Ep 6. Gold Accumulator Hoax

In season 6 episode 6 of Mysteries at the Museum, viewers are transported back to the late 19th century to uncover the story behind the Gold Accumulator Hoax. This fascinating fraud scheme involved the creation of a machine that claimed to be able to turn small amounts of gold into vast quantities, making the inventors, and those who invested in it, rich beyond their wildest dreams.

At the start of the episode, host Don Wildman sets the scene for viewers with a brief history of the American West, where gold rushes and mining were common activities. He then introduces the subject of the episode: a machine built in the 1890s by inventor Charles Fish, which he dubbed the "Gold Accumulator". Fish claimed that his device could multiply small amounts of gold into much larger quantities, making it a revolutionary and highly sought-after invention.

Wildman then takes viewers on a journey through the story of the Gold Accumulator, detailing how Fish and his partner, David E. McKinney, managed to convince many people to invest in their invention. Through a combination of clever marketing, lies, and flattery, Fish and McKinney convinced investors that they had created a device that would change the gold industry forever. Many people, desperate for wealth, fell for their scheme and handed over their hard-earned cash.

However, the machine was nothing more than a scam. Fish and McKinney had built a table with hidden compartments that allowed them to covertly add more gold while appearing to multiply the existing amount. The duo managed to keep up the illusion of success for some time, until investors began to get suspicious and demanded proof of the machine's capabilities. Fish and McKinney struggled to provide evidence, and the scheme eventually collapsed, leaving many investors bankrupt and ruined.

Throughout the episode, Wildman brings to life the characters involved in the Gold Accumulator Hoax, highlighting their motivations, actions, and the impact of their deception on others. He also explores the wider context of the time, showing how the greed and desire for wealth that fueled Fish and McKinney's scheme were common themes in American society, and continue to resonate today.

To help tell the story, the episode features a range of artifacts and locations linked to the Gold Accumulator Hoax. These include the original table used by Fish and McKinney, which is on display in a museum in Colorado, as well as the site of their former workshop in Kansas. Wildman also visits other locations, such as the vaults of a bank in Denver where many investors kept their money, and the gravesite of one of the scheme's victims.

In the final part of the episode, Wildman reflects on the legacy of the Gold Accumulator Hoax, showing how it has become a cautionary tale for investors and entrepreneurs alike. He notes that the scheme also had lasting effects on the lives of those involved, both the perpetrators and their victims. For Wildman, the story of the Gold Accumulator Hoax highlights the power of human greed and the dangers of believing in something too good to be true.