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.
