power” came true. While in the heaven, Greek materialist philosophers who preached, “you cannot get something out of nothing” were shocked; scientist on the earth saw law of conservation of energy biting dust.  ‘To get something from nothing’ is a miracle but Orffyreus made it a reality.    His wheel was witnessed by hundreds of men, woman, and children who rushed to venue to watch the impossible spectacle. A large crowd scrambled in his house as everybody wanted to see the magic and peculiar apparatus that turned magic into a reality. Especially on Sundays a long queue formed in front of his house; it delighted its inventor. People passed their judgments on the machine.  Of course, many people ignorant of perpetual motion criticized him, believing that a wound-up spring or some other secret device was operating it. Others ridiculed that invention was good-for-nothing like a toy. A few people uttered words of appreciation, but he did not benefit from these either. He soon built a second wheel at Gera.


Soon after Bessler demonstrated his first wheel to the public at Gera, few jealous people began to spread the rumors that he used a fraudulent, hidden means to power the machine. Orffyreus felt grieved at stupidity of those people. He was completely honest in his intentions. Orffyreus, not a very amiable man, was dismayed at the people's lack of interest so he built a better wheel. It was about 5 feet diameter, but no further data is available.

 

To counter the allegations, Bessler decided to visit the court of the ruling monarch of the region, the Count and Countess of Reuss, Germany, to request an official test that would remove the false doubts and shut the mouth of liars. Orffyreus expressed his gratefulness to Count and Countess when they heed to his request. Count and Countess themselves took great interest in Orffyreus machine so the test was held by the Count and Countess themselves, along with many other doctors, professors, and various local noblemen and dignitaries. . The wheel was officially tested and certified on 9th October 1712. It was expertly examined, tested, and pronounced without fraud or trickery.  Wheel was also recommended for special protection and benefit.  

The certificate states:            

 The long sought after and desired Perpetuum Mobile has been invented and constructed recently, through God's grace, here in Gera. It is a unique and highly useful machine that rotates without any weights, wind, water, or spring mechanisms. It has its own Motus Perpetuum that not only maintains, moves, and turns it around continuously, but it is also able to easily drive other machines for which a great force is necessary, such as waterworks and mills... The machine was first constructed by Mr. Orffyreus here and put into its remarkable speedy rotation on the sixth of June in this current year 1712.  It was shown several times to Her Grace the Dowager-Countess and His grace the Count in person; and also, by their gracious consent and agreement, everything was shown and made available to us. Now we have undersigned this testimonial in confirmation of the above, and to attest to the fame and honor of the inventor, and for his special protection, benefit, recommendation, and promotion...

 Signed and sealed by our own hands at Gera, 9th October, 1712.”

           

                   A total of 14 signatures attest to the above statements in certificate. The certificate does not describe the specific tests performed, or the details of the investigation. It relies largely on the belief that the examiners were men of impeccable reputation and therefore beyond criticism. 

 

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Original German Certificate

“Nachdem das so lange gesuchte und gewünschte Perpetuum Mobile durch Göttliche Gnade alhier zu Gera neulichst nur erfunden und verfertiget worden eine künstliche und höchst=nützliche Machine, welche ohne alle äusserliche Gewichte Wind Wasser und Feder=Werck durch einen gantz sonderbaren innerlichen Motum Perpetuum ihr eignes Corpo selbst in continuirlichem Lauff nicht nur alleine erhält beweget und umtreibet sondern über dieses dazu noch andere Machinen so grosse force vonnöhten haben (als Wasser=Künste Mühlen u.d.g.) zu treiben leicht capable ist; und aber nun wider Vermuhten in allen benachbarten Gegenden schon sehr ruchtbar auch Nachricht eingelauffen wie einige von Erfinders so genanten Freunden durch verschlagene occasion sich gelüsten lassen die Invention gedachter Machine so zu sagen abzustehlen und selbige sogar nach zu machen auch auf andere Arth und Weise ihr Interesse alleine dabey eyfrigst zu suchen schon allbereit angefangen. Als wird hingegen hiermit und Krafft dieses wohlbedächtig attestiret: daß Herr Dr. Johann Ernst Elias Orffyreus, Med.Pract. und Mathematicus, aus Ober=Laußnitz gebürtig (so eine geraume Zeit alhier gewohnet Sich auch jederzeit honnet Christlich still und also aufgeführet daß Ihme dißfalls nichts als Liebes und Gutes nachzusagen) der durch Göttliche Gnade wahrhafftige Urheber Erfinder und Verfertiger dieses so raren Wercks alleine ist und sonst kein anderer mehr der sich etwan mittler Zeit solcher Erfindung auch anmassen oder rühmen möchte! Gestalt dann mehrer=meldte Machine, schon vom sechsten Junij an / dieses jetzt lauffenden 1712. Jahrs alhier auf dem Niclaus=Berge in Herrn Richters Hause (auf welcher Stelle jetzo eine Kirche gebauet ist)von obgedachten Herrn Orffyreo das erstemal im perfecten Lauff curieus zu schauen verfertiget gewesen. Wie dann selbiges nicht alleine von Ihro Hoch=Gräfflichen Gnaden der Hoch=Gräfl. Frau Witwen alhier und Sr. Hoch=Gräfl. Gnaden des XXII. (item XXIV.&c.) Herren Graffen zu etlichen malen in eigener hohen Person selbst gesehen sondern auch mit deren gnädigen Consensund Gutachten uns Endes=benamten sämbtlich gezeiget und gewiesen worden. Weswegen nun zu desto mehrer Beglaubigung dieses Testimonium, Gott zu Lob Ruhm und Ehre dem Erfinder aber zu sonderbarem Schutz Nutz Recommendation und Förderung für allen respective Hohen und Niedern Kunst= und Weißheit=liebenden Personen ertheilet auch hiernächst von Uns allerseits eigenhändig unterschrieben und besiegelt worden. Geschehen zu Gera den 9. Tag Octob. Anno 1712.”

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