THE INVENTIONS
RESEARCHES AND WRITINGS
OF
NIKOLA TESLA
TO HIS COUNTRYMEN
IN EASTERN EUROPE THIS RECORD OF
THE WORK ALREADY ACCOMPLISHED BY
NIKOLA TESLA
IS RESPECTFULLY DEDICATED
THE INVENTIONS
RESEARCHES AND WRITINGS
OF
Nikola Tesla
WITH SPECIAL REFERENCE TO HIS WORK IN POLYPHASE
CURRENTS AND HIGH POTENTIAL LIGHTING
BY
THOMAS COMMERFORD MARTIN
Editor The Electrical Engineer; Past-President American Institute Electrical Engineers
1894
THE ELECTRICAL ENGINEER
NEW YORK
D. VAN NOSTRAND COMPANY,
NEW YORK.
Entered according to Act of Congress in the year 1893 by
T. C. MARTIN
in the office of the Librarian of Congress at Washington
Press of McIlroy & Emmet, 36 Cortlandt St., N. Y.
PREFACE.
The electrical problems of the present day lie largely in theeconomical transmission of power and in the radical improvementof the means and methods of illumination. To manyworkers and thinkers in the domain of electrical invention, theapparatus and devices that are familiar, appear cumbrous andwasteful, and subject to severe limitations. They believe thatthe principles of current generation must be changed, the areaof current supply be enlarged, and the appliances used by theconsumer be at once cheapened and simplified. The brilliantsuccesses of the past justify them in every expectancy of stillmore generous fruition.
The present volume is a simple record of the pioneer workdone in such departments up to date, by Mr. Nikola Tesla, inwhom the world has already recognized one of the foremost ofmodern electrical investigators and inventors. No attempt whateverhas been made here to emphasize the importance of hisresearches and discoveries. Great ideas and real inventions wintheir own way, determining their own place by intrinsic merit.But with the conviction that Mr. Tesla is blazing a path thatelectrical development must follow for many years to come, thecompiler has endeavored to bring together all that bears the impressof Mr. Tesla's genius, and is worthy of preservation. Asidefrom its value as showing the scope of his inventions, thisvolume may be of service as indicating the range of his thought.There is intellectual profit in studying the push and play of avigorous and original mind.
Although the lively interest of the public in Mr. Tesla's workis perhaps of recent growth, this volume covers the results offull ten years. It includes his lectures, miscellaneous articles[Pg vi]and discussions, and makes note of all his inventions thus farknown, particularly those bearing on polyphase motors and theeffects obtained with currents of high potential and high frequency.It will be seen that Mr. Tesla has ever pressed forward,barely pausing for an instant to work out in detail the utilizationsthat have at once been obvious to him of the new principles hehas elucidated. Wherever possible his own language has beenemployed.
It may be added that this volume is issued with Mr. Tesla'ssanction and approval, and that permission has been obtained forthe re-publication in it of such papers as have been read beforevarious technical societies