"NM" has already written about the John Bedini generator, the mechanism, the efficiency of which is documented. Today it is almost the recognized "number one" of alternative energy devices.
There was another device using the same principle of obtaining energy, less known, but much more surrounded by mystery and riddles.
In 1984, Jim Watson demonstrated a stand-alone generator at the Tesla International Conference in Colorado Springs. This generator was similar to the Bedini SG, but still quite different from the small engines and generators of Bedini. This mechanism was six meters in size, weighed about three hundred and sixty kilograms and produced twelve "extra" kW of energy.
During a demonstration at the conference, engineers from the audience were invited to the platform to perform their own independent measurements of the device while it was operating on the payload. Most of the testers confirmed that the system not only worked completely autonomously, but also charged its batteries.
Interestingly, one of Watson's batteries was stolen at night. Who could need it? The fact is that the batteries were charged with some kind of "negative energy" (or, as Bedini calls it - radiant, and some researchers - the energy of the zero point).
Other seekers of free energy tried to study such energy, but, apparently, the easiest way to get it for experiments was to steal a charged Watson battery.
By the way, John Bedini used a kind of "negative energy converter" in his mechanisms, transforming the "radiant" into the "electric" form familiar to everyone.
Promotional video:
Watson and Bedini corresponded for a long time, sharing ideas and developments. But shortly after the conference, Jim Watson disappeared. First, communication with Bedini and Watson's sponsor, RJ Reynols, was cut off. On the answering machine, there was a record that Jim had left. Neither the police nor the neighbors could say anything. Together with Watson, his family also disappeared.
The most plausible assumption of the disappearance, expressed by Bedini's partner Tom Bearden - Watson was offered a deal he could not refuse. “Money in return for continuing work or death, the choice is obvious. Jim just had no choice."
This version is also supported by some people who met Jim Watson at other conferences on free energy, where the inventor was incognito.