Image source: info.kevinkennedyassociates.com
Everyone knows about World War I and II, Cold War, the modern cyber warfare and many other historical wars. This is one war you have never heard of, the War of Currents. Thomas Alva Edison's and Nikola Tesla's fight over which form of electricity (DC or AC) to power the world.
It all began in 1884 when Tesla a Serb by birth immigrated to US with his childhood dream to harness the power of Niagra falls. On his arrival at New York, USA all that he had were four cents, some of his poems, designs for his flying machine and an introduction letter for Thomas Alva Edison from his previous employer Charles Batcehlor, one of the shortest and best introduction letters that I can think of
It all began in 1884 when Tesla a Serb by birth immigrated to US with his childhood dream to harness the power of Niagra falls. On his arrival at New York, USA all that he had were four cents, some of his poems, designs for his flying machine and an introduction letter for Thomas Alva Edison from his previous employer Charles Batcehlor, one of the shortest and best introduction letters that I can think of
“I know two great men and you are one of them. The other is this great young man!”
- Charles Batcehlor
Edison hired him to improve and perfect his (Edison’s) devices and prototypes. Now, Tesla was an avid supporter of alternating current and Edison of direct current, cause he had invested heavily on DC systems and devices. This difference of opinion on the current system led to an early rift between them. Another incident that really intensified their rivalry was this, Edison was really fed up with a DC generator that was prone to failure and challenged Tesla that if he could perfect the design he would pay him $ 50 000 (equivalent to million dollars today). Tesla was able to rise to the challenge and his designs were a brilliant improvement over Edison’s original. When Tesla approached Edison for his reward, Edison rewarded him with American humor at the wrong time, his reply was
“Tesla, you don’t understand our American humor.”
- Thomas Alva Edison
And Tesla never received his reward and Edison lost one of his brightest employees although he didn’t realize it, until Tesla collaborated with George Westinghouse and revolutionized the electrical industry with their AC systems. Eventually the winner was the AC system as it was more efficient and cheaper compared to DC systems.
Their rivalry further discussed with an infographic.
Their rivalry further discussed with an infographic.
Click for full infographic
Image source: good.is
Although in this post Edison might appear like an evil man, frankly speaking everyone is not perfect and I admire both of them as scientists and inventors.
Note: Nikola Tesla studied at The Polytechnic Institute at Graz, Austria and not Gratz as mentioned in the infographic.
