Nikola Tesla FBI Files - Page 17

     Director, FBI                                                                     April 17, 1950
     SAC, New York

     [REDUCTED]

     Rebulet dated April 3 last.

     On April 7, 1950 agents of this office interviewed Mr. J.V. POTTS, Vice President of the Manhattan Warehouse and Storage Company, 52nd Street & 7th Avenue, New York City, and at that time Mr. POTTS advised that the rules of his firm required that all persons gaining access to goods stored by Manhattan first had to fill out an appropriate form setting forth their names, date of visit, and reason for requesting access to the goods.

     In a review of the file pertaining to the storage of the effects of NIKOLA TESLA, MR. POTTS revealed that only one such visit had been made by persons outside of the management of Manhattan Storage itself. This one occasion took place on January 26 and 27, 1943, at which time representatives of the Alien Property Custodian made a thorough review of the entire effects of the TESLA estate.

     The TESLA effects are stored in room 5J and 5L of Manhattan Storage's warehouse at 52nd Street & 7th Avenue, New York City. MR. MICHAEL KING, who stated he had been Floor Supervisor for approximately 10 years on the floor in question, stated that he could recall only the one occasion in early 1943 when an examination was made of the TESLA effects. He stated that at that time numerous photographs were taken by the examiners. His description of the equipment used would tend to show that a microfilm reproduction was made of some of the papers of the deceased scientist. MR. KING added that several of the group making the examination wore U.S. Navy uniforms, and during the two days required to complete the examination the civilian assistants in the group were identified to him only as "FEDERAL AUTHORITIES". According to MR. KING, no other instance of microfilming of the records of the TESLA estate has taken place since that time.

     It should be noted that the Bureau was informed of the examination mentioned above by New York letter (with attachments) dated October 17, 1945, entitled UNKNOWN SUBJECT; SAVA KOSANOVICH; Experiments & Research of NIKOLA TESLA (Deceased), Espionage-M.

cc: 65-12290

EFH:JJC
105-1391