1999 January 27

Dear Mr. Hones

I've been excited about the Levitron since I first got one in December
1994. 

I spent 20 minutes on the phone with you on 17 Jan. 1995. Then the next
day I faxed you some information about Earnshaw's theorem. On 10 May
1995 I spent another 10 minutes on the phone with you plus 23 minutes
with your father asking about your invention and how you ever guessed
that spinning the top magnet would enable it to levitate. 

I was awed by the fact that you could make it work without ever knowing
in advance that it could be done -- especially since the balance is so
delicate. You and/or your father said something about an analogy with
traps for atomic particles I think. 

Now, just a few days ago, I saw the patent of Roy Harrigan. And I am
told that you had actually seen and borrowed Mr. Harrigan's working
prototype of a Levitron before you "invented" it yourselves. 

What I can't understand is: why -- in all the time we spent on the phone
in 1995 -- did neither you nor your father let on that you had learned
how to do it from Roy Harrigan? 

Sincerely, Rod Driver
West Kingston, RI 

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1999 January 27

Dear Mr. Driver:

I am pleased that you have been excited about our LEVITRON device since
1994 but am disappointed to learn that you feel I have misled you
regarding the commercial development of the device by not discussing
with you in greater detail the invention's prior history. However, let
me assure you that my father and I did invent the commercially
successful Levitron device. Our discovery that a flat base magnet,
magnetized normal to its surface, could be used led to the production of
the commercially viable, low cost device. Also, it was our recognition
that the float height of the top is determined by the maximum negative
gradient of the field which resulted in the development of a top capable
of floating four times higher. 

Best regards,

Bill Hones

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1999 March 16

Dear Mr. Hones

Thank you for your email (Jan. 27) in response to my queries about Roy
Harrigan's magnetic levitation. 

On Sunday my wife and I visited Roy and Corinne, and I asked them about
your visit there in 1993 (for two days in September, I believe).
Specifically I asked about, and they showed us, parts of the video made
during your visit. 

We heard you telling how you had tried in vain to levitate a magnet in
spite of Earnshaw's theorem. (I tried the same myself.) But now, thanks
to Roy Harrigan, you had learned levitation was possible if the magnet
was spinning. We heard you talking about a joint collaboration to market
the device. 

You said that Harrigan would get royalties even before the first
Levitrons were delivered. 

You told Roy that his name (and a write-up about him I believe) would be
on the back of the box and that Roy's patent number would be included. 

We saw Roy's working model being packed into a box (by you and Corinne,
I believe) so that you could take it with you. 

All this has left me totally mystified. 

I have three Levitrons. The first has a wooden base. The second has a
plastic housing. The third is a Super Levitron. 

But none of the packages and none of the inserts which came with these
products even mentions Roy Harrigan or Roy Harrigan's patent. 

I can't imagine publishing a mathematical paper while knowingly omitting
credits to the sources of any new ideas. 

On top of all this, I understand from Roy that he has received no
royalties. 

Sincerely, 
Rod Driver