Re: Mad experiment

["Tesla list" <tesla-at-pupman-dot-com>]

Original poster: "by way of Terry Fritz <twftesla-at-qwest-dot-net>" <Mddeming-at-aol-dot-com>

Hi Bert,

Given the sources and the intent for which it was used (bringing in the Rubes),
I would say that the trick is as sensible as Snake Handling is down here in the
Hills of W.Va. and has the prospect of being as deadly.

Matt D.

"Human evolution ceases when stupidity is not allowed to be fatal."

In a message dated 9/24/02 10:09:19 AM Eastern Daylight Time, tesla-at-pupman-dot-com
writes:


>
> More info on this interesting system (especially some interesting
> comments on the design by Fr. McGahee) is available in the Pupman
> archives - look under "Moody Bible". Per Harry Goldman (TCBA), the coil
> used a small tank cap (only 0.004 uF), but this was used in a Marx-like
> voltage doubling circuit (per Fr. McGahee) to get the bang size up, and
> the system used a rotary gap. Although the Moody Institute no longer
> does these performances, a tamer version of these performances is still
> being done today as the "Wonders of Science", Whittier Christian
> Schools, Whittier, CA:
> http://www.wondersofscience-dot-org/
>
> I originally saw the Moody Coil demonstrated in the early 1960's in the
> Milwaukee, Wisconsin auditorium. I was perhaps 11 or 12 years old at the
> time, and had just built a Model-T ignition coil powered coil (ala "Boy
> Electrician", Alfred P. Morgan) and an 811A powered "candlestick" tube
> coil (ala Harold Strand, Popular Electronics). The chance to see the
> Million Volt Tesla Coil was an irresistible magnet! It was a week long
> presentation, and I went for 3 out of the 5 days, dragging my mother
> along since we had to take the bus to get there from the South side of
> the city. 
>
> Although they demonstrated the big coil each day, Friday's grand finale
> was when the presenter, Dr. George Speake, would stand on top of the
> coil and let "One Million Volts" pass through his body. Every now and
> then they'd trigger a firecracker to go off during a demonstration, just
> to keep the audience awake! An entertaining half hour videotape of some
> of the various demonstrations, including the Million Volt demo as
> performed in the 1950's, is orderable from the Moody Bible Institute in
> their "Facts of Faith" tape for a modest cost. BTW, the "style" of the
> tape reminds me of the introductions from the old "Outer Limits" TV
> show... :^)
> http://www.moodyvideo-dot-org/sciclass.htm 
>
> Best regards,
>
> -- Bert --