Nikola Tesla Books
CHAPTER FOUR Over the next few days I managed to obtain photocopies of several of Tesla's patents. Whether or not broadcast power worked he had certainly been prolific. One of Tesla's earliest patents, no. 382,279 dated May 1, 1888, was for an electromagnetic motor and began in high style: To all whom it may concern: Be it known that I, Nikola Tesla, a subject of the Emperor of Austria, from Smiljan, Lika, border country of Austria-Hungary, now residing at New York in the country and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful improvements in Electro-Magnetic Motors, of which the following is a specification... This was in all probability one of the patents Tesla had sold to George Westinghouse and the inventor certainly seemed proud of his achievement: These motors present numerous advantages, chief amongst which are their simplicity, reliability, economy in construction and maintenance, and their ease and dangerless management. As no commutators are required on either the generators or the motors, the system is capable of very perfect action and involves but little loss. Tesla was right; previous motors had used a system of 'brushes' or mechanical connections between fixed and rotating parts of the device to carry the current, At high speeds this connection would crackle and spark so that the motor operated in a highly inefficient way. Patent after patent dealt with new electrical machines, systems of power 40
