Where Everyman's an Einstein

I was thumbing through an old Saturday Evening Post for August 29, 1942 and came across an article on the Franklin Institute Museum in Philadelphia. “The greatest scientists and inventors in the world, including Einstein, Edison, A.A. Michelson, Dr. Robert A. Millikan, Nikola Tesla...and scores of others, have come to this 118-year old institution to present learned papers and receive the Franklin Medal, one of the highest scientific awards in the world.”

A Century of Fans

It seems strange to find Tesla's name omitted from books devoted to the history of electrical power. It's even more mysterious when one reads a book on the history of the electric fan and finds that Tesla is credited with inventing the first alternating current fan. This, and other facts make up the book A Century of Fans by W.K. Skofield (General Electric Co, Bridgeport, CT, 1957). In discussing single phase/split phase etc. motors, author Skofield states “he (Tesla) turned to the use of multiphase windings in a motor which would operate on single-phase power and demonstrated, in 1889, that the split-phase motor was entirely feasible. One of these first motors provided the driving means for a set of fan blades. To Tesla, therefore, goes the credit for the first alternating current fan. Patents 511,559 and 511,560 were issued to him on December 26, 1893.” (tip from James DiMichelle)

Conspiracy, Conspiracy...

Followers of Nikola Tesla have long argued that the disappearance of his name from technical publications is the result of a conspiracy. The establishment not only denied these claims but considered the complaints as paranoia. The following report gives support to Tesla's side. The Russian publication “Politika for May 7, 1949 carried an article criticizing writers of the Soviet textbooks for concealing or minimizing the contributions of Nikola Tesla in the field of physical sciences and attributing his discoveries to other scientists, particularly Russians... The importance of Nikola Tesla is regularly diminished or passed over in physics textbooks...while his enormous discoveries are attributed to other scientists, chiefly Russians, especially Popov...

“Soviet Professor N.N. Malov writes that on March 24, 1896 Popov was the first in the world to send out the first radiogram...The author has remained silent about the well-known lecture which Popov delivered before the first all-Russian electro-technical congress in 1900, in which Popov confirmed that Tesla had unselfishly disclosed to the world in 1893 (three years before Popov) his pioneer work on wireless telegraphy.”

Possible Merger?

A letter (not addressed to me) coming out of the former Yugoslavia hints of a possible merger of the Nikola Tesla Museum in Belgrade with the Museum of Science & Technology. The writer states that the merger may or may not effect the leadership at the Tesla Museum. The letter also brought up a point regarding the loss (theft or misplacement) of some Tesla artifacts.

It should be emphasized that the points discussed in this report were excerpted from private correspondence and carry no official confirmation.

Another Unscheduled Convention

A sunny warm autumn day turned even brighter when TCBA member Skip Greiner drove into the driveway at 3 Amy Lane. Skip was on a road trip from Massachusetts to Michigan and decided to head north to the Glens Falls area. Our conversation covered a lot of ground in the short time that Skip was able to stay. In addition to learning of the details regarding his trip to the TCBOR Teslathon, Skip informed me of some exciting projects that he is working on. TCBA readers will be informed of his results should they turn out as anticipated. Finally, I want to express my appreciation to Skip for taking the time to stop by and share information with this old curmudgeon.

American Welding & Fabrication

Several reports have come in regarding difficulty in receiving satisfactory service from American Welding & Fabrication. TCBA has learned that owner Bob Otten only processes small orders on weekends. Consequently, the delay is inevitable when one or two items are ordered. The firm's new phone number is 1-407-668-0808. In the meantime, TCBA is seeking other possible sources for toroids, discharge spheres, etc. (tip from Jeff Hulse)