Hello All,

I am starting this thread for those who are interested in recreating Besslers wheel. We can begin by collecting all of the available information on the descriptions of the wheel.

Then we will decide which information is more credible than other information.
If Bessler said it, it obviously would bear more weight, than lets say a newspaper article.

1) We know it was in the shape of a wheel.
2) We know 8 weights per revolution were heard.
3) We know the weights are controlled by levers hooked to the perimeter.
4) We know springs were involved. Many people of the time thought his device had a main spring and would stop turning after a couple weeks. Bessler said he was using springs but not it the way people thought.
One witness said Bessler pushed down on what appeared to be a lever and heard the sound of a spring when Bessler let go while installing the weight.
5) We know there was a rotating disc which Bessler called the key to his device. Also known as the low drum or grindstone.
6) We know there were strings according to Count Karl.
7) We know the perimeter is what lifts the weights. Lets call this the high drum. According to Bessler.
We know he built his wheel in layers.

Now when we dig a little deeper and visualize the children playing on broken columns as Bessler describes it, we know the children do not lift the weights. And because the high drum lifts the weights, I can and do draw the conclusion that the low drum serves the same function as the children.
Which is not to lift the weight but to SHIFT the weight closer to the column.

The axle is the top of the column.

Now with this deduction we can discover the actual length of the levers, or eliminate those lengths which do not apply.

Now using a mental experiement lets take the lever length to the extreme's.
According to Bessler if you looked at the levers going over the columns it is like the children are rolling the levers over the columns.

Now lets make the lever 1 inch long. The weight cannot reach the axle which would not give the appearance of the lever rolling over the column.

Now lets make the lever the diameter of the wheel. It would be so long the weight could not move because the side of the lever would be touching the axle at all times.

Now lets reduce the extreme, we have one of 3 choices, a lever shorter than the radius of the wheel, one as long as the radius of the wheel, and one longer than the radius of the wheel. It is readily apparent that shorter than the radius has the same problem as the 1 inch lever.

So we are left with the same as the radius of the wheel or longer than the radius. If the lever is the same as the radius of the wheel the lever doesn't hit the axle but the weight would. Which in my opinion eliminates this also, because it would not look like the lever is rolling over the column. So we are left with one conclusion, the lever must exceed the radius of the wheel. This would also create a fulcrum on the axle when the weight reaches 9:00. Because the pivot point is on the opposite side of the axle, around 1:00 or 2:00

A FULCRUM!!!! Harnessing energy once the wheel is in motion!!!

Critical thinking is such a wonderful thing.

How many people are lost now? 

Next entry will be the spring attachment.

Feel free to add any information on the wheel. Be sure to include the source of the information.

Don't forget the three criteria
1) you must harness the power of gravity
2) you must store potential energy to be released at the specific time.
3) you must take full advantage of the kinetic energy once the wheel is in motion.

overtaker,

Yes that account along with something Bessler said. I can't recall which writing I was reading. I came to the conclusion that the attachment of the levers was on the perimeter of the wheel.

greetings ken!

you do seem to have a collection of data on mr. Bessler, but what i don't understand is why people are so obsessed with him. if you figured something out that is promising, i would much rather like to hear about that, because think about it, no one knows what he actually had, and no one will ever know for sure. so if you do figure out a way to get it to work, take credit for it man, Bessler didn't do anything but point you in a direction, you found it on your own

one must first assume a gravity wheel is possible, secondly that Bessler actually did it, and thirdly that he never lied one time, or changed his device over the course of all his discriptions

but mr bessler is not here to defend himself, all well


in the mean time however, i would very much like to see a drawing possibly of your theory, or what you might think he did, if just to illustrate a few of your points, maybe clear the light for a few in the dark

hope to hear from you soon

overtaker,

 I believe that Bessler was speaking of a clock movement when referring to those things. Like in a grandfather clock, it has weights, springs and you have to wind it.

I believe that was a red herring if you will.

Ken,  Off topic.  If you need some Tile advice for the home you are building,  I would recommend Johnbridge.com.  There are far too many hacks out there in some states.  Their forum is excellent.

overtaker,

Thanks for the tile tip, but I have laid my share of tile in my day.
I might go look anyway to see if there are any new products easier to use, that have been developed since I did any tile work.

Mental break. HAHA

overtaker

I do not know if I would use the term aimlessly to describe the weights in the slots. they are aimed at the anvil. I believe that particular statement might refer to the look of all the weights once the wheel is in motion. That's my opinion.

Ken,  In your design, do you lift 4 lbs. four quarters high as 1 lb. drops one quarter? 

My favourite clue by the way.