[Moonman62]

Tesla v. Edison Hmm, brilliant innovator with a deep understanding of physical reality and no business sense vs. brilliant manager who understood the power of an industrial research lab with much business savvy. Well, I know who I would bet on to come home with his lunch money. Tesla was robbed.

Westinghouse gave Tesla a big pile of money. How was Tesla robbed?

[Mycroft Holmes]

Westinghouse gave Tesla a big pile of money. How was Tesla robbed?

True on the money. Tesla has been robbed of credit by history. How that happened is not my hobby horse. My steed of choice is rigor and clarity with regard to science in the public sphere. Right now, I'm making my stand here.

[Lx]

Westinghouse gave Tesla a big pile of money. How was Tesla robbed?

He was robbed by Edison. Edison told Tesla that if he could increase the efficiencies of his generators and motors, he would give Tesla a $50K bonus. When Tesla succeeded, Edison weaseled out and said Tesla didn't understand American's sense of humor. Tesla quit and went to Westinghouse.

You might say Tesla was wrong or is lying but Edison was not exactly a Saint, ask G. Melies about that. He put all his money into a movie called, "A Journey to the Moon". Edison's techs paid a projectionist to allow him to copy the print and he played it in America and G. Melies didn't make a cent of profit. Classy move. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Trip_to_the_Moon