C. J. H. Hoffman

C. J. H. Hoffman
Born	c. 1865 Holstein, German Confederation
Died	4 October 1940 (aged 74–75) Minot, Ward Co., North Dakota
Burial	Rosehill Memorial Park, Minot, N.D.
Spouse(s)	Anna E. Hoffman

Claus J. H. Hoffman (c. 1865 - October 4, 1940) was a German-born watchmaker and inventor who, while resident in North Dakota, made repeated attempts to patent a perpetual motion machine of his devising. His efforts received some support from Senator Lynn Frazier of North Dakota, who proposed in June 1924 a joint resolution (S.J. Res. 139) "providing for the demonstration of the motor invented by Claus J. H. Hoffmann," which was referred to the Committee on Patents, though this seemingly came to little.

Press Coverage

• Denbigh Promoter (7 July 1906), "PERPETUAL MOTION. Denbigh Man Claims to Have the Combination.", Evening Times (Grand Forks, ND): 3, https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn85042373/1906-07-07/ed-1/seq-3/ 
• ES (18 Jan. 1918), "HELD AS ALIEN ENEMY, Claus J. H. Hoffman, German Watchmaker, Came Here With Invention, It Is Said.", Evening Star (Washington, D.C.): 18, https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/332620801/, "Claus J. H. Hoffman of Minot, N. D., a German watchmaker and inventor, was taken into custody today as an alien enemy. Hoffman is charged with violating the exclusion order of President Wilson by coming into Washington January 11. He was arrested by a deputy marshal at a rooming house near Union station and will be detained by order of United States Assistant Attorney Arth for further investigation. Hoffman claims to have invented a machine that can be operated without coal, steam or electricity, and came to Washington, he says, to secure govenment protection for his invention. The inventor told Deputy Marshal O'Mera that he was born in Germany and received a technical education there. He came to America, he stated, in 1890, and made a declaration of intention to be naturalized in 1897. He has not completed his naturalization, he admitted." 
• WT (21 Jan. 1918), "GERMAN INVENTOR MAY BE SENT TO DETENTION CAMP", Washington Times (Washington, D.C.): 15, https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn84026749/1918-01-21/ed-1/seq-15/ 
• BT (19 Apr. 1920), "Perpetual Motion Device Thought to Be Lure of Vandals", Bismarck Tribune (Bismarck, ND): 7, https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn85042243/1920-04-19/ed-1/seq-7/ 
• GFT (22 Mar. 1925), "SEEKS PATENT FOR PERPETUAL MOTION DEVICE, N. D. Inventor Claims Machine Will Run by Oiling Bearings", Great Falls Tribune (Great Falls, MT): 5, https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/238663860/