Nikola Tesla Books
used today. In the 1890's, his discoveries burst upon the world like an Atomic Bomb. They were the current subject of discussion by scientists and laymen throughout the world. In a comparatively few years, his inventions created our "new electrical age" for his alterra ting current power was the only solution to the transmission of electric power over long distances. His electric currents and motors gave us our mass production system, for without inexpensive power and motors, mass production, as we know it today, could never exist. In Europe, Asia and throughout the earth, Tesla's power systems were quickly placed into full operation and use.
Nikola Tesla seemed to have a cosmic mind that swept the Universe. The story of his life is one of the most dramatic tales of all time. It is an inspiration to all men of science, who struggle through many years of patient work and hardship to bring into existence and perfection, new ideas and inventions, for the service and benefit of humanity. The amazing story of this "superman" who died at the age of 86, seems to be like a contagious disease to all who learn it. It could be called "Tesla-itus", for lack of a better term. It is a story that will stimulate your mind and your imagination. You will wonder what the world might have been like today, had Dr. Tesla been given the proper cooperation and resources to continue and perfect his other inventions, which he considered the "crowning success of all his great discoveries".
As early as 1897, he had given us every element of modern radio, as well as remote control by wireless. His first demonstrations of this wonderful scientific achievement were made in New York harbor with a wireless controlled naval boat. He gave us our modern neon and fluorescent lighting systems through his discovery of high frequency voltage. Such lighting was used and demonstrated in his laboratory before 1900. In fact he developed economical and ingenious methods of lighting that remain unknown even to this day, which he demonstrated at his Houston Street laboratory in New York City, It approached the brilliancy and quality of sunlight. His high-frequency currents are performing their miracles in our electronic age, both in our industrial and medical world. As early as 1899, he produced tremendous voltages that exceeded even the intensity of lightening. Today, scientists have difficulty in developing a fraction of these potentials in their atom smashing and X-Ray machines.
His most important inventions came between the years of 1886 and 1901. The majority of his patents were bought by the Westinghouse Company, who in turn licensed General Electric Corp. Tesla's patents were the basis for a large portion of the electrical divisions of these two great corporations. For these he received 1-1/2 million dollars from his good friend, George Westinghouse. Dr. Tesla could have been one of the richest men in the world at the age of 40. When the great feud between Edison's direct current and Tesla's alternating current reached its peak, Tesla tore up a contract with Westinghouse that called for $1.00 per horse power for every A.C. power generator built under the Tesla patents. In return, Westinghouse agreed to get behind and exploit A.C. power. Tesla preferred to work alone as an independent inventor, free from the influences of anyone. He cared little for fame or wealth, Money to him was only a means for continuing experiments and his research work into unknown fields.
The great hydro-electric power system at Niagara Falls was conceived and engineered by Dr. Tesla. It is dedicated in his honor. This was the real beginning of our electrical age, for the polyphase system of power and the inauguration of this
