In 1712, Johann Bessler built a machine that he claimed was selfmoving. By 1717, he had convinced thousands of people, from the ordinary to the eminent, that he had indeed discovered the secret of a selfsustaining mechanism. The machine underwent numerous tests and passed rigorous inspections. It was made to do heavy work for long periods, and in an official test it ran continuously for 54 days.

Website: http://www.besslerwheel.com/