George PIGGOTT
Electro-Gravitation
Electrical Experimenter (July 1920)
(Reprinted in Richard A. Ford: Homemade Lightning -- Creative
Experiments in Electricity; McGraw-Hill; ISBN 0-07-137323-3)
Overcoming Gravitation
by George Piggott
For some time past there has been quite a controversy going on regarding the subject of interplanetary communication by means of electric waves. I have been very much interested in the above on account of experiments which I have made and data collected pertaining to gravitation effects on high frequency oscillations and electronic discharges in general. A series of experiments which I conducted during the year 1904, caused me to formulate the theory that interplanetary transmission of electrical impulses was an impossibility on account of the sun’s resisting and absorbing influence which virtually isolates our planet from all other electrical vibrations of a lesser tension or power.
Gravitation Suspended in Experiments
The above theorem was arrived at after I had succeeded in sustaining a metallic object in space by means of a counter-gravitational effect produced through the action of an electric field upon the above object. A strong electric field was produced by means of a special form of generator and when the metallic object was held within its influence it drew up to approximately a distance of 1 mm from the center of the field, then was repelled backward toward an earthed contact, going within 10 cm of the same when it was again attracted toward the field’s center but this time getting no nearer than 5 cm from the polar nucleus. This backward and forward movement contained for some time until the metallic object at last came to a comparatively stable position, about 25 cm from the field’s center where it remained until the power was shut off. While the metallic object was suspended, I was able to study the effect of the surrounding field and found by means of a powerful microscope, assisted by the insertion of a vacuum tube within the field, that the metallic object (having of course a certain electrical capacity) became fully charged and gave off part of said charge to and against the surrounding field which tended to hold said object in space, apparently without any other sustaining influence. Around the outside of the metallic object and extending to a distance of about 1/2 cm was a completely dark belt or space in which there appeared to be no electrical agitation due, possibly, to neutralization caused by the contact of the large incoming energy supply from the field’s center of with the small oscillating radiations from metallic object. The ever-changing action of attraction and repulsion resulted in the overcoming of gravitation. Going farther I will state that the dark belt above mentioned after many tests gave no sign of electrification, inasmuch as its width was but 1/2 cm. In fact, a dark line was shown in the vacuum tube when it was introduced between metallic object and center of field. It is my firm conviction that somewhere on the outer confines of our planet there exists a similar counteracting belt through which naught but the gravitational vibrations of the sun penetrate, and these vibrations absolutely annihilate or absorb all other less powerful ones.
Therefore, after making many experiments to ascertain as nearly as possible the absolute facts and conditions as they exist, I have come to the conclusion that all electrical disturbances not due to our own radio oscillations, on this globe are due to the sun’s electrical activities in semi-inductional contact with our polar extremities.
Details of ‘Defying Gravity’
The illustrations 1 to 4 will possibly give a fair idea of the apparatus used, and the manner in which the experiments were carried on.
Figure 1 shows the general scheme of arrangement of devices. In the lower left hand corner is shown the ‘ground contact’, which can be turned around and placed in any position found necessary; in fact, when a metallic object is in suspension, this ground can be entirely eliminated.
I have found that any substance within the limits of my experiments can he held in suspension, viz: water globules, metallic objects, and insulators being among those tried. Some materials such as cork and wood exhibit peculiar properties when suspended; a piece of green maple would not rest in one position in the field, but oscillated backward and forward, continuously, going to the field’s center, then back to ground
Heated materials exhibited equally peculiar characteristics: A silver ball 11 mm in diameter when heated, remained farther away from the field’s center than when at normal temperature; upon cooling it gradually drew up to the position it would occupy if unheated.
Figure 2 shows a generator of the Wimhurst type (improved), the generating or collecting units being entirely enclosed in an insulating case and operated under a pressure of 3 atmospheres; completely dry air only, enters the case through the drying device attached to the air pump shown in Figure 1. Interior parts of the generator will retain quite a powerful charge for a long period of time.
Figure 3 illustrates suspension stand and field producing electrode. The latter can be revolved in any direction by means of a spring motor shown on the upper section of the stand.
The small apertures seen in electrode, which is hollow, are there for the purpose of ascertaining the action of the reduced field tension at these points, and are also made use of to hold different sized metallic discs, which are cemented to insulating plates, forming condensers, the function of which is to create weak opposite polarities at these points and thus show a reaction on the suspended object and also a greater ocular effect in the vacuum tube.
Figure 4 is a detailed drawing of the vacuum tube principally used; this is of the spectrum type, without sealed-in electrodes and when introduced into the electrical fields, flows very brightly at its extremities, especially giving a sharp line bordering the dark space around the metallic object. A very high vacuum is sustained in the tube and it is found necessary to build it of a very perfect insulating glass; the bulb must be kept absolutely dry on its outer surface.
Different tubes have been used beside the above; corrugated spherical, cone shaped, and cylindrical, with various results.
The electric field produced for suspension experiments is very powerful and intense, being detectable with a vacuum tube at a distance of over 6 meters (19.68 ft).
In conjunction with the above and drawing an analogy between the same, I am of the opinion that cometary motion is undoubtedly due to the activity of its compositional elements and their susceptibility t changes of polarity which, when the comet is far distant from the sun, would be opposite in sign to that of the latter, or when in close proximity to the ventral orb, would be of the same sign and therefore repelled.
All bodies in process of formation possibly have their cometary stage, and doubtless future experiments will reveal this fact.
Actual Effects Achieved by Mr Piggott
The total power required to operate the generator, which was run by an electric motor, was about 1/4 KW; the machine voltage was in the neighborhood of 500,000 when the electrodes were separated beyond sparking distance. The electrostatic charge left on the suspension electrode retained the average object in space for a short length of time, about 1-1/4 seconds after the machine ceased rotating.
Some objects such as copper and silver balls, which are of course good electrical conductors, and very nearly homogeneous, when falling toward the earth, after power had been shut off, seemed to slow down when they neared same, and hovered about 2 cm above contact for approximately 1 second of time before striking same; this was due no doubt to the inductional change in polarity which was imparted to balls almost at the instant of earth contact.
The aura, shown in Figure 3, near suspended balls (which in this experiment were made of silver) extended outward to a distance of about 1 cm and covered about one-half of the upper hemisphere and a trifle more of the lower hemisphere.
This bluish emanation appeared to be made up of numerous infinitesimal dots or darting particle, each apparently separated from the other by a very narrow, glowless belt. Wverything was, however, in a constant state of agitation and it was quite impossible to get an absolutely perfect view microscopically, of an individual particle. Different substances have different auras both in length and breadth, and also in luminosity.
The silver balls used in these experiments had an actual gravitational weight of 1-3/10 gram (nearly 0.05 oz., avoirdupois) and were the heaviest objects suspended at this time, their diameter being 11 mm as before mentioned in another part of this article.
The largest object suspended was a cork cylinder 10 cm long by 4 cm diameter (approximately 4 by 1-9/16 inches) which had a copper wire pushed through its center, and extending beyond its ends to a distance of 3 mm. The weight of the above cylinder was 3/4 grams (0.002645 oz., avoirdupois).
The behavior of metal spheres used in the above experiments was a most
interesting spectacle; silver and copper balls floated very steadily on
one position and when suspending electrode was revolved, would follows
and turn slightly axially, but would not revolve entirely around same,
there being a peculiar slipping effect not entirely accounted for.
Figure 1 --- This picture shows Mr George Piggott, the author, and his laboratory with the powerful electrical apparatus used, whereby he was enabled to carry on successful experiments in nullifying the effects of gravitation. In other words, he was able to suspend small balls and other objects in the manner shown, the silver balls actually used having weighed 1.3 grams. The diameter of the balls was 11 mm.
Figure 2 --- Special electrostatic machine used by Mr Piggott in his gravitation nullifying experiments, the which was enclosed in a heavy airtight compartment, so that it could be operated under several atmospheres of pressure.
Figure 3 --- A close-up view of the charged metal sphere mounted on a pedestal together with a spring driving motor, whereby the electrode or charged ball could be rotated. The two smaller silver balls are shown as suspended in mid-air, the earth’s gravitational pull having been nullified.
Figure 4 --- Close-up view of vacuum tube of the spectrum type used in studying the aura surrounding the suspended silver balls, while they remained suspended in space.
PIGGOT
George S. Piggot (July 1920) designed, built, and utilized a fantastically potent electrostatic machine with which he observed powerful electrogravitic effects. The device was heavily encased and "dried out" with high-pressure carbon dioxide gas. With this dramatically dehumified static generator, Mr. Piggot observed a strange electro-gravitational effect. It was first seen, the result of accidental occurrences while performing unrelated electrical experiments.
Mr. Piggot was able to suspend heavy silver beads (112 inch in diameter) and other materials in the air space between a charged sphere and a concave ground plate when his generator was fully charged at 500,000 electrostatic volts. The levitational feat was only observed when the charged sphere was electropositive.
The Piggot effect was clearly not a purely electrical phenomenon. If it were, then the presence of the grounded plate would have destroyed the effect. The very instant in which a discharged passed to ground, every suspended object would have come crashing down. But, without the ground counterpoise, the levitational effect was not observed. Mr. Piggot believed that he was modifying the local gravitational field in some inexplicable manner, the effect being the result of interaction between the static field generator and some other agency the ground.
Piggot further stated that heated metal marbles fell further away from the field center than cold ones. These suspended marbles remained in the flotation space for at least 1.25 seconds even after the static generator ceased rotating. The marbles fell very slowly after the field was completely removed; a noticeable departure from normal gravitational behavior.
Mr. Piggot stated that suspended objects were surrounded by a radiant "black belt". The surrounding space was filled with the ephemeral electric blue lumination common with very powerful electrostatic machines. Many academicians explained such phenomena away. Employing electro-induction theories, it was stated that the effects were "simple outcomes of highly charged conditions in conductive media". The suspension of matter in Piggot's experiment was explained by academes to be the simple result of charge attraction and gravitational balance. Accordingly, charged metal balls would achieve their own balancing positions as long as the field was operating.
Piggot stated that tiny blue spots could be seen running all over the suspended metal marbles, evidence of electrical discharging into the air. This being the case, no net attractive charge could ever develop, simply leaking away with every second into the surrounding air. Considering that the intense field was "grounded" to a concave electrode plate, no consistent charge condition could develop in such a space. Obvious similarities are noted when considering all these cases, the electrogravitic action being stimulated by intense electrostatic fields. Effects developed by Piggot were entirely similar to those observed by Nikola Tesla, who employed high voltage electrostatic impulses.
The Piggot device certainly discharged its tremendous charge in a rapid staccato-like fashion to the ground plate. The rate of this disruptive unidirectional field would be determined by considering the parameters of the sphere and the concave ground plate. Judging from the actual capacities involved, and the sizable free air space, certainly it was a very rapid impulse rate.