July 2006 - Edward Waite Kidney Patented Perpetual Motion
EDWARD KIDNEY [Peter, Peter] and Gus Leutkemeyer started the Cleveland Bending Works factory in 1890. It was mostly made of brick and MR. KIDNEY invented all the machinery in this shop as he did in the first bending works, except the steam engine in the boiler room. They manufactured all parts of wagons and buggies. They also started to make bicycles. Hattie Rathbun and Jessie Wright worked in this department. Mrs. KIDNEY did the bookkeeping and paid the workmen who came to the house for their pay. They had an order from China in about 1897 for a wagon. In due time all parts of a wagon were crated and the requested order was sent to China.
In about 1899 timber was getting scarce in this section so they separated the business. Leutkemeyer moved to Metropolis, Illinois and KIDNEY moved to Memphis, Tennesee. Most of his family went with him that is: two sons, a son-in-law, and their families. The climate did not agree with them. Mr. KIDNEY sold out in 1904 and came back to Olmsted Falls and retired. His hobby was perpetual motion, which he patented. He sold some shares at $2.50 per share but it did not have enough power. EDWARD KIDNEY invented a water purifier and cooler system that was used on steamboats. He received a royalty on this invention for years. Walter Holzworth said they would put in dirty river water and it would come out pure and cold.