Reed Bartlett
From Kook Science
| Reed Bartlett | |
|---|---|
| Born | 17 June 1888 Wisconsin |
| Died | 18 November 1965 (77) [1] Barron Co., Wisconsin |
Reed Clark Bartlett (June 17, 1888 - November 18, 1965) was an American farmer and inventor who was reported in 1939 to have been financing production of a perpetual motion machine through the sale of stock in his Delaware-based Bartlett Manufacturing Corp. to buyers in Minnesota and Wisconsin, resulting in his arrest and prosecution over unregistered securities under Wisconsin's "blue sky" law, to which he pled guilty and received a one-year suspended sentence. The Bartlett machine was described as using perpetually re-compressing air as a source of energy.
Press Coverage
- MS (22 Oct. 1939), "Arrest Man on Security Law Charge - Claims the Invention of Perpetual Motion Machine", Minneapolis Star (Minneapolis, MN): 2, https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/178916293/, "BARRON, WIS. — Reed Bartlett, Cameron, who claims to have invented a perpetual motion machine, was under arrest today for violating the state securities law. Bartlett, who estimates he will receive $50,000,000 for the machine, was charged with two counts of selling stock in his $75,000 Delaware corporation, the Bartlett Manufacturing corporation. Bartlett was alleged to have sold considerable stock in this state and in Minnesota. The machine is supposed to operate on compressed air and furnishes its own source of supply. Bartlett has been working on it for approximately 25 years, he said. In regard to selling stock, Bartlett claims the Delaware franchise authorizes him to sell stock anywhere in the world, and that if there is any trouble it should be between the states of Delaware and Wisconsin."
- UP (23 Oct. 1939), "'Perpetual Motion' Inventor Arrested on Securities Count", Wisconsin State Journal (Madison, WI): 14, https://www.newspapers.com/image/396747699/, "BARRON, Wis. — (U.P.) — Reed Bartlett, 55, Cameron farmer, was under $2,500 bond today pending further court action on the state's charge that he sold securities which were not registered with the state securities commission as required by law. The complaint alleged that he sold the securities in connection with plans for financing production of a perpetual motion machine representing 25 years of work which he claimed to have in the final stages of assembly at Eau Claire. He was brought before Judge A. E. Coe Saturday."
- "Cameron Inventor Facing Trial for Illegal Stock Sale", Leader-Telegram (Eau Claire, WI): 7, 5 Dec. 1939, https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/268184177/
- "Cameron Man Admits Illegal Sales of Stock; Reed Bartlett Under Year's Suspended Sentence", Leader-Telegram (Eau Claire, WI): 5, 7 Dec. 1939, https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/268184587/