The Clues...

[scott]

Thanks for the pic, Jon, but I reiterate the question: what are the origins of the object and how did you acquire the photo?
Thanks,
Scott

[wikiwheel]

A link to that plaque...

link

Looks like it is in Karlschaffen

Mik

[John Collins]

It is in Karlshafen, over the door of the house he is supposed to have lived in. I have a picture I took of it when I was there. It looks quite large in the photo but is actually quite small, about 12 inches across. Notice the square and compasses and the protractor, same instruments as in his portrait. Some have linked these objects to Freemasonry.

JC

[graham]

Hi John, do you still have the photo of the house in Karlshafen?

If you do could you post it here? It would be interesting to see where JB hung his hat.

Graham

[docfeelsgood]

ATTN . Boiler Bill ; nuther yarn !! that plaque over the door is an actual casting of Johann . Johann was VERY pleased with it but his family was horrified at the looks of it and hated it !!! still it has endured 300 years , amazing !!! must have used your double sided tape !!! thanks to whoever for posting the link . Doc.

[ovyyus]

Hey there Doc, if John's report of the plaque size is correct, about 12 inches across, then that would make Bessler's depicted face about 3 to 4 inches wide, or about the size of an average apple. Of course I might have it slightly wrong, it could be more like the size of a medium pear, or perhaps a navel orange. Definitely no bigger than a smallish cantaloupe, though :D

[docfeelsgood]

OK . Boiler Bill ; i'll add to the yarn a little . in that house at that time that plaque arrived he also had a ACTUAL CAST "BUST" of HIMSELF, if thats what they call em that sat on a very large ORNATE pedestal . i would assume that the plaque is just a scaled down from the bust . he was very proud of THEM !! i have no idea what became of the bust , who knows maybe they buried that with him !! as they sure didn't like lookin at it from day 1 !! i sure wouldn't think it stayed in the house too much longer after he died if they disliked it so . 8>] ) {my likeness} Doc.

[docfeelsgood]

more same yarn , dad said he arrived home with THEM [plural] in the back of his wagon . he had commisoned some one to make them. " it cost him a fortune " but he wanted them . i'm pretty darn sure the statue was bronze . which might more justify the expense rather than plain plaster . i believe it was about waist length , eyes closed , more like a death mask as per his description although he of course had never seen the plaque or statue . it was not cast where he lived but a few ?? mile away . perhaps 20 to 40 or more . not sure anymore there . there was something else eventfull on this trip to or from the foundry but i cant recall it at this time . he was close to his destination to pickup i believe and something happened . BUT WHAT ??? curse my ole memory !!!! Doc. spooked team , runaway ??? i think something along those lines , and whatever his proximity to something was he was in a world of crap . just trivia anyway !! be great in your movie tho Boiler Bill !!

[DrWhat]

We should start another link or entire section called "Story Telling" or something similar. We could make up great fictional stories of Bessler's life. I reckon it would be real fun!

For example did you know Bessler wore a hat that was the shape of his wheel for two full weeks and no one realised!

[docfeelsgood]

WELL DR. just because your head is shaped like a hubcap dont think your a wheel !! you know what dogs do to wheels !!!

[DrWhat]

Nice one doc!!

[docfeelsgood]

some of this is speculation on my part . but i believe that Johann [as per JC's book] had requested and been given permission to be buried in his own garden with "A MONUMENT of HIS OWN design to mark it" . so with the eyes closed on both the statue & the plaque signifying death could it have have been his tombstone in waiting that people here have speculated on what it looked like ??? next question is what happened to it ??? did the family set it below ground and leave his grave unmarked ?? could it have been stolen for its metal value ?? confiscated by the war efforts ??? some more of the yarn has come back , enuff to finish it . Johann was almost to the foundry , arriving at noon and someone blew a blast on one of them new fangled steam whistles !! team bolted , he managed to saw them down just inches from the front doors which were open into the foundry . the trip home was uneventful and arriving home it took 4 STOUT men to unload the statue and wrestle it into the house !! ok JC or somebody get out your metal detector !! can you imagine a crazed team and wagon in a foundry ?? that woulda been a disaster !! and probobly the end of Johann and several others !! Doc. (just trivia)

[ovyyus]

...so with the eyes closed on both the statue & the plaque...

Doc, the eyes aren't closed on the plaque.

[docfeelsgood]

Boiler Bill ; well guess i'll haffta blow that picture up and have a look see . dad said it looked like a corpsuckle and i agree . look closed ta me from where i sittin . but i'll give ya the benefit of the doubt . course he mighta JUST opened em because he heard the wheel was gonna be runnin again very soon and wanted ta keep a peeper peeled !! keep a peeper on him ,,, first thing ya know he'll be smilin !! Doc. 8>} ) fergot ta add he went in that foundry spittin nails , "if your gonna have them doors open put a gate across em !" yep ,,, darn good advice !!!

[GadgetGeek]

Johann [as per JC's book] had requested and been given permission to be buried in his own garden

He probably wanted them to dig up and discover the wheel he buried there. Can I borrow a shovel?