David admits that a great deal of what he saw, and was told in detail, was beyond his
comprehension. Even when he was able to grasp the newly acquired concept, he was
further frustrated by his lack of ability to describe the ideas that were implanted.
His tour also included a medical check, an instrument being used to provide a reading
of what was wrong and how to cure it. He added that even his bad back showed up on their
screen.
David was shown a laboratory that
held a device that purified water from the craft. When he asked the occupants where
they slept, they explained that magnets around the ship were activated enabling them to
float and thereby eliminating the need for soft beds. They also explained that the
machine in which he found himself was powered by perpetual motion, and that they intended
to teach him to build his own craft.
David estimates that this conversation took 15 minutes, before he was returned to his
bodily shell in the living room of his home. In view of what he relates it must be
concluded that either some sort of time dilation took place, or thought transference was
unusually rapid, as it would appear impossible to achieve all that he told us in that
period of time.
But the adventure was by no means over. In fact, it had just begun.
The visitors were obviously aware that their protégé possessed a minimal education
and would encounter many problems during the construction of the proposed craft. So
they simply moved into the house for an extended period of time. Although David
could see them, his wife could not. But she could hear footsteps, see doors open and
blankets lift off beds. The visitors informed him that on a certain day in the future they
would appear in a solid form to his wife, Nora.
Lack of funds, space to work and technical know-how were ever present problems,
although these were overcome as each one arose. The working plans might be best described
as an artist's conception of the finalized machine. A construction engineer or draughtsman
would, I think, throw up his hands in despair. Having met, in the past, craftsmen who
seldom if ever put pen to paper, but knowingly tap their forehead when asked how they know
what to do next, then I must admit that an unseen (to me) guiding force might well be
evident in this case too.
As time progressed the Maple Ridge man sought assistance from many directions.
The result was an impressive accumulation of correspondence from prestigious
institutions. Most replies tended to be skeptical of his proposals, but did not
discourage him from further effort. Many asked him to contact them again when he had
acquired a working model. In desperation, the aircraft builder sought a government grant
through the auspices of his local MP [Member of Parliament]. But the federal government
declined participation.
Realizing that his government disability pension would be nowhere near enough for the
estimated construction costs, David secured a bank loan for $2500. With this he was
able to make a beginning, gradually adding more equipment as he could afford it. To
date his investment stands at $6000 of his own money, with a further $900 required to
complete what he feels will be a full scale working model.
Listening to David describe his experiences and construction plans, hearing the scorn
ringing as he describes the disbelievers who come to look but don't see, I can't help
wondering if I would have had the same feelings, and heard the same driving voice in the
Wright brothers, had I been present when they assembled that pile of string and
canvas-wrapped air frame that they called an aircraft. And that heap of junk flew!
Not all of this is hot air, by any manner of means. Initially David built a small
model, employing the present propulsion system, and placed it casually in an oil drum in
his workshop prior to retiring one night. Next thing he noticed was a red glow that
lit up the living room. Thinking the building was on fire, he climbed out of bed
only to discover that the rotation of the magnets had activated to such a point that the
oil drum was red hot. In a matter of minutes the machine exploded, sending parts and
magnets through the roof of the workshop.
This dramatic demonstration of success was the flame that sent him back to the drawing
board, with a loud persistent voice telling him of bigger and better things to come.
To paraphrase a famous line from the movie "Field of Dreams": Build it,
ensure it works, then the government might wake up and take note of his revolutionary
machine!
As work slowly progressed, David found himself compelled to seek materials and
information not available locally. His travels even took him to California in search
of suitable magnets with which to ring his craft. In book stores he felt compelled to buy
certain books. His library is now considerable, not only in size but also in
variety. Many of the books are of the layman's introductory type and might be regarded by
professional people in the field as simplistic in their approach.
The machine that David has built is in an advanced stage of construction, although the
54-year old designer points out that if the machine performs as it should, then the
materials he has used will not stand up for long to the stress placed upon them. In this
respect, however, he has no choice. His very limited funds will not allow him any
alternative.
Observers can be found who will state flatly that not only will the machine not get off
the ground, but it won't even work at all. It is interesting to note, however, that
the concept David describes with such enthusiasm has been described previously in many
publications from around the world. The most recent example was in Flying Saucer
Review, vol. 24, No. 1, pp. 13-14. A lengthy article by Andrew Collins, titled the
"Aveley Abduction," contains references to a propulsion system with many
similarities to those David Hamel is so valiantly trying to integrate.
To varying degrees these similarities are apparent with disturbing frequency.
Partly because of this and other factors, I tend to think that the whole story,
improbable as it sounds, does have substance.
Something took place that might be safely described as a psychic experience.
Although David does not consider himself psychic, under the normal acceptable
definition of that term, he will relate recent occurrences involving himself which display
all the typical characteristics of this phenomenon. Automatic writing, failing to
appear on a photograph, astral travel, all have occurred, he claims, since the visitation.
When eventually the space visitors decided they had achieved their objective and that
things were nicely underway, they announced that they were leaving, but would return as
originally promised. In due course the specified time passed after their departure,
and one day and orange car appeared. From it three persons emerged, who were
oriental in appearance, with a reddish skin. David can only recall that the license plate
was orange. From then on for the next three hours he was a silent observer of what
to him was a miracle.
His wife suffers from cerebral palsy, and for her, communication of any kind is
difficult. But when these visitors held her hand she was able to converse with them
easily and did so, asking questions and having them answered. The two men and one
woman were easily recognizable as the original crew members he had met several months
before, only this time they were dressed in an acceptably conventional manner. When
they finally left it was with the familiar announcement that they would be back again.
I had been introduced to this self-taught, retired machinist by a roundabout route,
which finally led me to meet Mr. and Mrs. George S. Merchant who were good enough to
arrange an opportunity for me to interview this contactee. During these preliminaries it
was suggested that any contact case, no matter how bizarre, dies a natural death in the
course of time (with a few notable exceptions). If a man could be found who could follow a
plan that would attract attention to a new concept, with a host of accompanying startling
ideas about mankind's future, then it wouldn't matter if the machine didn't work at all,
ever. It would have served its purpose: to focus continuing attention on one man and
his voice, echoing ideas from another star.
Maybe that is "The Plan".
ADDENDUM
As a routine part of the investigation I was very much on the alert for the usually
ever-present, and glaringly obvious, cross-country network of high tension towers.
Although they were present on a mountain side about five miles north of the
contactee's home, I completely overlooked what was staring me in the face.
An associate drew my attention to a steep hill that rises directly behind Mr. Hamel's
home to an altitude of possibly a thousand feet. Erected on its summit is a microwave
relay tower!
This fact becomes even more significant when we consider that a previous and more
recent incident, published in CUFOR vol. 4, no. 5 and titled "The Maple Ridge
Diamonds" took place less than one air mile south from where David Hamel lives.
Quite literally on the other side of the hill!
ADDENDUM - Part 2, May 1996.
In the early eighties David and his wife decided to relocate, and in doing so settled
in Gilmore, Ontario.
This spot was a site seen many years previously when David was privileged to observe it
from the air, whilst on board a saucer. But that's another story altogether.
Once established in his new home, Mr. Hamel constructed a Quonset hut, so that he could
continue to work once again on his craft right through the long cold winters to come.
When I visited him in July, 1986 he had the building completed and was in the early
stages of pouring the concrete for the floor. From numerous telephone calls I have
had since that time I know he has again built a larger and therefore more expensive
version of the Maple Ridge model. Energy and enthusiasm still abound, but shortage of
money is forever a major stumbling block.
In 1985, with the help of well-meaning friends, he wrote and sent a large number of
letters to political figures and major industries. Most chose to ignore him, a few
replied politely, the remaining handful said "Thank you, we don't have any money to
spare, but should you be successful in your endeavors, please don't hesitate to contact
us, because we are interested!"
To name some of these far-sighted leaders of our nation, the list would include:
Brian Mulroney.............Prime Minister
George Hees................Veteran Affairs
Donald Cox..................National Research Council
F. V. Nyberg................Science Council of Canada
In addition, letters were sent to John Turner and Ed Broadbent, also ministers of
government at that time. Of the few replies, it would be fair to choose as an
example, the letter from the National Research Council, dated 17 March 1986; it was six
lines long and signed by Mr. W. F. Davidson. Its most telling line was, "we doubt
that the material will be of benefit to our operations........".
Rather than serve as an anticipated damper, it merely had the effect of stimulating a
March 21st, five page reply, to which their was no further response. Clearly the Executive
Assistant to the President knew when he wasn't on a winning streak!
About 1990, I met a French Canadian named Pierre Sinclair, a gentleman with an
electronics background. In the course of a number of conversations that revolved around
our mutual interest in UFOs, David Hamel naturally entered the picture. Having explained
how difficult I found his explanation of (to me) mind-boggling concepts, offered in less
than perfect English, I suggested that Pierre try his luck. Contact was made, and from
then on things really began to move forward. Visits were made back and forth across
the country as the various stages of development took place. The day finally arrived when
a degree of success was achieved and out-of-town observers were displaying a keen interest
in the unfolding events.
As many people were asking all the same basic questions it was felt that a book
describing all related events would be a worthwhile venture. A journalist called Jeanne
Manning, who had studied free energy devices for fifteen years, agreed to assist in
writing the book. The title of which, "The Granite
Man and the Butterfly", had nothing to do with either marathons or entomology,
but rather two of the "keys" to David Hamel's earlier models. The book
makes fascinating reading insofar that it provides an insight into a more than puzzling
past of the inventor. Indeed, at times one may be convinced that it is a piece of history
that combines the horrors of war, prison camp, escape, "blanket" bombing and
rescue; and let us not forget "lady luck", love and the paranormal. And
all this BEFORE the strange events of October 1975 in Maple Ridge, that took David Hamel
down a path that changed his life forever.
ADDENDUM - Part 3, May 2005.
So thirty years have passed since this story emerged. Today, David Hamel is now 81 years
old, just as “fired up” as he ever was. He tells me that he has some equally
interested and involved assistants and that THE MACHINE will be ready to be tested .…
again …. This summer. In the interim a new book has just been published about him and
his endeavours. It is entitled “The Word Made Manifest Through Sacred Geometry”.
Written by Bob Thomas a resident of Washington State. Some years ago a book was written by
Jeanne Manning, entitled “Granite Man and The Butterfly”. The future alone will
reveal if this time success will be the pay off for all of his years of dedication and
belief in the outcome of one strange event many years ago.
For most people who decide to
spend their time watching the Waltons, the result would be television entertainment.
But for David Hamel, carpenter and millwright, the viewing experience became a door
that opened up a whole new world. 