Con artist. The 1880 US Census identified him as "Inventor Motor." He was a Philadelphia character who "invented" an engine powered by "the intermolecular vibrations of ether." Describing the process of generating power, but never giving any practical application for his invention, Keely said: "The different conditions include the change of the mediums for disturbing equilibrium, under different medi¬ums for intensifying vibration, associated with them progressively from the molecular to the interetheric: first, percussion; second, undulation; third, vibratory undulations; fourth, vibratory percussion; fifth, water and air; sixth, air alone." Over 3,000 stockholders believed his in theory sound could generate power and in his fuel-less engine which he demonstrated in 1874. Investors later sued Keely, demanding that the engine be proven real and scientifically explainable. He gave no explanation, was jailed for contempt, and was later released without having explained anything. After his death, the officers of the Keely Motor Company finally examined the "engine." They discovered that he had sold his investors nothing but air. The motion of the "engine" had been powered by compressed air forced through hollow tubes. That is the story of the fuel-less engine that wasn't.
Con artist. The 1880 US Census identified him as "Inventor Motor." He was a Philadelphia character who "invented" an engine powered by "the intermolecular vibrations of ether." Describing the process of generating power, but never giving any practical application for his invention, Keely said: "The different conditions include the change of the mediums for disturbing equilibrium, under different medi¬ums for intensifying vibration, associated with them progressively from the molecular to the interetheric: first, percussion; second, undulation; third, vibratory undulations; fourth, vibratory percussion; fifth, water and air; sixth, air alone." Over 3,000 stockholders believed his in theory sound could generate power and in his fuel-less engine which he demonstrated in 1874. Investors later sued Keely, demanding that the engine be proven real and scientifically explainable. He gave no explanation, was jailed for contempt, and was later released without having explained anything. After his death, the officers of the Keely Motor Company finally examined the "engine." They discovered that he had sold his investors nothing but air. The motion of the "engine" had been powered by compressed air forced through hollow tubes. That is the story of the fuel-less engine that wasn't.
Gravesite Details
, Ref: Cemetery Records
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