I N T RO D U C T I O N

We l c o m e t o t h e c e l l a r o f t h e R a d i o Wave B u i l d i n g.

T h i s i s t h e bu i l d i n g i n w h i ch N i k o l a Te s l a l i ve d A 1 a n d p e r f o r m e d h i s
ex p e r i m e n t s o n r a d i o w ave s, t r a n s m i t t i n g t h e m t o h i s l a b o r at o r y n e a r
p r e s e n t d a y Tr i n i t y C h u rch i n d o w n t o w n M a n h a t t a n . T h e ‘ w ave s ’
w h i ch g u i d e d yo u h e r e ( G P S ) a n d s u r ro u n d yo u n o w ( Wi F i ) w e r e
e nv i s i o n e d by Te s l a m o r e t h a n a c e n t u r y a g o.

B o r n d u r i n g a l i g h t n i n g s t o r m , N i k o l a Te s l a w a s a ch i l d o f l i g h t .
A n i m m i g r a n t , a n i n n ov a t o r a n d a p a t r i o t , Te s l a d r e a m e d o f a w o rl d
w h i ch f e w o t h e r s c o u l d i m a g i n e. H e w a s a n e c c e n t r i c A 2 g e n i u s,
an ‘Electric Messiah’.

We t o a s t t o h i m a n d t h e c o u n t l e s s o t h e r s t h a t t h i n k o u t s i d e t h e b ox ,
p e r s eve r i n g a g a i n s t a l l o d d s.

T h e G e rl a ch H o t e l
4 9 We s t 2 7 t h
N e w Yo rk C i t y, c. 1 8 9 6
YO U R J O U R N E Y

E N E RG Y No. 0004.

FREQUENCY No. 0008.

V I B R AT I O N No. 0012.

DESCENT No. 0016.

BITES, BEER & WINE No. 0020.

APPENDIX No. 0023.

No. 0004.

S T R A N G E M A G I C

E N E RG Y VODKA

C L E A N A N D B R I G H T. S T R AW B E R RY
T H E S E D R I N K S A R E A C R I S P W E L C O M E TO T H E N I G H T S T I P P L I N G .
MADEIRA

GRAPEFRUIT

LEMON

P RO S E C C O
Fig. B1.1
cut away view S E LT Z E R
AC induction motor

A C / D C

BLANCHE ARMAGNAC

Fig. B1.2 PEACH

section view
AC induction motor FENNEL
A L L S P E C I A LT Y C O C K TA I L S

GENEVER

LEMON

EGG WHITE

S E LT Z E R

$16
C O S M I C R AY S

You are now in a landmarked building B2 (Thomas Edison, George Westinghouse and
PISCO
conducive to conversation, experimentation Guglielmo Marconi) moved to leapfrog his
and home to the world’s first recorded achievements and stake their own claim to AMERICAN GIN

electrical vibrations. At the end of the 19th discovery. B3

As dueling corporations backed D RY V E R M O U T H
century there was value in these discoveries, rival inventors for supremacy, a renowned GREEN APPLE
a substantial fortune to be found. Close to intellectual property race was officially on...
ELDERFLOWER
home and around the world, Tesla’s rivals
KAFFIR LIME
No. 0006.

E N E RG Y
C L E A N A N D B R I G H T.
T H E S E D R I N K S A R E A C R I S P W E L C O M E TO T H E N I G H T S T I P P L I N G .

Fig. B1.1
cut away view
AC induction motor

Fig. B1.2
section view
AC induction motor
A L L S P E C I A LT Y C O C K TA I L S

$16

You are now in a landmarked building B2 (Thomas Edison, George Westinghouse and
conducive to conversation, experimentation Guglielmo Marconi) moved to leapfrog his
and home to the world’s first recorded achievements and stake their own claim to
electrical vibrations. At the end of the 19th discovery. B3 As dueling corporations backed
century there was value in these discoveries, rival inventors for supremacy, a renowned
a substantial fortune to be found. Close to intellectual property race was officially on...
home and around the world, Tesla’s rivals
No. 0008.

R A D I O WAV E S

F R E Q U E N C Y TEQUILA

E N E R G E T I C A L LY I N F U S E D A N D F I T F O R A C E L E B R AT I O N . MEZCAL
THESE DRINKS ARE AS INTENSE AS THEIR ORIGINS.
AGRICOLE RHUM

BASIL

THAI CHILE

LIME

CUCUMBER

Fig. C1.1 Fig. C1.2

cut away view section view
electromechanical electromechanical
oscillator oscillator

L I G H T M E U P

BOURBON

JAMAICAN RUM

MANGO BLACK TEA

Fig. C1.3 A M A RO
section view
electromechanical Y E L L OW C H A RT R E U S E
A L L S P E C I A LT Y C O C K TA I L S

oscillator
SZECHUAN PEPPERCORN

LIME

PINEAPPLE

$16 T H E ‘ T WA I N

TEQUILA
In spite of his peculiar work ethic and reclusive Tesla was a man of great influence, ALPINE LIQUEUR
tendencies, Tesla attracted many famous friends not only in the scientific community,
with his lively character and dapper style. but through his political and philosophical GIN
He was frequently accompanied by some of the writings. He staunchly opposed Prohibition C3 PEAR
greatest luminaries of his day: Mark Twain, and once wrote of a drink that “...it’s the
WOODRUFF
Rudyard Kipling and conservationist John Muir ‘elixir of life.’” C4
were just a few of his fervent admirers. C2 FUJI APPLE

LEMON

NUTMEG
No. 0010.

F R E Q U E N C Y
E N E R G E T I C A L LY I N F U S E D A N D F I T F O R A C E L E B R AT I O N .
THESE DRINKS ARE AS INTENSE AS THEIR ORIGINS.

Fig. C1.1 Fig. C1.2

cut away view section view
electromechanical electromechanical
oscillator oscillator

Fig. C1.3
section view
electromechanical
A L L S P E C I A LT Y C O C K TA I L S

oscillator

$16

In spite of his peculiar work ethic and reclusive Tesla was a man of great influence,
tendencies, Tesla attracted many famous friends not only in the scientific community,
with his lively character and dapper style. but through his political and philosophical
He was frequently accompanied by some of the writings. He staunchly opposed Prohibition C3
greatest luminaries of his day: Mark Twain, and once wrote of a drink that “...it’s the
Rudyard Kipling and conservationist John Muir ‘elixir of life.’” C4
were just a few of his fervent admirers. C2
No. 0012.

M R . M U I R

V I B R AT I O N GIN

A TO U C H O F I N V E N T I V E N E S S , A J O LT O F DA R I N G . C A LVA D O S
THESE DRINKS REPRESENT A TESLIAN TWIST ON CLASSICAL WISDOM.
DOUGLAS FIR

GINGER

GENTIAN

LEMON

Fig. D1.1
top-down view
radio controlled boat

8 : 1 0 P M

N AV Y S T R E N G T H G I N
A L L S P E C I A LT Y C O C K TA I L S

SUZE

PA R S L E Y

Fig. D1.2 D RY V E R M O U T H
cut away view
radio controlled boat
CARDOON

SUMAC

$16

Tesla’s di s cover i es beg a n a wo rld w i d e Fro m x -rays to radio waves, from

desire fo r el ectr i c l i g h t. N ew Yo rk C i ty c u r rents to coils, his impact on our H I T B Y A TA X I
became the wo rl d’s fo rem o s t i n tellec tu a l li ves i s indisputable. A simple patent
melting po t, br i ng i ng p eo p le to g eth er fo r c o u n t (300+) tells this tale. D4 A relentless J A PA N E S E W H I S K Y
an alter nati ve cur rent D2 o f i n s p i rati o n . v i s i o n ar y, Tesla brought to humanity ARMAGNAC
I n th e ci ty that never s lee p s, Tes la f elt a n elec tric dawn.
SWEET VERMOUTH
quite at ho me. D3
PU’ERH TEA

CURACAO

S TA R A N I S E
No. 0014.

V I B R AT I O N
A TO U C H O F I N V E N T I V E N E S S , A J O LT O F DA R I N G .
THESE DRINKS REPRESENT A TESLIAN TWIST ON CLASSICAL WISDOM.

Fig. D1.1
top-down view
radio controlled boat
A L L S P E C I A LT Y C O C K TA I L S

Fig. D1.2
cut away view
radio controlled boat

$16

Tesla’s di s cover i es beg a n a wo rld w i d e Fro m x -rays to radio waves, from

desire fo r el ectr i c l i g h t. N ew Yo rk C i ty c u r rents to coils, his impact on our
became the wo rl d’s fo rem o s t i n tellec tu a l li ves i s indisputable. A simple patent
melting po t, br i ng i ng p eo p le to g eth er fo r c o u n t (300+) tells this tale. D4 A relentless
an alter nati ve cur rent D2 o f i n s p i rati o n . v i s i o n ar y, Tesla brought to humanity
I n th e ci ty that never s lee p s, Tes la f elt a n elec tric dawn.
quite at ho me. D3
No. 0016.

C U R R E N T S & C O I L S

D E S C E N T V E N E Z U E L A N & G U YA N E S E R U M

DA R K E R A N D R I C H E R , M A LT E D M I L K
T H E S E D R I N K S A R E F O R T H E A DV E N T U RO U S .
COCONUT

BANANA

PAT E N T C O F F E E

PINEAPPLE

LIME

O D D L OV E
Fig. E1
section view RY E
x-ray machine (Rötgen)
S PA N I S H B R A N DY
A L L S P E C I A LT Y C O C K TA I L S

PAT E N T C O F F E E

C H E R RY

WA L N U T

ABSINTHE

Fig. E2
left view
x-ray light bulb (Tesla)

$16

Thick black smoke bellowed from the ruins Unattached, he spiraled downward. M A D E F RO M M E M O RY
of a smoldering laboratory. Rumors spread; Never having had time for a wife, he fell
was his alternating current to blame? E3 smitten to the companionship of a single
AMERICAN GIN
His competitors relished the thought of it! pigeon, the object of his obsession, the
A P P L E B R A N DY
Plagued by slander, E4 encumbered by debt, love of his life. E5 Paranoid, penniless and
Tesla turned to the streets... in the twilight of great genius, he sank ORANGE LIQUEUR

into his future in a dark descent. E6

FIG LEAF

EARL GREY TEA

CREAM
No. 0018.

D E S C E N T
DA R K E R A N D R I C H E R ,
T H E S E D R I N K S A R E F O R T H E A DV E N T U RO U S .

Fig. E1
section view
x-ray machine (Rötgen)
A L L S P E C I A LT Y C O C K TA I L S

Fig. E2
left view
x-ray light bulb (Tesla)

$16

Thick black smoke bellowed from the ruins Unattached, he spiraled downward.
of a smoldering laboratory. Rumors spread; Never having had time for a wife, he fell
was his alternating current to blame? E3 smitten to the companionship of a single
His competitors relished the thought of it! pigeon, the object of his obsession, the
Plagued by slander, E4 encumbered by debt, love of his life. E5 Paranoid, penniless and
Tesla turned to the streets... in the twilight of great genius, he sank
into his future in a dark descent. E6
No. 0020.

B I T E S B E E R W I N E S PA R K L I N G

CHIPS 3 W E S T C OA S T I PA SAUVIGNON BLANC P RO S E C C O 55 / BTL

GREEN FLASH BREWING SAUVIGNON BLANC L A M A R C A P RO S E C C O
SAN DIEGO, C A C L O U DY B AY, N E W Z E A L A N D I TA LY - D. O. C .
GRILLED CHEESE 8
‘16
W / RO N N Y B RO O K B U T T E R

PILSNER
RADEBERGER BREWING PINOT NOIR C H A M PA G N E 145 / BTL
BACON GRILLED CHEESE 12
GERMANY E S TAT E P I N OT N O I R
W / RO N N Y B RO O K B U T T E R PERRIER - JOUET BRUT
WILLAMETTE VALLEY VINEYARDS, OR
NV
‘16
FRIED CHICKEN SANDWICH 13 MILK STOUT
W / B U F FA L O R A N C H LEFT HAND BREWING
PICKLES + CHIPS ON SIDE L O N G M O N T, C O C H A R D O N N AY
SONOMA CUTRER
S O N O M A C O A S T, C A
PULLED PORK SANDWICH 14 ‘15
W/ BBQ SAUCE
PICKLES + CHIPS ON SIDE 8 / BEER
CABERNET SAUVIGNON
B E A U L I E U V I N E YA R D S
TO M ATO S O U P 6 NAPA, C A
IN A BOWL ‘15
* A D D TO A N Y S A N DW I C H F O R $ 3

BEEF + BEAN CHILI 8.5

W/ PICKLED JALAPEÑOS + CRÉME FRAÎCHE 16 / GLASS
* A D D TO A N Y S A N DW I C H F O R $ 4
No. 0022.
A P P E N D I X
A1.
B O R N I N P R E S E N T D AY C R O AT I A ,
T E S L A B E C A M E A N AT 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 TAT E S A F T E R
M O V I N G TO N E W YO R K AT 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 ,
TESLA WOULD BECOME AN ICONIC
SYMBOL OF AMERICAN INGENUITY
A N D A P RO 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 AC H H OT E L
( A M O N G S T OT H E R S ) , A N D A P RO U D
N E W YO R K E R , H E M A D E A L L O F
M A N H AT TA N H I S L A B O R ATO RY A S
H E F A M O U S LY PA C E D H E R S T R E E T S
ABSORBED IN HIS THOUGHTS.
A2.
TESLA HAD MANY QUIRKS IN HIS
P E R S O N A L I T Y TO 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 LY
COMPULSIVE (OCD). HE DID THINGS
IN THREE’S. HE WOULD OFTEN CLEAN
H I S P L AT E W I T H 1 8 N A P K I N S O R
S T RO L L A RO U N D T H E B L O C K T H R E E
TIMES BEFORE ENTERING A BUILDING.
Fig. B1.1
cut away view
AC induction motor
B1.1 & B1.2
O N E O F T H E G R E AT 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 RT F O L I O,
T H E AC I N D U C T I O N M OTO R M U S T
ALSO RANK AMONG THE MOST
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 AC T I C A L M OTO R S , T E S L A ’ S I N D U C T I O N
M OTO 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
OF THE ELECTRIC REVOLUTION.
B2.
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 PAC E H A D TO B E D E M O L I S H E D.
T H E T WO A R C H E S YO U S E E B E H I N D T H E
B A R W E R E N OT K N OW N TO E X I S T U N T I L
O N E L U C K Y F R I D A Y 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 ROW B A R S ,
W E U N C OV E R E D A H I D D E N C AV E R N .
I N T H E D U S T, D I R T 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 PA P E R S F RO 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 ,
OY 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 .
B3.
I N 1 9 0 1 , I TA L I A N P H Y S I C I S T A N D
T E S L A R I VA L , G U G L I E L M O M A R C O N I ,
WO U L D B E T H E F I R S T TO S E N D
A T R A N S AT L A N T I C W I R E L E S S
R A D I O WAV 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 LY
DEVELOPED BY TESLA (“...HE’S USING
1 7 O F M Y PAT E N T S ! ” ) . D E S P I T E
SUBSEQUENT LEGAL ACTION AGAINST
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 LY
M E M O R I A L I Z E D A S T H E F AT 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.
No. 0024.
C1.1, C1.2 & C1.3
T H E E L E C T RO M E C H A N I C A L
O S C I L L ATO R WA S A H I G H -
F R E Q U E N C Y G E N E R ATO R O F T E S L I A N
P RO P O RT I O N S . A S T E A M P OW E R E D
G E N E R ATO R C A PA B L E O F C H A R G I N G
FLUORESCENT AND INCANDESCENT
B U L B S , I T WA S A L S O A V I B R AT I O N A L
P OW E R H O U S E K N OW N TO S H A K E
B U I L D I N G S TO T H E I R F O U N DAT I O N .
THOUGH IT WEIGHED JUST A FEW
POUNDS, TESLA CLAIMED IT COULD
T R I G G E R E A RT H Q U A K E S ! F E A R I N G
I T S D E S T RU C T I V E P OT 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 AT H I S L A B ,
HE SMASHED HIS INVENTION WITH
A H A M M E R A N D S W O R E H I S S TA F F
TO S I L E N C E .
C2
T H E S E A N D M A N Y OT H E R N OTA B L E
FIGURES OF THE TIME WERE IN FACT
TESLA’S PERSONAL FRIENDS (AND
OCCASIONAL FRENEMIES). WHEN HE
WA 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 AT S C I E N T I S T
COULD BE FOUND CONVERSING WITH
F A M O U S F R I E N D S I N T H E G R E AT D I N I N G
RO O M S A N D R E S TA U R A N T S O F N E W
YO R K . H I S F R I E N D J U L I A N H AW T H O R N E
N O TA 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 ATO 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 .”
C3
A 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 LY
O B E Y E D T H E L AW O F T H E L A N D
H OW E V E R M U C H H E D I S AG R E E D.
THOUGH HE’D CONSUMED ENOUGH
A L C O H O L TO ( I N H I S WO R D S ) : “ F O R M
A LAKE OF NO MEAN DIMENSIONS”,
H E M A N A G E D TO A B S TA I N F RO M D R I N K
F O R A S L O N G A S I T WA S F O R B I D D E N .
C4
T H O U G H H E M A I N TA I N E D A R I G O RO U S
D I E T A N D AVO I D E D A L L T Y P E S O F
STIMULANTS SUCH AS COFFEE AND
T E A , T E S L A B E L I E V E D D E E P LY I N T H E
R E S TO R AT I V E VA L U E O F A L C O H O L A N D
WA S VO C I F E RO U S P RO P O N E N T O F I T S
L E G A L I Z AT I O N . D U R I N G H I S L I F E T I M E ,
H E WO U L D P U B L I S H VA R I O U S A RT I C L E S
D E C RY I N G P RO H I B I T I O N A N D O N C E
C L A I M E D T H AT A L C O H O L WA S L E S S
DA N G E RO U S T H A N C H E W I N G G U M !
D1.1 & D1.2
IN NEARBY MADISON SQUARE GARDEN,
TESLA UNVEILED THE WORLD’S FIRST
R E M O T E - C O N T R O L L E D B O A T. 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
TO M OV E B Y M AG I C . T E S L A ’ S P ROTOT Y P E
WA S I N FA C T R E S P O N D I N G TO 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 ROT E : “ YO U D O N OT S E E T H E R E A
W I R E L E S S TO 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 AC E O F RO B OT S , M E C H A N I C A L
MEN WHICH WILL DO THE LABORIOUS
W O R K O F T H E H U M A N R A C E .”
D2
I M P RO V E M E N T O F T H E A LT E R N AT 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 LY S Y S T E M
I S T E S L A ’ S S I G N AT U R E I N N O VAT I O N .
IT’S PERHAPS THE MOST SIGNIFICANT
A D V A N C E O F T H E 2 0 T H - C E N T U RY.
W I T H O B V I O U S A D VA N TA 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
( PA RT I C U L A R LY O V E R D I S TA 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
TO D AY T H E W O R L D ’ S S TA N D A R D.
D3
A F T E R A R R I V I N G I N N E W YO R K A N D
BEING HIRED BY THOMAS EDISON,
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 L Y
L E AV 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 A T 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 OW E R TO T H I S D I S C I P L I N E .
D4
A F T E R L E AV I N G E D I S O N ’ S C O M PA N Y D U E
TO L A C K O F P RO P E R C O M P E N S AT 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 AC K I N G F RO 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 T O R S W H O S A W A
F I N A N C I A L O P P O R T 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 P AT 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
CLAIMS). THE DEPTH OF TESLA’S TECHNICAL
C O N T R I B U T I O N S I S T O 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 .
E1 & E2
T H O U G H T H E D I S C O V E RY O F X - R AY S
I S O F F I C I A L LY C R E D I T E D TO 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 WA S
TESLA WHO FIRST HAPPENED UPON
“RADIANT ENERGY OF INVISIBLE
K I N D S ,” I N T H E C O U R S E O F OT 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 LY
FA S H I O N , T E S L A D I D N OT D I S P U T E
RÖNTGEN’S CLAIM BUT INSTEAD
S E T TO WO R K I M P ROV 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 AT I N G
H I S “ T E S L A C O I L” H E WA S A B L E TO
S E E D E E P E R : N OT J U S T H A N D S B U T
SKULLS AS WELL.
E3
T H E E N D O F T E S L A ’ S L I F E WA S M A R K E D
B Y A N A P PA 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 WA S H I S P S Y C H I C
F R AG I L I T Y M O R E A P PA R E N T T H A N
I N T H E A F T E R M AT H O F T H E C A N A L
STREET FIRE WHICH CONSUMED HIS
L A B O R AT O RY. AT 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 WO U L D N OT 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 RV 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 AC E L E C T R I C I T Y WA S N OT
TO B L A M E F O R T H E F I R E , A N D FA L S E
R U M O R S C O N V I N C E D M A N Y I T WA S .
E4
T H E M O U N T I N G R I VA L RY 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 PA N Y
(USED TESLA’S AC) AND THE EDISON
E L E C T R I C L I G H T C O M PA N Y ( D C
B AC K E R S ) G R E W S O I N T E N S E A S TO
B E L A B E L E D, ‘ T H E WA R O F C U R R E N T S .’
I N A N AT T E M P T TO P U B L I C LY
D E M O N S T R AT E T H E F R I G H T E N I N G
V O L AT 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 TO B E
C A R R I E D O U T W I T H A N A LT E R N AT I N G
C U R R E N T. P R E D I C TA B LY, E D I S O N ’ S
D E M O N S T R AT I O N W O U L D B A C K F I R E
IN GRAND FASHION. A SPUTTERING,
F R U S T R AT E D A N D U T T E R LY I N H U M A N E
E X E C U T I O N WA S T H E R E S U LT O F
A N A P P L I E D C U R R E N T A P PA R E N T LY
S O S A F E T H AT I T C O U L D N ’ T B E
I N T E N T I O N A L LY 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 LY WA S
Q U OT E D E X C L A I M I N G , “ T H E Y WO U L D
H AV E D O N E B E T T E R U S I N G A N A X E ! ”
E5
A S A P A S S I O N AT E A V I C U LT U R I S T,
T E S L A F O R M E D A C O M PA 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 YO R K
T H AT 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
FOR, DEVISED COMPLEX MECHANICAL
I N S T RU M E N T S TO H E A L T H E WO 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
VA L I DAT 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 AY B E YO 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 WA S A
P U R P O S E TO M Y L I F E .”
E6
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
WO U L D WO N D E R I F H E H A D M A D E “ TO 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
CHILDREN, THE TREMENDOUS REACH
AND SCALE OF HIS SCIENTIFIC AND
TECHNOLOGICAL ACCOMPLISHMENTS
H AV E T R A N S F O R M E D O U R WO R L D I N
U N T H I N K A B L E WAY S . H I S P E R S O N A L
A N D F I N A N C I A L WO E S TO O K A TO L L .
T E A R I N G U P H I S P RO F I T S H A R I N G
AGREEMENT WITH WESTINGHOUSE
E L E C T R I C WA S P R O B A B LY T H E W O R S T
FINANCIAL DECISION OF HIS LIFE.
Fig. E1
section view
x-ray machine (Rötgen)
Fig. E2
left view
x-ray light bulb (Tesla)