HISTORY OF DAVENPORT'S INVENTION. IN 1830 Professor Henry, now of Princeton College, NewJersey, but then residing at Albany, produced the first electromagnet manufactured in the United States. His description of its construction and power, which was published in the scientific Journals at the time, excited much curiosity in their readers; the great mass of the people, however, had little or no knowledge of these facts. The Penfield iron works at Crown Point, on Lake Champlain, were then in operation, but yielding a poor return for the labour bestowed on them, in consequence of what is termed the leanness of the ore. A gentleman desirous of discovering some improved method of working such magnetic ores, (or load stone) on account of the superior qualities of the iron some of them yield, held a consultation with Professor Henry of Albany, and Professor Eaton of Troy, on the subject. This gentleman finally invented a machine principally composed of a wooden cylinder, in which was inserted several hundred points, or teeth, of magnetised steel. These revolved through a mass of pulverized ore, from which they extracted the particles of iron. After these magnetic points left the ore, they passed through a brush which removed the iron adhering to them. This invention was found very useful to many, especially the proprietors of the Penfield works. Mr. Thomas Davenport, who was then residing in Brandon, Rutland County, Vermont, about twenty miles from Crown Point, and pursuing the occupation of a Blacksmith, went to the Penfield works in 1833, for the purpose of purchasing iron. It is proper here to remark that Mr. Davenport was at this time somewhat familiar with the compass, and the ordinary tedious process of producing magnetism in steel by friction, but had not even heard of Electro-Magnetism. On witnessing the operation of the machine before mentioned, he very naturally inquired how they charged so many magnets? He was answered on a galvanic battery, pointing to an electro-magnet. The exhibitor also showed the battery which he called the cups. Mr. Davenport being thus erroneously instructed, continued to call the magnet a battery, and the battery the cups, and finally obtained his rotary motion before he was acquainted with the correct names of the articles he was using. But to resume the thread of our narrative. When Mr. Davenport was shown the power of this small electro-magnet, (weighing about four pounds, and which had been made by Professor Henry,) he was so struck with its novelty, and convinced of the important results it might be made to produce, that he immediately demanded the price of the apparatus, and purchased it instead of the iron for which he had journeyed to the place. On reaching home with his magnet and battery, he exhibited the same to his neighbours, and confidently told them that from this power he could combine sufficient energy to move the largest boats. His declaration was received with general incredulity and ridicule. He was not discouraged or disappointed by the reception he met with. He thought and reasoned for himself; and relinquishing his trade, devoted his undivided attention to the object in view. After trying hundreds of experiments, and devoting several months to an intensity of reflection, which would have brought many others to a lunatic asylum, he finally in July, 1834, accomplished the arduous task of bringing the invisible and mysterious power of magnetism into subjection. A power which, "steady as the needle to the pole," had been before thought the most unyielding of all others; forming an arrangement by which this very polarity, this steadiness of purpose, is made to produce a rotary motion. Mr. Davenport, in common with all others who had laboured to attain the same object, was governed by the correct opinion; that when a rotary motion should be obtained, the victory would be achieved. That the scientific and mechanical principle being found, an enlargement, on increased number of parts, would produce any desirable amount of power. Although these opinions admit of no controversy; for they are based on mathematics, and are daily illustrated in all the varieties of machinery, yet, owing to the novelty of the power, its invisible and silent operation, the minds of the most who at first examined it were so overwhelmed with the achievement of what they had so long considered impossible, that they feared to rely on the best settled principles of matter and motion; and hesitated to embark in endeavours to improve and introduce the invention. It may be well here to remark that few perhaps, except inventors themselves, are aware of the labour and thought necessary to improve and perfect an important invention, after it has been first produced. The most who examine a piece of simplified and perfected machinery seem to imagine that it was struck out by a single thought of the inventor ; such, however, is seldom, if ever, the case. Although Mr. Davenport had discovered the principle, and formed an arrangement which produced a rotating motion by repeated changes of magnetic poles, he was aware that his machine, in common with most other first inventions, admitted of, and even required, several improvements before it could be advantageously brought into public use. It was not only necessary that funds should be procured, but also, that other minds should be brought to act with his, in accomplishing so desirable an end. Here Mr. Davenport met with the greatest difficulties he had yet encountered. He had produced the invention; his mind required rest, and he desired assistance to improve. He found it easier to operate with electricity than mind; easier to magnetize iron than men; and much easier to obtain compliments than money. His first machine performed only about two revolutions per minute; and was not of course very promising to those who looked no farther than to what was immediately before their eyes. But he succeeded in persuading an individual of his neighbourhood to engage with him in improvements, &c. by promising one half of the avails to be realized. This friend, however, soon abandoned the enterprise as visionary, and kindly told Mr. Davenport that he was perfectly welcome to what had been done. He next made application to a gentleman of wealth, promising all the avails, except one or two thousand dollars, if he would assist him in perfecting and bringing the invention into public use. This gentleman had such a dread of the ridicule which would be heaped upon him in case of failure, that he insisted the arrangement, if any was made, should be kept an inviolable secret. Mr. Davenport conscious of the integrity of his motives, and confident in the final triumph of his exertions, refused the terms. In December, 1834, Mr. Davenport took his machine to Middlebury College, Vermont, and exhibited it in that institution. Himself and the machine were treated with kind attention. Professor Turner in a particular manner expressed his confidence in its applicability as a motive power, and advised Mr. Davenport to persevere. This first encouragement, from a gentleman of high natural, as well as acquired talents, was very gratefully received by Mr. Davenport. On his return from Middlebury he succeeded with much difficulty in making an arrangement with another individual to aid in bringing forward the discovery. This friend, who was also a mechanic, persevered for some months, and was finally obliged to relinquish his exertions for want of the necessary funds; retaining, however, his entire confidence in the principle. An amicable settlement was made between the parties, and Mr. Davenport was again left to seek anew for assistance. During this time the machine had been so much improved as to make about thirty revolutions per minute. In June, 1835, Mr. Davenport brought his machine to |