The Tesla Electrical Oscillator - Editorial

While Mr. Tesla has until the last year or two confined himself to purely electrical work, his most recent labors have been devoted to the solution of a mechanical problem intimately connected with the generation of electric currents, the outcome being his electrical oscillators, of which we describe two additional types in this week's issue. Aside from the numerous possibilities in other fields it would seem that if the "oscillator" fulfills the expectations of its inventor, it is destined to create little short of a revolution. in our present methods of power generation and distribution. It must be confessed that in spite of the numerous obvious cases in which the application of motors to the driving of machines and line shafting would prove a gain over the present methods, and despite even the successful working of such plants, the conservative factory owner and machinist still looks with a doubtful glance at these innovations of the last ten years. But, if, as Mr. Tesla claims, he will be able to furnish electric current by means of his oscillator, at anything like one half the cost for fuel now required and with much simpler apparatus, the aspect becomes quite a different one. Such an accomplishment would immediately appeal to every power user and would at once determine the direction of future methods of local power transmission. Indeed it might not be inapt to inquire here also into the probable effect of such an achievement on long distance electrical transmission. With the potentials which have been practically handled up to date, the size of conductors required has not permitted of the extension of power transmission plants utilizing water power, to the distances hoped for, although we note small but constant gains in this respect. With the initial source of energy in the shape of fuel reduced to one half the present cost, it would indeed require an exceptional set of conditions such for example, as those existing at Niagara or in regions far remote from fuel supply to make the utilization of water-powers worth considering for any considerable distance from the fall. Already the cost of water power even locally distributed has in numerous conspicuous instances proved less economical in competition with modern steam engines and a still further improvement in the latter added to the benefits to be derived from electric motors must still further tend to decrease the comparative margin of economy with water power. It seems strange indeed that a power available on the spot should not be able to compete in economy with another form of energy hauled frequently for a distance of hundreds of miles, but experience bears out the conclusions just stated. While the above remarks refer merely to power distribution they are equally applicable. to the question of electric lighting and current distribution in general. From Mr. Tesla's observations before the recent meeting of the New York Electrical Society (see The Electrical Engineer, Dec. 6 and 13, 1893) we infer that he has so far gone into the study of the methods he advocates that we shall not have to wait long for their practical realization.