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Keely, John Worrell 1837-1898

Mechanic; born in Philadelphia, Pa., Sept. 3, 1837; was a carpenter till 1872. Prior to that date he had become interested in music, claiming that the tuning-fork had suggested to him a new motive power. After years of experiment he exhibited a machine which appeared to have great power, its motion, according to him, being produced neither by steam, electricity, nor compressed air, but by the vibrations of a violin bow. This machine was called the “Keely motor,” and in 1874 a stock company was established which contributed thousands of dollars to enable him to perfect his alleged discovery. From 1872 to 1891 he built and rejected 129 different models; in 1881 a wealthy woman of Philadelphia built a new laboratory for him, and also [228] furnished a weekly salary that he might continue his experiments. At various exhibitions he produced wonderful effects, but never revealed how these were accomplished. After his death the whole scheme was examined, and it was claimed by many to be a fraud—that the machine was operated by a compressed-air motor in the cellar. He died in Philadelphia, Pa., Nov. 18, 1898.

Harper and Brothers Publishers. . New York. 1902.

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