The Keely Motor Hoax: The Invention That Never Was

The Invention That Captivated America

In 1872, John Ernst Worrell Keely, an inventor from Philadelphia, announced that he had developed a revolutionary new engine, which he claimed could harness a mysterious force. He called it the “Keely Motor.” Keely insisted that his motor operated on “etheric force,” a type of energy that had yet to be discovered by science.

The Great Demonstrations

Keely performed public demonstrations to show off his invention, using the motor to power machinery without any visible fuel source. Audiences were amazed, and investors flocked to fund his work, hoping to profit from what seemed to be a groundbreaking technology.

Years of Delays

Despite years of funding, Keely never fully revealed how the motor worked, often delaying production and making vague claims about new discoveries. Investors grew impatient, but many continued to support him, believing that he was on the verge of an engineering breakthrough.

The Truth Revealed

When Keely died in 1898, investigations into his laboratory revealed hidden pipes and devices that suggested his motor was a hoax. His machine had been secretly powered by compressed air and water pressure, not the mysterious force he had claimed to control.

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