Posted by Jeff (216.12.57.148) on March 24, 2003 at 06:55:29:
In Reply to: HELP/And again more info posted by David on March 23, 2003 at 16:09:41:
David,
I think you should be aware (and probably are) that some of the sentences you have listed may not be accurate translations. Especially the one about the "upper weight". If I am not mistaken there are several translations of the same document, the most recent being posted by John Collins (see message 380 thru 386 of this board). In that translation there is no mention of an Upper Weight. It seems the translations are colored with whatever preconceived notions and ideas were in the minds of the translators. I have no knowledge of 1700's german, but someone with that skill should have no trouble finding the words "upper weight, swinging, at right angles, applied vertically" if those words are indeed in the document. If they are not, then those translations should be revised. Perhaps if someone in posession of the original text could post it here, a reader might attempt a translation. Rainer is german, and he may be able to shed light on this (see message 547).
As Gill Simo has stated, and as per the most recent translation, the weights motive force was derived from the "PM Principle" which appears to be based on Bessler's ‘principle of excess weight’. I am not sure why those words are in quotes, and I hope they are not another example of the translator putting his own ideas into the translation.
Your hydraulic/air/water ideas and observations are interesting.
Jeff H