Perpetual motion machine
Date
ca.1683-1684
After
Object type
Archive reference number
Manuscript page number
p342
Material
Dimensions
height (page): 312mm
width (page): 201mm
width (page): 201mm
Subject
Content object
Description
Copy of a draft by John Speed (now Ms Ashmole 1813, Bodleian Library, Oxford), originally drawn up and sent to Henry Briggs (1561-1630), professor of geometry at Gresham College on 3 June 1604 of a device of 'continual motion' by a Dutchman 'dwelling at Ipswich'. The Dutchman was the inventor Cornelis Drebbel (1572-1633), who dedicated such a machine to James I which was exhibited at the Royal Palace at Eltham.
This drawing was among the papers of John Speed's son, Dr Samuel Speed (d. 1681) of Christ Church, Oxford. It was from William Musgrave, Oxford and was shown at the meeting of the Royal Society on 14 January, 1685.
There is another copy at LBC/9/457.
This drawing was among the papers of John Speed's son, Dr Samuel Speed (d. 1681) of Christ Church, Oxford. It was from William Musgrave, Oxford and was shown at the meeting of the Royal Society on 14 January, 1685.
There is another copy at LBC/9/457.
Transcription
Mr Briggs not withstanding my much buisness and troublesome observations, I have here sent you the under Draught of the most strangest Worke, that ever my Eyes beheld. A Gentleman being Dutch born and Dwelling at Ipswick, hath made a continuall Motion of this bigness and size as neer as I could guess, the work is this, a Ball or round Globe over standing without moving, and upon the norht and south sides a Syall within like unto a clock or some Dyall both with moving and showing the courses of the Heabeus round about the East and West parts, doth a Ring or Hollow Trunck of Cristall stand, and that without moving and the same fillee to his half with fair water, which without any inforcement that can be percieved, doth ebb and flow with the seas in every part of the world....
Description of parts of device on image, including:
A Round white ball within a hoop of gold, which by his moving from C showed most plainly the Moons Age, and day of the month
A Round Ball or Globe of Gold about this Size diameter which standeth over without moving
A Box, Pillars, and Top of Ebony very curiously wrought
Transcribed by the Making Visible project
Description of parts of device on image, including:
A Round white ball within a hoop of gold, which by his moving from C showed most plainly the Moons Age, and day of the month
A Round Ball or Globe of Gold about this Size diameter which standeth over without moving
A Box, Pillars, and Top of Ebony very curiously wrought
Transcribed by the Making Visible project
Object history
At the meeting of the Royal Society on 14 January 1685, ‘In this letter of Mr. Musgrave was inclosed a paper, found in a study of Dr. Speed [according to Birch: Samuel Speed, installed Canon of Christ Church in May 1674, and vicar of Godalmin in Surrey, where he died January 22d, 1681], late of Christ-Church, Oxford, and said to have been written by his father to Mr. Briggs [Henry Briggs, professor of geometry at Gresham College, according to Birch]. It seemed to be a description of one of Cornelius Drebbel’s inventions’ (Birch 4:356). The text is printed at Birch 4:357.
Associated place