John Keely: Harmony of the Spheres
According to this story, Keely demonstrated freely floating spheres, like a miniature solar system, to John Jacob Astor.

KeelyNet
Here's an entire Web site devoted to this rogue scientist, his inventions, his philosophy - and those who are trying to carry out his work.

Who Was John Keely?
He was an inventor who claimed to harness the "aether" as an energy source, and devised an anti-gravity belt.