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A story spanning 55 years. Mr. Irwin talks about why he was hired by Ed in intimate detail. What he saw Ed building, how Ed mentored him and others with his work ethic and inspiration.
Coral Castle Construction is so far the only book that fully describes and illustrates the methods and techniques that Ed Leedskalnin used to build his special place. It debunks the myths and fantasies that have prevailed over the last several decades. Contains 100 illustrations.
Many stories and wild theories emerged over the decades about Leedskalnin and how he built his castle. Some say he levitated the blocks with psychic powers, or by singing to the stones. Others suggest Leedskalnin had arcane knowledge of magnetism and so-called "earth energies."
As tempting as it is to view the amazing park through a veil of mystery, in fact we know how the castle was built. Creating a structure like the Coral Castle today could probably be accomplished in a few months with a construction crew and modern machinery. But Leedskalnin worked alone using basic tools like picks, winches, ropes and pulleys. Leedskalnin himself said that that he did it using hard work and the principles of leverage. The tools he used to quarry the rock are on display at the Coral Castle, and several old photos depict the large tripods, pulleys, and winches he used to move the blocks. Though the quarried stone slabs are large, they are actually lighter than they appear because the rock is porous...
Though Leedskalnin worked alone, he was not a reclusive hermit; he had friends who he saw often. One man, Orval Irwin, was not only a long-time friend of Leedskalnin's but also a building contractor with a deep knowledge of construction techniques. Irwin wrote a 1996 book with the inspiring title "Mr. Can't Is Dead! The Story of the Coral Castle," and in it he explains, through photographs, drawings, and schematics, how it was done.
Irwin pours cold water on the paranormal theories that unknown energies, alien technology, or levitation built the castle. In fact, he finds such theories an insult to the hard work and integrity of his friend: "Back in the days when Ed started carving out his original stones," Irwin writes, "his was a generation who knew accomplishments by the sweat of the brow. It wasn't mysticism but hard work, this is how Ed really accomplished the massive project...."
Wally Wallington who is from Michigan is trying to replicate Stonehenge in his back yard, he has shown he can lift stones weighing over a tonne and move a barn with simple mechanisms but with a great understanding of the mechanics and physics. By himself he has been able to demonstrate it is possible to move stones the size of Stonehenge with his methods.
originally posted by: misterE12
Thanks I always wondered how he did it after first hearing about it!
Perhaps a bit of an exaggeration, but the point is still valid that mechanical advantage can do some amazing things, if you know how to use it!
originally posted by: TomCollin
a reply to: Arbitrageur
“Give me a lever long enough and a fulcrum on which to place it, and I shall move the world. ”
Archimedes
originally posted by: Arbitrageur
As the article says, the stones are porous so not as heavy as they look.
One source I read said he had a fourth grade education. He did perform his own experiments on electricity and magnetism, but because his education was so minimal he didn't have access to the thousands of other experiments other experimenters have done, so his knowledge from his own experiments was quite limited and in some cases, completely wrong. Yes I read his pamphlet on magnetic current, which according to science as we understand it, there's no such thing, and some of his misconceptions can easily be proven false. If he was afforded an opportunity to attend university and learn about all the other experiments he didn't know about, he might have been able to write some pamphlets that made a lot more sense, but they were really not scientifically accurate at all.
originally posted by: MykeNukem
Have you read his books on electro-magnetics and magnetics? Some very thought provoking stuff, but I'm not sure he had a full grasp on physics. All self taught I think.
It's not the slightest bit disingenuous, nor is it ridiculous. You sound confused about the difference between density and weight, which reminds me of the old joke, "which weighs more, a pound of feathers or a pound of lead?" They have the same weight, but feathers are fluffier just as coral-based limestone is "fluffier" than say granite.
originally posted by: Type1338
"As the article says, the stones are porous so not as heavy as they look."
What an disingenuous and ridiculous comment. The Coral Castle stones on average weigh more than the pyramid stones in Egypt. The largest slab weighs 30 tons...
originally posted by: Arbitrageur
as seen in this photo of Leedskalnin with his large block and tackle (he also had a smaller block and tackle to lift the large block and tackle):
originally posted by: ByteChanger
originally posted by: Arbitrageur
as seen in this photo of Leedskalnin with his large block and tackle (he also had a smaller block and tackle to lift the large block and tackle):
If I remember correctly, I believe part of the controversy was over that "Black Box" above the block and tackle...
What is it? What's its purpose!?
ETA: Wasn't there story about some kids watching him 'sing' to the stones and the stones moving? Kind of like the story about the Egyptians using harmonics to 'levitate' or move their stones to build the pyramids?
Among the various gears, pulleys, chains and other equipment used for hoisting the blocks there was a great amount of electrical components displayed in Leedskalnin’s tool room (26). There were glass bottles with wire wrapped around them, rolls of wire and several other components. There is no doubt electricity was one of his main fascinations, could this be a clue to part of his secret?
Leedskalnin also used a crystal radio he assembled. It was said the radio was interfering with the signals of a nearby Air Force Base (22). Agents were sent to see him about the radio signals and were impressed by the antenna he had set up. Leedskalnin said he was using the antenna so he could listen to free music and news with the use of his crystal radio (27). Was he using this radio for listening entertainment or was there more to it? Chris Dunn believes radio signals were used to vibrate the coral at resonant frequency while using an electromagnetic field to flip the polarity of the atoms so they would repel the Earth’s magnetic field (13).
I don't know if it might have more than one purpose, but it looks like one purpose might be to secure the tops of the posts together. They would need to be securely fastened somehow, and putting a box around them is less likely to split them than drilling holes and running bolts through them, which could create focal areas for stress and split the poles under heavy loads.
originally posted by: ByteChanger
If I remember correctly, I believe part of the controversy was over that "Black Box" above the block and tackle...
What is it? What's its purpose!?
That's mentioned in the opening post as part of the nonsense the book debunks, see the link called "Mystery of the Coral Castle Explained". I wouldn't be surprised if he sang to the stones, but I don't see how that could make them move. There are many myths, dispelled by the books.
ETA: Wasn't there story about some kids watching him 'sing' to the stones and the stones moving? Kind of like the story about the Egyptians using harmonics to 'levitate' or move their stones to build the pyramids?
That's pseudoscientific nonsense.