Elmer Gates

“ Electrography is expected to prove of great value to students of electricity, who, for the first time, will have pictorial means of studying the difference between quantity of current to come from a distance against a repellant force. When the influence machine is run so slowly as to give only a one-inch spark—therefore, one of low potential—the electrograph printed thereby will cover only about one inch square, and will appear like a cluster of white feathers, broad, round and spreading at the ends. ”

“ In imitation of nature I am producing artificial lightening discharges by a very large 'influence machine' lately installed in my laboratory. It is a frictional or static machine on a very large scale, actuated by an electric motor rather than by hand power. In studying lightning flashes by these means a brass knob emitting a spark can be reasonably substituted in the imagination for a thunder head, another knob for the point on the earth receiving it and a body interposed between for the object struck. ”

“ The current seems to try to get further away from every part of itself. It would appear that the branches are mutually repelled, but this is not the case, as proved by the law that currents flowing in the same direction mutually attract. ”