” it was private individuals who made it small enough and powerful enough and fast enought “
And people think Thomas Edison invented the first electric light bulb. He did not! Not even close! But he improved it, and made it practical. He was also known to be quite an a-hole!
http://inventors.about.com/library/inventors/bllight2.htm
Edison was an A-hole to Tesla, I know that much
Tesla was a SUPER-GENIOUS ~!!
God only knows where we could bbe if Edison had supported him rather than stiff him for the money he promised him.
Stupid Edison even went so far as to not allow Tesla to use ‘screw in’ light bulb sockets for florescent bulbs Tesla invented (for the Worlds Fair)
Tesla wasted more time and energy fighting Edison than anything else.
And Edison was 100% wrong on every issue. He died knowing it too- on his deathbed he regretted sticking to DC current when AC is vastly superior in so many ways.