
By: Fred Hatfield
Re: Newman's Energy Machine

I've just spent a day reading all the Newman energy machine threads on the
SCIENCE conference.

I have been following the Joe Newman thread with interest.  In the
early eighties, his 'energy machine' was the constant subject of
local talk shows, and for some reason it was always being brought up
by the local biblical fundamentalists.

I had an extensive conversation with him over local station WSMB in
which I asked him point blank if he had ever measured the input power
versus the output power.  His reaction and answers indicated that he
had no knowledge whatever of measurement techniques or even basic
fundamentals of power flow and consumption.

He stated in a later radio interview that he would settle the controversy
completely by driving an automobile from Lucedale, Mississippi to New
Orleans using only the power from a 1.5 volt pen cell.

We are still awaiting his arrival.

During the questioning, I could never find out if he ever had a machine
running for any extended period of time.  It would seem that if any of
his models had been successful, the first thing he would do is attach it
to some kind of load and see how long it runs.  Evidently, this has
never occurred to him.

Since NAFTA passed, he has shown renewed interest in promoting his
perpetual motion machine since he did get a patent from Mexico.

His new interest was written up in the Times-Picayune by Staff writer Bill
Grady on February 12, 1996:

>---------------------------------------------------------------------
This time around, inventer Joe Newman is sticking to the subject of his
energy machine.  He is no longer talking about his private life,
particularly his 1989 self-proclaimed double marriage to his 30-year old
secretary and her 8-year old daughter.

Newman conceded last week that talk about his lifestyle hurt his
credibility, but the onetime wundkerkind said he is undeterred from the
goal he set for himself 30 years ago: to create and mass-manufacture a
motor-generator that produces as much power as it consumes, at a price
far below conventional energy sources.

In the mid-1980's Newman and his invention looked like hot properties.
Locally, news anchor Garland Robinette, then of WWL-TV, did a series on
the energy machine.  Nationally, Newman made an appearance on "The Tonight
Show".  He also claimed to have numerous scientists and powerful business
people in his camp.

Then came a public relations debacle for the ages.  The eccentric scientist
of Lucedale, Mississippi said God wanted him to marry the 8 year old. He
said God also advised him to run for the presidency.
[...]
Newman, who is also the inventor of the plastic-encased barbell, sounded
upbeat too: "The radio shows are picking me up again.  I'm like a steel
wall.  I know there's a God and he's with me and I'm finally fixing to
get credit for my life's work."
>-----------------------------------------------------------------------

Has anyone analyzed his plastic-encased barbell?

Fred.

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 * Origin: The Digital Cottage in New Orleans 504-897-6614 (1:396/65.0)

