Mr. Tesla Asserts Priority in Patent on Which Mr. Marconi Has Brought Action

To the Editor of the Herald:-

The Herald of even date contains a report to the effect that the Marconi Wireless Telegraph Company has begun a suit for infringement against Mr. Fritz Lowenstein, the well known German engineer, formerly my assistant. Mr. Lowenstein operates under broad patents granted to me on the wireless art; he has, however, with rare ingenuity and skill, worked out certain practical details, and how much the advantages of the apparatus he manufactures are appreciated is best evidenced by the statement of the Secretary of the Navy, which you have quoted.

My patents referred to bear the numbers 645,576 and 649,621 and describe a new and original wireless system, characterized by the employment of four circuits in perfect resonance, a condition essential to successful practice. Long after their grant Mr. Marconi filed an application and secured a patent (No. 768,772), which covers exactly the same fundamental arrangements and forms, the basis of the present suit. Such cases happen occasionally, as it is quite impossible for the examiners of the Patent Office to keep abreast with workers in new and special fields, a notable instance of this kind is my single phase induction motor on which a celebrated inventor obtained a patent which was subsequently invalidated through my earlier application.

In a recent suit in France involving the same or corresponding patents the highest court, acting on a statement submitted by me, decided against Marconi and recognized fully my priority of invention in all the important features. I have every reason to expect that when the same facts are presented here a similar conclusion will be reached by the Supreme Court.

Nikola Tesla.
New York, Aug. 28, 1914.