Name/Title
The Kinraide - Keely Motor FileEntry/Object ID
2026.301.1Description
The Kinraide - Keely Motor FileContext
On John Worrell Keely's deathbed he declared Kinraide was the only person who could finish his work. Thomas Burton Kinraide, a quiet inventor and X-Ray pioneer was suddenly under the eyes of the world. He disassembled the motor from Keely's Philadelphia lab and had crates sent back to Jamaica Plain. He found plain evidences of plain fraud which he tried to conceal from the public in order not to give his friend a bad name. Back at Ravenscroft he quietly demonstrated the motor on agreement none of the investors would go to the press and simply accept their loss. Unfortunately, this didn't happen and when pressured to reveal the truth, Kinraide quickly dismissed himself of the matter not wanting to draw negative attention to the memory of his friend. Kinraide admitted to not knowing Keely was a fraud when he was alive. He was a man of science but also had an avid interest in the occult and the unknown. Later he was said to admit "if I was as fluent with words [as Keely] I could have exceeded him at his own trickery".Collection
Turn Of The Century Electrotherapy MuseumAcquisition
Accession
2026.301Source or Donor
Jeff Behary personal collectionAcquisition Method
Loan
