Cover

Experimenters who sent for Science Craft Manual 405 must have experienced a disappointment when it arrived by mail. That's because they probably expected it to include a Tesla coil project. Although the cover shows a Tesla coil, the book's contents did not include such plans. Regardless, the illustration is certainly quite suitable as a cover illustration for TCBA News. A special thanks goes to Doc Taylor for contributing the illustration.

And

While I am acknowledging good deeds, this is the time to give a thanks of appreciation to those who renewed their subscriptions and remembered to include their membership number. And let's not forget those who correctly made out their checks payable to Harry Goldman (not TCBA) as requested. Just wanted to let you good people know that your cooperation is appreciated.

‘Modern Marvels’

One of the History Channel's MODERN MARVELS programs reviewed the development of the television industry. All of the important players were there (Farnsworth, Zworykin, Baird, Jenkins, Sarnoff, etc.). When the program ended, I was anxious to find out if this segment was available on video. There was no indication that this was the case. Does anyone have this on video?

‘Theremin: An Electronic Odyssey’

Even if you don't recognize Leon Theremin's name, you have probably heard the musical sounds of a Theremin in science fiction movies, Alfred Hitchcock's SPELLBOUND, THE LOST WEEKEND starring Ray Milland as well as the film THE DAY THE EARTH STOOD STILL. The sound of the Theremin was also used by the Beach Boys in their “Good Vibrations” recording.

Leon Theremin, a physicist, was once described as being a cross between Albert Einstein and Ed Wood. He possessed a type of genius that reminds one of Nikola Tesla. Theremin was kidnapped by Soviet agents and forced to develop spy technology for Stalin's KGB. Theremin's story is fascinating and available on video ($19.98+$4.50) from Facet Video Order Dept., 1517 W. Fullerton Ave., Chicago, IL 60614 or 1-800-331-6197.

Niagara Falls Notes

An artist is now working on a Niagara Falls calendar for 1998 and will include a sketch of the Tesla statue on Goat Island. Also, the NF City Council is considering a plan to abandon the city's claim to Tesla Street. (tips from Herb Force)

Dedication: James Clerk Maxwell (The Man Who Started It All).

“By a series of brilliant mathematical processes, James Clerk Maxwell figured that such things as electromagnetic or radio waves should exist. In cold mathematics, he was led to believe that the 'unseeable,' 'the unsmellable,' 'the unfeelable,' and the 'unhearable' existed.

“This all happened in 1865 when Maxwell was a professor of physics in the University of Edinburgh, Scotland. In a letter to C.H. Cay, under date of January 5, 1865, Maxwell said, 'I also have a paper afloat with a magnetic theory of light, which, till I am convinced to the contrary, I hold to be great guns.'

“In that paper, Maxwell predicted electric waves in the ether, or we might say, in surrounding space, and that these waves would travel with the velocity of light. Maxwell's theory was a masterpiece.

“A few years later, in 1888, Professor Heinrich Hertz of Karlsruhe performed experiments that proved definitely the existence of the radiations that were predicted by Maxwell's mathematics.”

Elsewhere in this issue is an original article on Maxwell's work written especially for TCBA News. I think that you will find it of great interest.

Incidentally, there is a photo that shows Nikola Tesla seated in front of one of his flat spiral coils while reading Maxwell's papers.

‘Famous Ninetheenth Century Faces’

This $12.50 book (on sale at Barnes & Noble stores) includes more than 1000 copyright-free pen-and-ink sketches of famous faces. The book chronicles in alphabetical order famous politicians, artists, musicians, financiers, military leaders, scientists, inventors, etc. Both Edison and Tesla are included but Marconi and Steinmetz did not make it. Apparently, they are considered 20th century figures. It is interesting to know that Tesla was correctly listed as an “American Electrician and Inventor.” (underlining mine)

'Great People of the 20th Century'

This $19.96 publication by the editors of TIME honors those whose face once adorned one of its covers. The July 20, 1931 cover celebrating Nikola Tesla can be found on page 150. Unfortunately, there was no biographical material on Tesla other than a short reference to his work on electricity. Marconi received the same treatment. Many of the covers, including Tesla's, were reproduced in reduction. But Hitler, Stalin, Lenin and others were given two or more pages of coverage. I returned my copy.