In November 1884, he [Keely] obtained a standard for progressive research in the success of an experiment, for which he has tried many times before without arriving at result of his theories. One of those present afterwards wrote him for an explanation of the phenomena. A small globe rotated when two persons had taken hold of the rod together, with a firm grasp one of them standing on a circular sheet of metal, from which piano wires stretched toward the globe, near enough to touch one of the plates of glass which insulated the ball, Mr. Keely replied, "I cannot describe it other than the receptive concussion of the two forces, positive and negative, coming together, seeking their coincidents and thus producing rotation by harmonious waves, not streams. You ask if sound waves had anything to do with the motion of the globe? Nothing, the introductory settings are entirely different. The ball ceased to rotate when I took your left hand in my right hand, while with our other hands holding the iron rod resting on the metal plate, because the receptive flows became independent of the circular chord of resonation as set up mechanically. The power of rotation comes on the positive and the power of negation breaks it up."
He said later "I am working in a new lead propose to show my introductory evolutions in proof of the negatization of an etheric substance to produce vacuum. Professor Rogers saw the operation of inducing these etheric vacuums and pronounced the result wonderful I showed from one to fourteen lbs. during the evolutions. As soon as I combine all the positive and negative forces of etheric vibrations in the triple vibratory sphere-engine that I am now working upon complete a perfect machine I will devote the remainder of my life to Aerial Navigation, for I have the only true system in the vibratory lift and the vibratory push process."
March 22, he wrote "My right hand and arm were severely strained, but I have not been idle, have been setting up a key to explain vibratory rotation. I have a plan for a device attached to the Liberator to show when the neutral center is free from its intensification while operating. In this way the dangerous influences will be avoided which present themselves on the extension of the vibratory waves that operate the gun. All introductory details of the present engine are as perfect as is possible for the first lead. It is in the form of a sphere, about thirty inches in diameter and weighs 800 lbs. Yesterday saw the pure, positive action of my new Liberator. Mr. Collier and his brother George were present and witnessed thirty expulsions, made by myself after which I had them produce the vapor, by imitating my manipulations which they were unable to do with the old generator. The last three weeks I have suffered from accidents, disappointments, etc. all things seemed to go wrong." Later he writes "Am now preparing new features that are necessary as adjuncts to denote the true condition as regards safety in my different vibratory operations. I had an accident to one of my registers this morning. It burst with a tremendous report, shaking things up in a lively way but no other damage was done beyond that to the register."
"The draughts are nearly completed for the compound vibratory engine ... the machine for continuous operation. The Liberator is as perfect as is possible, and if the outside adjuncts are in proper sympathy, my struggles will soon be at an end ... Could I have one wish gratified, I would ask to live long enough to be able to appreciate even but one etheric variation in planetary evolution."
May 20th. "Yesterday was a day of trials and disappointments. After laboring six hours to set my safety process, the first operation of the Liberator tore the caps all to pieces. I replaced them with a set of duplicates and set the liberator down to the low octaves, when everything worked to a charm. Night was approaching ... I left the workshop to get something to eat, returning about eight o'clock to discover the cause of the sudden and most unexpected intensification. I followed up with great care the progressive lines until I reached the tenth octave, and then liberated a score of times, yet no variation on liberator. Next, I made an attachment to my safety arrangement and also to my strongest resonator, to experiment on vibratory rotation with my shell when, within two minutes, it attained a frightful velocity then I suddenly retracted to the negative, bringing the velocity down from about 1500 per minute to 150. The operation lasted sixty-four minutes, when a second intensification took place, demolishing two safety shells and one vibratory indicator. I was perfectly dumbfounded and unable to account for such a phenomenon. After an hour's reflection, I set up a new position on the resonating wave plates in the forty resonating circuit on the base of the liberator, and got a result which for uniformity surpassed all experiments I have ever made. I believe I have ... shall be able to ... obtain continuity of action with perfect rotation."
July 15, 1885. "My researches teach me that electricity is but a certain condensed form of atomic vibration, a form showing only the introductory features which precede the etheric vibratory condition. It is a modulated force so conditioned, in its more modest flows to be of benefit to all organisms. Though destructive to a great degree in its explosive positions, it is the medium which organic nature is permeated beneficially, transfusing certain forms of inert matter with lifegiving principles... We have to go far beyond this condition to reach the pure etheric one... The Vibratory Etheric tree has many branches and electricity is but one of them. Though it is a medium by which the operations of vital forces are performed, it cannot in my opinion be considered the soul of matter... My safety arrangements (governors and indicators) for liberating are not working well but I am laboring to attain perfection and hope to have them all right... I have extraordinary powers, it is true and must use them to the best advantage."
August 5th. "I have met with an accident to the Liberator. I was experimenting on the third order of intensification, when the rotation on the circuit was thrown down in the compound resonating chamber, which by the instantaneous multiplication of the volume induced thereby, caused an explosion bursting the metal casing which enclosed the forty resonators, completely dismantling the Liberator. The shock took my senses from me for a few moments, but I was not even scratched this time. A part of the wall was torn away and resonators and vibrators were thrown all over the room. The neighborhood was quite lively but I quieted all fears by telling them ... I was only experimenting. I allowed everything to remain until Dr. Woods and Mr. Collier had seen the effect of the explosion. [see The Operation of the Vibratory Circuit, Thermal Runaway]
The orders of intensification for accelerating dissociation would not be understood by any explanations that could be made, if unaccompanied by the demonstrations witnessed by the late Prof. Leidy, Dr. Brinton and others. [see Leidy and Wilcox Visit Keelys Lab, Letter from Bloomfield-Moore to Leidy]
When the ether flows from the tube, its negative center presents molecular subdivision, carrying interstitially (or be tween its molecules) the lowest order of liberated ozone. This is the first order of ozone and is wonderfully refreshing and vitalizing to those who breathe it. The second order, or atomic separation, releases a much higher grade of ozone in fact, too pure for inhalation, as it produces insensibility. The third order, or etheric, is the one that has been (though attended with much danger to the operator) utilized by Keely in his carbon register to produce the circuit of high vibration that breaks up the molecular magnetism which is recognized as cohesion. The acceleration of these orders is governed by the introductory impulse on a certain combination of vibratory chords, arranged for this purpose in the instrument, with which Keely dissociates the elements of water, and which he calls a Liberator.
In molecular dissociation one fork of 620 is used, setting the chords on the first octave.
In atomic separation, two forks one of 620 and one of 630 per second, setting the chords on the second octave.
In the etheric three forks one of 620, one of 630 and one of 12,000, setting the chords on the third octave.