Wimshurst Project

The December issue of Popular Electronics included a project article on the making of a Wimshurst machine. A striking photo was used to introduce the article. It came from the book Home Made Lightning by R.A. Ford. The book may be obtained from TAB Books, Blue Ridge Summit, PA 17294 (1-800) 233-1128 ($14.95 + $3 shipping). See Also advertisement page for another source.

Tesla Coil Plans

The Monitoring Times carried an article about TCBA member Bill Evans (see TCBA News, Volume 6, #4). Bill sells a nice set of Tesla coil plans for $10. For information, write Bill Evans at 3014A West Victory Blvd, Burbank, CA 91505 (tip from Tom Story)

Patent Issued on a Modified Tesla Coil

McDonnell Douglas Research Laboratories has received a patent on a modified Tesla coil. The circuit allows a complete energy transfer in the presence of non-negligible internal capacitance of realistic pulse transformers. The patent takes into consideration losses due to internal capacitances (not distributed capacitance) to significantly increase energy transfer. An article in the June issue of Review of Scientific Instrunents gives a description of the principle. (tip from Toby Grotz)

New BBS Information

The New Voice phone number of the Tesla BBS is 303-824-6834. the data number is (719) 486-2775 (8,N,1). The voice number is only for those having problems reaching the BBS (tip from Toby Grotz)

High Frequency Books in Reprint

TCBA once reprinted High Frequency Apparatus by Curtis and Electricity At High Pressures & Frequencies by Transtrom. Our supply was sold out long ago. Now, these and other equally interesting books are available from Lindsay Publications, P.O. Box 583, Manteno, IL 60950. (815) 468-3668. Catalog 508 is available for $1.00

100 Years!

The April-May-June issue of the News will coincide with the 100th anniversary of Tesla's first public lecture on high frequency phenomena - that is, the introduction of the Tesla coil. Plans for commemorating the event are still a bit cloudy but I hope to have something of special interest for our readers. Suggestions welcomed.

New Members*

Corrections/Changes

* As of November 1, 1990