I N T R O D U C T I O N
Welcome to the ce l lar o f the Radio Wave Bui ld ing.
Thi s i s the bu i ld ing in which Niko la Tes la l i ved A1 and per for med h i s
exper iments on rad io waves, t ransmi t t ing them to h i s laboratory near
present day Tr in i ty Church in downtown Manhat tan . The ‘waves ’
which gu ided you here (GPS) and sur round you now (WiFi ) were
env i s ioned by Tes la more than a century ago.
Bor n dur ing a l ightn ing s tor m, Niko la Tes la was a ch i ld o f l i ght .
An immig rant , an innovator and a patr io t , Tes la dreamed o f a world
which few other s cou ld imagine. He was an eccentr ic A2 gen ius,
an ‘E lec t r i c Mess iah ’ .
We toas t to h im and the count le s s o ther s that th ink out s ide the box ,
per sever ing aga ins t a l l odds.
The Gerlach Hote l
49 Wes t 27 thNe w Yo rk C i t y, c.1896
Y O U R J O U R N E Y
E N E R G Y N o . 0 0 0 4 .
F R E Q U E N C Y N o . 0 0 0 8 .
V I B R A T I O N N o . 0 0 1 2 .
D E S C E N T N o . 0 0 1 6 .
B I T E S , B E E R & W I N E N o . 0 0 2 0 .
A P P E N D I X N o . 0 0 2 3 .
E N E R G Y
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Fig. B1.1 cut away viewAC induction motor
Fig. B1.2 section view AC induction motor
CLEAN AND BRIGHT.
THESE DRINKS ARE A CRISP WELCOME TO THE NIGHTS TIPPLING.
No. 0
00
4.
You are now in a landmarked buildingB2
conducive to conversation, experimentation
and home to the world’s first recorded
electrical vibrations. At the end of the 19th
century there was value in these discoveries,
a substantial fortune to be found. Close to
home and around the world, Tesla’s rivals
(Thomas Edison, George Westinghouse and
Guglielmo Marconi) moved to leapfrog his
achievements and stake their own claim to
discovery.B3 As dueling corporations backed
rival inventors for supremacy, a renowned
intellectual property race was officially on...
S T R A N G E M A G I C
C O S M I C R A Y S
V O D K A
S T R A W B E R R Y
M A D E I R A
G R A P E F R U I T
L E M O N
P R O S E C C O
S E L T Z E R
A C / D C
B L A N C H E A R M A G N A C
P E A C H
F E N N E L
G E N E V E R
L E M O N
E G G W H I T E
S E L T Z E R
P I S C O
A M E R I C A N G I N
D R Y V E R M O U T H
G R E E N A P P L E
E L D E R F L O W E R
K A F F I R L I M E
No. 0
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6. E N E R G Y
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Fig. B1.1 cut away viewAC induction motor
Fig. B1.2 section view AC induction motor
CLEAN AND BRIGHT.
THESE DRINKS ARE A CRISP WELCOME TO THE NIGHTS TIPPLING.
You are now in a landmarked buildingB2
conducive to conversation, experimentation
and home to the world’s first recorded
electrical vibrations. At the end of the 19th
century there was value in these discoveries,
a substantial fortune to be found. Close to
home and around the world, Tesla’s rivals
(Thomas Edison, George Westinghouse and
Guglielmo Marconi) moved to leapfrog his
achievements and stake their own claim to
discovery.B3 As dueling corporations backed
rival inventors for supremacy, a renowned
intellectual property race was officially on...
No. 0
00
8.
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Fig. C1.2 section viewelectromechanical oscillator
Fig. C1.3 section viewelectromechanical oscillator
Fig. C1.1 cut away viewelectromechanical oscillator
F R E Q U E N C YENERGETICALLY INFUSED AND F IT FOR A CELEBRATION.
THESE DRINKS ARE AS INTENSE AS THEIR ORIGINS.
In spite of his peculiar work ethic and reclusive tendencies, Tesla attracted many famous friends with his lively character and dapper style. He was frequently accompanied by some of the greatest luminaries of his day: Mark Twain, Rudyard Kipling and conservationist John Muir were just a few of his fervent admirers.C2
Tesla was a man of great influence, not only in the scientific community, but through his political and philosophical writings. He staunchly opposed ProhibitionC3 and once wrote of a drink that “...it’s the ‘elixir of life.’”C4
R A D I O W A V E S
T H E ‘ T W A I N
T E Q U I L A
M E Z C A L
A G R I C O L E R H U M
B A S I L
T H A I C H I L E
L I M E
C U C U M B E R
L I G H T M E U P
B O U R B O N
J A M A I C A N R U M
M A N G O B L A C K T E A
A M A R O
Y E L L O W C H A R T R E U S E
S Z E C H U A N P E P P E R C O R N
L I M E
P I N E A P P L E
T E Q U I L A
A L P I N E L I Q U E U R
G I N
P E A R
W O O D R U F F
F U J I A P P L E
L E M O N
N U T M E G
No. 0
01
0.
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Fig. C1.2 section viewelectromechanical oscillator
Fig. C1.3 section viewelectromechanical oscillator
Fig. C1.1 cut away viewelectromechanical oscillator
F R E Q U E N C YENERGETICALLY INFUSED AND F IT FOR A CELEBRATION.
THESE DRINKS ARE AS INTENSE AS THEIR ORIGINS.
In spite of his peculiar work ethic and reclusive tendencies, Tesla attracted many famous friends with his lively character and dapper style. He was frequently accompanied by some of the greatest luminaries of his day: Mark Twain, Rudyard Kipling and conservationist John Muir were just a few of his fervent admirers.C2
Tesla was a man of great influence, not only in the scientific community, but through his political and philosophical writings. He staunchly opposed ProhibitionC3 and once wrote of a drink that “...it’s the ‘elixir of life.’”C4
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Fig. D1.1 top-down view radio controlled boat
Fig. D1.2 cut away viewradio controlled boat
No. 0
01
2. V I B R A T I O N
A TOUCH OF INVENTIVENESS , A JOLT OF DARING.
THESE DRINKS REPRESENT A TESLIAN TWIST ON CLASSICAL WISDOM.
Tesla ’s d i scover ies began a worldwide
des ire for e lectr ic l ight . New York City
became the world’s foremost inte l lectual
mel t ing pot , br inging people together for
an a l ter nat ive current D2 of inspirat ion.
In the c i ty that never s leeps, Tes la fe l t
qui te at home. D3
From x-rays to radio waves, f rom
currents to coi l s, h i s impact on our
l ives i s indisputable. A s imple patent
count (300+) te l l s th i s ta le. D4 A re lent less
v i s ionary, Tes la brought to humanity
an e lectr ic dawn.
M R . M U I R
H I T B Y A T A X I
G I N
C A L V A D O S
D O U G L A S F I R
G I N G E R
G E N T I A N
L E M O N
8 : 1 0 P M
N A V Y S T R E N G T H G I N
S U Z E
P A R S L E Y
D R Y V E R M O U T H
C A R D O O N
S U M A C
J A P A N E S E W H I S K Y
A R M A G N A C
S W E E T V E R M O U T H
P U ’ E R H T E A
C U R A C A O
S T A R A N I S E
No. 0
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4.
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Fig. D1.1 top-down view radio controlled boat
Fig. D1.2 cut away viewradio controlled boat
V I B R A T I O NA TOUCH OF INVENTIVENESS , A JOLT OF DARING.
THESE DRINKS REPRESENT A TESLIAN TWIST ON CLASSICAL WISDOM.
Tesla ’s d i scover ies began a worldwide
des ire for e lectr ic l ight . New York City
became the world’s foremost inte l lectual
mel t ing pot , br inging people together for
an a l ter nat ive current D2 of inspirat ion.
In the c i ty that never s leeps, Tes la fe l t
qui te at home. D3
From x-rays to radio waves, f rom
currents to coi l s, h i s impact on our
l ives i s indisputable. A s imple patent
count (300+) te l l s th i s ta le. D4 A re lent less
v i s ionary, Tes la brought to humanity
an e lectr ic dawn.
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Fig. E1 section viewx-ray machine (Rötgen)
Fig. E2 left viewx-ray light bulb (Tesla)
No. 0
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6. D E S C E N T
DARKER AND RICHER,
THESE DRINKS ARE FOR THE ADVENTUROUS.
Thick black smoke bellowed from the ruins
of a smoldering laboratory. Rumors spread;
was his alternating current to blame?E3
His competitors relished the thought of it!
Plagued by slander,E4 encumbered by debt,
Tesla turned to the streets...
Unattached, he spiraled downward.
Never having had time for a wife, he fell
smitten to the companionship of a single
pigeon, the object of his obsession, the
love of his life.E5 Paranoid, penniless and
in the twilight of great genius, he sank
into his future in a dark descent.E6
C U R R E N T S & C O I L S
M A D E F R O M M E M O R Y
V E N E Z U E L A N & G U Y A N E S E R U M
M A L T E D M I L K
C O C O N U T
B A N A N A
P A T E N T C O F F E E
P I N E A P P L E
L I M E
O D D L O V E
R Y E
S P A N I S H B R A N D Y
P A T E N T C O F F E E
C H E R R Y
W A L N U T
A B S I N T H E
A M E R I C A N G I N
A P P L E B R A N D Y
O R A N G E L I Q U E U R
F I G L E A F
E A R L G R E Y T E A
C R E A M
No. 0
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8.
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Fig. E1 section viewx-ray machine (Rötgen)
Fig. E2 left viewx-ray light bulb (Tesla)
D E S C E N TDARKER AND RICHER,
THESE DRINKS ARE FOR THE ADVENTUROUS.
Thick black smoke bellowed from the ruins
of a smoldering laboratory. Rumors spread;
was his alternating current to blame?E3
His competitors relished the thought of it!
Plagued by slander,E4 encumbered by debt,
Tesla turned to the streets...
Unattached, he spiraled downward.
Never having had time for a wife, he fell
smitten to the companionship of a single
pigeon, the object of his obsession, the
love of his life.E5 Paranoid, penniless and
in the twilight of great genius, he sank
into his future in a dark descent.E6
B I T E S B E E R
C H I P S 3
G R I L L E D C H E E S E 8W / RO N N Y B RO O K B U T T E R
B A C O N G R I L L E D C H E E S E 1 2W / RO N N Y B RO O K B U T T E R
F R I E D C H I C K E N S A N D W I C H 1 3W / B U F FA L O R A N C H
P I C K L E S + C H I P S O N S I D E
P U L L E D P O R K S A N D W I C H 1 4 W / B B Q S A U C E
P I C K L E S + C H I P S O N S I D E
T O M AT O S O U P 6 I N A B O W L
* A D D TO A N Y S A N DW I C H F O R $ 3
B E E F + B E A N C H I L I 8 . 5 W / P I C K L E D J A L A P E Ñ O S + C R É M E F R A Î C H E
* A D D TO A N Y S A N DW I C H F O R $ 4
W E S T C O A S T I P A G R E E N F L A S H B R E W I N G
S A N D I E G O , C A
P I L S N E RR A D E B E R G E R B R E W I N G
G E R M A N Y
M I L K S T O U TL E F T H A N D B R E W I N G
L O N G M O N T , C O
8 / B E E R
No. 0
02
0.
W I N E S P A R K L I N G
P R O S E C C O 5 5 / B T L L A M A R C A P R O S E C C O
I T A L Y - D . O . C .
C H A M P A G N E 1 4 5 / B T L
P E R R I E R - J O U E T B R U T
N V
S A U V I G N O N B L A N C S A U V I G N O N B L A N C
C L O U D Y B A Y , N E W Z E A L A N D
‘ 1 6
P I N O T N O I R E S T A T E P I N O T N O I R
W I L L A M E T T E V A L L E Y V I N E Y A R D S , O R
‘ 1 6
C H A R D O N N A Y S O N O M A C U T R E R
S O N O M A C O A S T , C A
‘ 1 5
C A B E R N E T S A U V I G N O N B E A U L I E U V I N E Y A R D S
N A P A , C A
‘ 1 5
1 6 / G L A S S
No. 0
02
2.
A P P E N D I X
A 1 . B O R N I N P R E S E N T D A Y C R O A T I A ,
T E S L A B E C A M E A N A T U R A L I Z E D
C I T I Z E N O F T H E U N I T E D S T A T E S A F T E R
M O V I N G T O N E W Y O R K A T T H E A G E O F
T W E N T Y- E I G H T . A Y U G O S L A V B Y B I R T H ,
T E S L A W O U L D B E C O M E A N I C O N I C
S Y M B O L O F A M E R I C A N I N G E N U I T Y
A N D A P R O M I N E N T F I X T U R E I N T H E
C I T Y ’ S I N T E L L E C T U A L C O M M U N I T Y .
A R E S I D E N T O F T H E G E R L A C H H O T E L
( A M O N G S T O T H E R S ) , A N D A P R O U D
N E W Y O R K E R , H E M A D E A L L O F
M A N H A T T A N H I S L A B O R A T O R Y A S
H E F A M O U S L Y P A C E D H E R S T R E E T S
A B S O R B E D I N H I S T H O U G H T S .
A 2 . T E S L A H A D M A N Y Q U I R K S I N H I S
P E R S O N A L I T Y T O T H E P O I N T S O M E
L A B E L E D H I M A S B E I N G O B S E S S I V E L Y
C O M P U L S I V E ( O C D ) . H E D I D T H I N G S
I N T H R E E ’ S . H E W O U L D O F T E N C L E A N
H I S P L A T E W I T H 1 8 N A P K I N S O R
S T R O L L A R O U N D T H E B L O C K T H R E E
T I M E S B E F O R E E N T E R I N G A B U I L D I N G .
B 1 . 1 & B 1 . 2 O N E O F T H E G R E A T E S T I N V E N T I O N S
I N T E S L A ’ S E P I C P O R T F O L I O ,
T H E A C I N D U C T I O N M O T O R M U S T
A L S O R A N K A M O N G T H E M O S T
I M P O RTA N T I N V E N T I O N S O F A L L T I M E .
W I T H A C T H E S TA N D A R D I N V I RT U A L LY
A L L C U R R E N T D AY A P P L I A N C E S A N D
E L E C T R O M A G N E T S AT T H E C O R E O F M O S T
P R A C T I C A L M O T O R S , T E S L A ’ S I N D U C T I O N
M O T O R I S O F T E N C I T E D A S A K E Y D R I V E R
O F T H E E L E C T R I C R E V O L U T I O N .
B 2 . B E F O R E C O N S T R U C T I O N C O U L D S TA RT
T H E S P A C E H A D T O B E D E M O L I S H E D .
T H E T W O A R C H E S Y O U S E E B E H I N D T H E
B A R W E R E N O T K N O W N T O E X I S T U N T I L
O N E L U C K Y F R I D AY N I G H T, A R M E D
W I T H S L E D G E H A M M E R S A N D C R O W B A R S ,
W E U N C O V E R E D A H I D D E N C A V E R N .
I N T H E D U S T, D I RT A N D R U B B L E , T H E
F O L L O W I N G D AY S R E V E A L E D M A N Y
B U R I E D T R E A S U R E S ; N E W S P A P E R S F R O M
A S E A R LY A S 1 9 2 0 , H A N D M A D E C L O T H I N G ,
O Y S T E R S H E L L S , F L A S K S , M AT C H B O O K S ,
P L AY I N G C A R D S , M I L K B O T T L E S , A N D
P E N - I N K C O N TA I N E R S .
B 3 . I N 1 9 0 1 , I T A L I A N P H Y S I C I S T A N D
T E S L A R I V A L , G U G L I E L M O M A R C O N I ,
W O U L D B E T H E F I R S T T O S E N D
A T R A N S A T L A N T I C W I R E L E S S
R A D I O W A V E . H E D I D S O U S I N G
T E C H N O L O G I E S P R E V I O U S L Y
D E V E L O P E D B Y T E S L A ( “ . . . H E ’ S U S I N G
1 7 O F M Y P A T E N T S ! ” ) . D E S P I T E
S U B S E Q U E N T L E G A L A C T I O N A G A I N S T
H I M , M A R C O N I W O U L D B E W R O N G F U L L Y
M E M O R I A L I Z E D A S T H E F A T H E R O F
R A D I O ; M U C H T O T E S L A ’ S D I S C O N T E N T .
Fig. B1.1 cut away viewAC induction motor
C 1 . 1 , C 1 . 2 & C 1 . 3T H E E L E C T R O M E C H A N I C A L O S C I L L A T O R W A S A H I G H -F R E Q U E N C Y G E N E R A T O R O F T E S L I A N P R O P O R T I O N S . A S T E A M P O W E R E D G E N E R A T O R C A P A B L E O F C H A R G I N G F L U O R E S C E N T A N D I N C A N D E S C E N T B U L B S , I T W A S A L S O A V I B R A T I O N A L P O W E R H O U S E K N O W N T O S H A K E B U I L D I N G S T O T H E I R F O U N D A T I O N . T H O U G H I T W E I G H E D J U S T A F E W P O U N D S , T E S L A C L A I M E D I T C O U L D T R I G G E R E A R T H Q U A K E S ! F E A R I N G I T S D E S T R U C T I V E P O T E N T I A L , W H E N T H E P O L I C E S H O W E D U P A T H I S L A B , H E S M A S H E D H I S I N V E N T I O N W I T H A H A M M E R A N D S W O R E H I S S T A F F
T O S I L E N C E .
C 2T H E S E A N D M A N Y O T H E R N O T A B L E F I G U R E S O F T H E T I M E W E R E I N F A C T T E S L A ’ S P E R S O N A L F R I E N D S ( A N D O C C A S I O N A L F R E N E M I E S ) . W H E N H E W A S N ’ T A B S O R B E D W I T H E L E C T R I C A L C U R R E N T S , T H E G R E A T S C I E N T I S T C O U L D B E F O U N D C O N V E R S I N G W I T H F A M O U S F R I E N D S I N T H E G R E A T D I N I N G R O O M S A N D R E S T A U R A N T S O F N E W Y O R K . H I S F R I E N D J U L I A N H A W T H O R N E N O T A B LY D E S C R I B E D H I M A S , “ A P O E T, A P H I L O S O P H E R , A N A P P R E C I A T O R O F F I N E M U S I C , A L I N G U I S T , A N D A C O N N O I S S E U R O F F O O D A N D D R I N K . ”
C 3A M A N O F P R I N C I P L E , T E S L A S T R I C T L Y O B E Y E D T H E L A W O F T H E L A N D H O W E V E R M U C H H E D I S A G R E E D . T H O U G H H E ’ D C O N S U M E D E N O U G H A L C O H O L T O ( I N H I S W O R D S ) : “ F O R M A L A K E O F N O M E A N D I M E N S I O N S ” , H E M A N A G E D T O A B S T A I N F R O M D R I N K F O R A S L O N G A S I T W A S F O R B I D D E N .
C 4T H O U G H H E M A I N T A I N E D A R I G O R O U S D I E T A N D A V O I D E D A L L T Y P E S O F S T I M U L A N T S S U C H A S C O F F E E A N D T E A , T E S L A B E L I E V E D D E E P L Y I N T H E R E S T O R A T I V E V A L U E O F A L C O H O L A N D W A S V O C I F E R O U S P R O P O N E N T O F I T S L E G A L I Z A T I O N . D U R I N G H I S L I F E T I M E , H E W O U L D P U B L I S H V A R I O U S A R T I C L E S D E C R Y I N G P R O H I B I T I O N A N D O N C E C L A I M E D T H A T A L C O H O L W A S L E S S D A N G E R O U S T H A N C H E W I N G G U M !
D 1 . 1 & D 1 . 2I N N E A R B Y M A D I S O N S Q U A R E G A R D E N , T E S L A U N V E I L E D T H E W O R L D ’ S F I R S T R E M O T E - C O N T R O L L E D B O AT. T O T H E A S S E M B L E D C R O W D, T H E B O AT A P P E A R E D T O M O V E B Y M A G I C . T E S L A ’ S P R O T O T Y P E WA S I N F A C T R E S P O N D I N G T O R A D I O I M P U L S E S . O F T H AT F I R S T B O AT T E S L A W R O T E : “ YO U D O N O T S E E T H E R E A W I R E L E S S T O R P E D O ; YO U S E E T H E R E T H E F I R S T O F A R A C E O F R O B O T S , M E C H A N I C A L M E N W H I C H W I L L D O T H E L A B O R I O U S
W O R K O F T H E H U M A N R A C E .”
D 2I M P R O V E M E N T O F T H E A L T E R N A T I N G C U R R E N T E L E C T R I C I T Y S U P P L Y S Y S T E M I S T E S L A ’ S S I G N A T U R E I N N O V A T I O N . I T ’ S P E R H A P S T H E M O S T S I G N I F I C A N T A D V A N C E O F T H E 2 0 T H - C E N T U R Y . W I T H O B V I O U S A D V A N T A G E S O V E R D I R E C T C U R R E N T , I N T R A N S F E R A B I L I T Y ( P A R T I C U L A R L Y O V E R D I S T A N C E ) , E C O N O M Y A N D S A F E T Y , I T I S S T I L L
T O D A Y T H E W O R L D ’ S S T A N D A R D .
D 3A F T E R A R R I V I N G I N N E W Y O R K A N D B E I N G H I R E D B Y T H O M A S E D I S O N , T E S L A F A M O U S LY S L E P T N O M O R E T H A N T W O H O U R S A N I G H T, F R E Q U E N T LY L E A V I N G E D I S O N ’ S L A B O N LY A S H I S C O N T E M P O R A R I E S W E R E A R R I V I N G E A R LY I N T H E M O R N I N G ! H E W R O T E E X T E N S I V E LY A B O U T T H E S U P E R F L U O U S N AT U R E O F S L E E P, A N D AT T R I B U T E D H I S T R E M E N D O U S
T H I N K I N G P O W E R T O T H I S D I S C I P L I N E .
D 4A F T E R L E A V I N G E D I S O N ’ S C O M P A N Y D U E T O L A C K O F P R O P E R C O M P E N S A T I O N , T E S L A W E N T O N TO R E C E I V E F I N A N C I A L B A C K I N G F R O M G E O R G E W E S T I N G H O U S E A N D J . P. M O R G A N , I N V E S TO R S W H O S AW A F I N A N C I A L O P P O RT U N I T Y. T E S L A W O U L D E N D U P B E I N G C R E D I T E D W I T H AT L E A S T 3 0 0 PAT E N T S ( I N C L U D I N G I N T E R N AT I O N A L C L A I M S ) . T H E D E P T H O F T E S L A ’ S T E C H N I C A L C O N T R I B U T I O N S I S TO O R A R E LY R E C O G N I Z E D I N P O P U L A R C U LT U R E .
No. 0
02
4.
E 1 & E 2 T H O U G H T H E D I S C O V E R Y O F X - R A Y S
I S O F F I C I A L L Y C R E D I T E D T O G E R M A N
E N G I N E E R W I L H E L M R Ö N T G E N , I T W A S
T E S L A W H O F I R S T H A P P E N E D U P O N
“ R A D I A N T E N E R G Y O F I N V I S I B L E
K I N D S , ” I N T H E C O U R S E O F O T H E R
E X P E R I M E N T S . I N T R U E G E N T L E M A N L Y
F A S H I O N , T E S L A D I D N O T D I S P U T E
R Ö N T G E N ’ S C L A I M B U T I N S T E A D
S E T T O W O R K I M P R O V I N G T H E
T E C H N O L O G Y. B Y I N C O R P O R A T I N G
H I S “ T E S L A C O I L ” H E W A S A B L E T O
S E E D E E P E R : N O T J U S T H A N D S B U T
S K U L L S A S W E L L .
E 3 T H E E N D O F T E S L A ’ S L I F E W A S M A R K E D
B Y A N A P P A R E N T D I M I N I S H M E N T O F
H I S S E N S E S . N E V E R W A S H I S P S Y C H I C
F R A G I L I T Y M O R E A P P A R E N T T H A N
I N T H E A F T E R M A T H O F T H E C A N A L
S T R E E T F I R E W H I C H C O N S U M E D H I S
L A B O R A T O R Y. A T A P R E C A R I O U S P O I N T
I N H I S L I F E , T E S L A W O U L D N O T B E
S P A R E D R U I N O U S G O S S I P. P A R T I S A N
O B S E R V E R S W O N D E R E D P U B L I C LY
W H E T H E R A C E L E C T R I C I T Y W A S N O T
T O B L A M E F O R T H E F I R E , A N D F A L S E
R U M O R S C O N V I N C E D M A N Y I T W A S .
E 4 T H E M O U N T I N G R I V A L R Y B E T W E E N
W E S T I N G H O U S E E L E C T R I C C O M P A N Y
( U S E D T E S L A ’ S A C ) A N D T H E E D I S O N
E L E C T R I C L I G H T C O M P A N Y ( D C
B A C K E R S ) G R E W S O I N T E N S E A S T O
B E L A B E L E D , ‘ T H E W A R O F C U R R E N T S . ’
I N A N A T T E M P T T O P U B L I C L Y
D E M O N S T R A T E T H E F R I G H T E N I N G
V O L A T I L I T Y O F T H E W E S T I N G H O U S E
P R O D U C T , E D I S O N A R R A N G E D F O R A N
E L E C T R I C C H A I R E X E C U T I O N T O B E
C A R R I E D O U T W I T H A N A L T E R N A T I N G
C U R R E N T . P R E D I C T A B L Y , E D I S O N ’ S
D E M O N S T R A T I O N W O U L D B A C K F I R E
I N G R A N D F A S H I O N . A S P U T T E R I N G ,
F R U S T R A T E D A N D U T T E R L Y I N H U M A N E
E X E C U T I O N W A S T H E R E S U L T O F
A N A P P L I E D C U R R E N T A P P A R E N T L Y
S O S A F E T H A T I T C O U L D N ’ T B E
I N T E N T I O N A L L Y M I S U S E D ! G E O R G E
W E S T I N G H O U S E F A M O U S L Y W A S
Q U O T E D E X C L A I M I N G , “ T H E Y W O U L D
H A V E D O N E B E T T E R U S I N G A N A X E ! ”
E 5 A S A P A S S I O N A T E A V I C U L T U R I S T ,
T E S L A F O R M E D A C O M P A N I O N S H I P
W I T H T H E P I G E O N S O F N E W Y O R K
T H A T H E N E V E R E X P E R I E N C E D I N
H U M A N C O M P A N Y. H E K E P T A N D C A R E D
F O R , D E V I S E D C O M P L E X M E C H A N I C A L
I N S T R U M E N T S T O H E A L T H E W O U N D S
O F , A N D E V E N F O U N D P E R S O N A L
V A L I D A T I O N I N H I S E N C O U N T E R W I T H
A P A R T I C U L A R P I G E O N ( L O O K U P, L O O K
A R O U N D M A Y B E Y O U ’ V E S E E N H E R ? ) :
“ A S L O N G A S I H A D H E R , T H E R E W A S A
P U R P O S E T O M Y L I F E . ”
E 6 L AT E R I N L I F E , A C O N T E M P L AT I V E T E S L A
W O U L D W O N D E R I F H E H A D M A D E “ T O O
G R E AT A S A C R I F I C E ” I N N E V E R M A R RY I N G .
W H I L E I T ’ S T R U E T H AT T E S L A B O R E N O
C H I L D R E N , T H E T R E M E N D O U S R E A C H
A N D S C A L E O F H I S S C I E N T I F I C A N D
T E C H N O L O G I C A L A C C O M P L I S H M E N T S
H A V E T R A N S F O R M E D O U R W O R L D I N
U N T H I N K A B L E W A Y S . H I S P E R S O N A L
A N D F I N A N C I A L W O E S T O O K A T O L L .
T E A R I N G U P H I S P R O F I T S H A R I N G
A G R E E M E N T W I T H W E S T I N G H O U S E
E L E C T R I C W A S P R O B A B L Y T H E W O R S T
F I N A N C I A L D E C I S I O N O F H I S L I F E .
Fig. E1 section viewx-ray machine (Rötgen)
Fig. E2 left viewx-ray light bulb (Tesla)