[Leo Carpathian]

Did anyone know that Edison promised Tesla $50,000 to develop AC distibution in the US? Edison was pushing DC current but knew it would never carry over long distances efficiently, so he hired Tesla to implement his AC system in the US.

Not really. Edison hired Tesla to fix bunch of problems he couldn't solve. Tesla did, Edison didn't pay. Tesla got pissed off, went to dig ditches in NYC and that's when the idea of rotating AC field hit him and the rest is history. We use Tesla's power AC distribution and motors, while Edison and Marconi are "famous", while Tesla's picture hangs in Ellis Island museum. Tell your children about the greatest engineering genius who gave us so much and is remembered so little.

[Lancey Howard]

Edison and Tesla ended up competing.

Edison continued to push his DC current, even touring the country "executing" elephants as part of a massive PR campaign for DC current. Edison thought that DC current was the way to go and he wanted to wire it into factories all over the cities.

Tesla was apparently a little more far-sighted and he knew that with AC current he could wire not only the factories but every home in America.

Tesla was right and Edison was wrong.
Ask the aveage man on the street, or even the average business executive, and they will all have heard of Edison. But few will have ever heard of Tesla.

That's the public schools for you.

[Lancey Howard]

...while Tesla's picture hangs in Ellis Island museum. Tell your children about the greatest engineering genius who gave us so much and is remembered so little.

A few years ago there was a thread here on Free Republic about Tesla. Apparently, the Tesla part of the Smithsonian was going to be dismantled and closed. (Un-freaking-believable, no?)

Anyways, my older boy was looking for a subject for his grad project and I suggested Tesla. He did all the research and produced an incredible VHS biography about Tesla. He also ended up getting the highest possible grade for his graduation project.

That "Tesla" is not a household name boggles the mind.

[ET(end tyranny)]

Bump for your post.

Nikola Tesla: Forgotten American Scientist

I love to plug this grade school teacher's website, whenever I can!!!!