The mass chord of any mass is that lowest or fundamental vibration to which that mass is resonant.
As every mass consists of vibrations in thirds, balanced in harmonic equilibrium, it stands in harmonic relation to every other mass. All forms of matter and motion are thus interrelated and mutually convertible, one into the other, and through resonance, increasing or diminishing this sympathy, we can control the states of matter.
In his researches Keely discovered a system of obtaining the "chord of mass" or keynote of all substances, whether mineral, vegetable or animal. He does not give or even hint at the method by which this was obtained, and it is supposed this is the "one detail" which he kept secret until his one patentable invention was to have been completed.
Every molecule in nature represents the same chord. Any variations appearing in the mass chords of different substances are caused by non-uniformity of molecular groupings (non-uniform plus-molecular aggregates). If all masses were homogenous in molecular groupings the mass chords of all substances would respond to the same resonant impulses.
"Every molecule contained in a homogenous mass has the same harmonic oscillatory motion, which is the "chord of the mass" governed by the mass aggregation and the mass form. The "chord of the mass" is therefore the fundamental frequency of every molecule of the mass". This means that the molecule of iron in a ball bearing 1/16th inch in diameter has a different vibrational frequency than a molecule in a ball bearing 1/2 inch in diameter. It also has a bearing on crystallization forms and the variation in molecular groupings in bodies of elements, with the resultant differentiation in different masses of any one element due to different plus molecular aggregates, even although perfectly homogenous as far as chemistry can determine.
"The molecular state of animal, vegetable and mineral matter depends upon the aggregation of their respective chord centers. It is impossible to make two coins from the same die the same in their molecular aggregation. To produce vibratory devices will require instruments more perfect than any now in existence. One of my perfected instruments shows to the eye the 'molecular effects' produced by the chord of harmony between two neutral centers. (Lissajous' figures?) Another, connected with the 'sympathizer' denotes accurately by the color of the sound (or sound-combination) the number of vibrations necessary to induce 'certain mechanical combination effects'."
No condition of absolutely stable equilibrium exists in Nature. The chord of the mass changes, yet we must, through induction of resonance, learn to control the molecular forces. Keely claims to have solved this problem by the invention of a device his "compound mechanical device" which brings the chords of all masses within the conditions of a few simple acoustic tests.
"If I wish to disturb or bring into action the latent force in any molecular mass, I must first find what the 'harmonic chord' or 'mass chord' (the fundamental note) of its mass represents and no two masses are alike. It would seem that this necessitates an infinite number of variations (entirely different scale of resonators) for different masses, but this is not the case. All masses can be resonated by the "compound mechanical device" (resonating spheres, each of which acts as a "sympathizer") which I use for the purpose, which fulfill one general condition and resonate all masses."
To illustrate "chord of mass sympathy" Keely filled a glass chamber 40 inches high with water and placed in it three metal spheres each weighing about six ounces, and having the respective mass chords of B flat, first octave E flat, second octave and B flat, third octave, which all rested on the floor of the container.
When B flat, first octave was sounded through the transmitter the positive end of which was attached to the cover, the sphere with the corresponding mass chord rose slowly to the top. Upon changing to the negative it descended as gently as it rose. The other spheres moved likewise on sounding their respective mass chords.
This indicates that the conclusion reached by the Scholastic school is correct, in that: "WHEN ONE BODY ATTRACTS ANOTHER BODY, THE EFFECT IS AGGREGATE, THE RESULT OF ONE WHOLE OPERATING ON ANOTHER WHOLE, AND NOT THE SUM OF THE EFFECTS OF THE PARTS OF ONE ON THE PARTS OF THE OTHER."