Charles E. Spurlock
From Kook Science
Charles Estle Spurlock (February 5, 1914 - August 6, 1995) was an American lumberman and inventor who spent the latter part of his life working on a perpetual motion machine at Planada, Merced Co., California, the design based on his understanding of the Biblical story of Ezekiel's wheel (as described in Ezekiel 1:15-25).
Press Coverage
- UP (19 Feb. 1953), "'Faith-powered' Wheel Undergoes Tinkering", Madera Tribune (Madera, CA): 1, https://cdnc.ucr.edu/cgi-bin/cdnc?a=d&d=MT19530219.2.12, "MERCED (U.P.) — A 38-year-old lumber company executive, undaunted by scientific demonstrations that the theory of perpetual motion is impossible, concentrated his efforts today on fixing positions of weights for his 'faith-powered' wheel. Charles E. Spurlock of Planada admitted his perpetual motion machine is undergoing major modifications for the third time since last September, but declared 'I have as much faith as before' that it will work. He originally planned to put his wheel into operation Christmas Day, 1952. The [giant] steel machine, which Spurlock claims is being constructed on his interpretation of the first 12 chapters in Ezekiel I of the Bible, actually consists of two wheels 24 feet in diameter. They are Joined by connecting rods and have a combined weight of nearly four tons. Spurlock, who is convinced a 'mustard seed of faith will move a mountain,' is attempting to determine the exact method for suspending weights on the wheel to keep the machine turning around forever. In addition, he is having trouble in obtaining 'the correct' poundage for the weights. Originally, Spurlock installed 16 weights of 84 pounds each, but reduced them to 75 apiece last month. The lumberman now is working on a third method involving number of weights, position and poundage. Spurlock first got the idea for the machine last June when his wife, Doris, read to him how 'Ezekiel saw a wheel way in the middle of the air.' Since then he has invested nearly $5,000 and hundreds of working hours on the machine. He believes the wheel will develop some 35,000 horsepower which can be harnessed and has discounted physicists' theories that he first must overcome friction to get the machine started."