Re: Question for John Collins

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Posted by John Collins (194.164.38.13) on December 11, 2002 at 23:51:29:

In Reply to: Re: Question for John Collins posted by Rainer on December 11, 2002 at 12:04:20:

First responding to Scott's note that the description of the weights came from Acta Eruditorum - that's correct and it was written by Wolff who used to contribute to the paper. In other writings he enlarges on the same theme and he says that he speculates that the weights are elastic or spring loaded. I commented on the potential piercing position in my book and wondered if the hanky was a ruse to divert attention from where the holes in the weights might be. Then I wondered if it was just a Bessler red-herring because I am still not sure that knowing where they were would actually help us at all.

I'll dig out the original German so that you can translate it again for us Rainer - I don't speak or read German myself and have had to trust in other's work.

John Collins

Hi John,

: maybe I can be of help with the translations of that part if you can show it, don't think showing 2 or 3 lines would breach any copyright .. would it? I'm german and have a technical background (Toolmaker, Ind. Designer)

: Cheers,

: Rainer
:
: : :Hi Grim,

: : I don't know where the "pierced in the middle" bit came from unless it was speculation from my book. I only know for sure that the weighs were estimated to be about 4 lbs and "cylindrical". Cylindrical is a tricky word when translated from 18thC German. If you look in a dictionary there are dozens of alternatives such as "rounded" and "curved". No description of any piercing exists because Profesor Wolff who described the weights also said that they were wrapped in handkerchief before being handed to him. An 18thC hanky was a much bigger item than today's little patches of cloth so the weights were well-covered and impossible to describe in any detail. Again, the springs were speculation by Wolff, and not based on certain knowledge. I have looked for alternative descriptions of the weights and continue to do so but have never found any others but Wolff's.

: : John Collins

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Comments:	: First responding to Scott's note that the description of the weights came from Acta Eruditorum - that's correct and it was written by Wolff who used to contribute to the paper. In other writings he enlarges on the same theme and he says that he speculates that the weights are elastic or spring loaded. I commented on the potential piercing position in my book and wondered if the hanky was a ruse to divert attention from where the holes in the weights might be. Then I wondered if it was just a Bessler red-herring because I am still not sure that knowing where they were would actually help us at all. : I'll dig out the original German so that you can translate it again for us Rainer - I don't speak or read German myself and have had to trust in other's work. : John Collins : Hi John, : : maybe I can be of help with the translations of that part if you can show it, don't think showing 2 or 3 lines would breach any copyright .. would it? I'm german and have a technical background (Toolmaker, Ind. Designer) : : Cheers, : : Rainer : : : : : :Hi Grim, : : : I don't know where the "pierced in the middle" bit came from unless it was speculation from my book. I only know for sure that the weighs were estimated to be about 4 lbs and "cylindrical". Cylindrical is a tricky word when translated from 18thC German. If you look in a dictionary there are dozens of alternatives such as "rounded" and "curved". No description of any piercing exists because Profesor Wolff who described the weights also said that they were wrapped in handkerchief before being handed to him. An 18thC hanky was a much bigger item than today's little patches of cloth so the weights were well-covered and impossible to describe in any detail. Again, the springs were speculation by Wolff, and not based on certain knowledge. I have looked for alternative descriptions of the weights and continue to do so but have never found any others but Wolff's. : : : John Collins
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