由于受一份电话业研究初期的报告的引导，我来到了布达佩斯。然而，命运弄人，我被迫接受一份在匈牙利中央电话局当绘图员的工作。至于工资待遇，我想我有权利不披露。幸运的是，我很快便赢得了督察员的赏识，让我接手新的工作，包括新设备安装的数据计算、设计、评估等。后来，当电话局开始运营时，我已成为了这些工作的主要负责人。在这项工作的过程中，我获得了极具价值的知识和实践经验，也使得我有足够的机会练习我的创新能力。我多次对中央电话局的电话中继器或信号放大器进行改造和完善，虽然到目前为止，这项技术没有申请专利，也没有对外公开，但它的出现仍归功于我。公司的创办人普斯卡斯先生对我欣赏有加，在他将布达佩斯的生意完结之后，我欣然接受了他在巴黎为我安排的职位。
我永远忘不了巴黎这座浪漫的城市给我留下的深刻印象。到这里之后的连续几天，我都游走在美丽的街头，欣赏它的迷人风光。这里有许多风光旖旎的地方，具有不可抗拒的魅力。遗憾的是，薪水每每一到手，转眼就被花光了。当普斯卡斯问及我在新环境中的感受时，我如是说：“每月剩下的29天是最艰难的。”我过着一种现在被称为“罗斯福式”的勤奋生活。每天早晨，不论天气如何，我都会从我居住的圣马塞尔大道去到位于塞纳河畔的游泳馆，跳入水中，来回游27次，然后徒步一小时到伊夫里，那是公司工厂所在地。七点半，我如同伐木工人般在工厂吃早饭，然后便急切地等待午餐时间。在这期间，我要为公司经理，也是爱迪生的好朋友和助手的查尔斯·巴彻勒先生解决难题。在这里，我认识了一些美国朋友，他们因我的台球打得很棒而很喜欢我。我向他们介绍了我的发明，其中机械部门的领班坎宁安先生建议我组建一家股份公司。他的建议在我看来十分滑稽，我完全不懂他的意思，只知道这是美国人的做事方式。然而，这件事就此告一段落了，在接下来的几个月里，我不得不辗转于法国和德国之间，解决发电站出现的故障。返回巴黎之后，我向公司管理员之一的劳先生提交了一项提高发电机效率的计划，得到了他的同意。我取得了圆满成功，董事们十分高兴，给予了我发展自动稳压器的特权，这正是我梦寐以求的。
不久之后，阿尔萨斯斯特拉斯堡的新火车站的照明装置出现了问题。正值老皇帝威廉一世亲自出席火车站的开幕式之时，由配线短路引致的爆炸将一大片墙都炸毁了。当时购买了照明设备的德国政府不肯收货，这样一来，法国公司就将损失惨重。因为我会说德语，加之过去表现也很出色，公司便将与德方洽谈这项艰巨的任务交给了我。于是，1883年初，我便启程去了斯特拉斯堡。
在那座城市的经历在我脑海里留下了不可磨灭的印记。说来也巧，当时生活在那里的很多人后来都大有名气。在后来的生活中，我常说：“在那座古老的城市里，存在着很多伟大的细菌。其他人感染了疾病，而我却逃脱了。”我开始夜以继日地处理各种实际问题、通信、与政府官员洽谈，但是，我总是尽可能地抽空在火车站对面的机械店里，用我从巴黎带来的材料，组装一台简易的电动机。然而，直到那年夏天，我的试验才算完善了。当我看到在没有滑动触点和整流器的情况下，不同相位的交流电让电机转动时，我感到十分满意，因为这和我一年前的构想是一致的。但是，这种高兴与接下来的第一次展示获得了成功后的那种极致的快乐是无法相比的。
我的新朋友索辛先生是斯特拉斯堡市的前任市长，我向他介绍了我的这个装置以及一些其他的发明。他极力支持我，并将我的发明介绍给了一些富翁，但令我感到屈辱的是，他们对此毫无反应。他用尽一切方法来帮助我，1919年7月初发生的一件事，让我对这位热心人的“帮助”一直铭记于心。这次帮助不是在经济方面，但我依然对他充满感激。1870年，当德国人入侵本市时，索辛先生埋藏了一瓶1801年生产的极佳的圣埃斯蒂菲酒，他认为除了我，没有人有资格喝这么名贵的“饮料”。可以这样说，这是最令我难忘的事情之一。他催促我尽快返回巴黎寻求帮助，这也是我急于想做的。但是，我的工作和旷日持久的谈判被各种各样的小麻烦阻碍了，以致情形有时看起来不可救药。
我想分享一下我的相当有趣的经验，关于德国人的一丝不苟和“效率”。我们打算在走廊上安装一盏16功率的白炽灯，于是我让电工铺设电线。工作了一会儿之后，他觉得必须征求一下工程师的意见才能继续工作。工程师提出了一些反对意见，但最终同意将灯安装在距离我指定的点两英寸距离的位置。于是，工作继续进行。一会儿之后，工程师开始担心起来，他告诉我应该通知质检员埃夫戴克。这个重要人物到来之后，经过他的实地考察和与大家讨论的结果，决定将位置转移两英寸，也就是我最初标记的地方。然而，不久之后，我们的质检员开始胆怯起来，他劝我不要急于动工，他已经向质检督察希罗尼穆斯通报了，我们应该等待他的决定。几天之后，这位大忙人督察才抽身来到工厂，经过两个小时的讨论，他决定将灯的位置移动两英寸。我希望这是最后的改动，但我这一希望很快就破灭了——督察返回来告诉我：“冯克是如此的苛刻，以致我在得到他的明确批准前，不敢对这个灯的位置做出决定。”为此，我们又为接待这位伟人而做相应的准备。我们从一大早就开始打扫，清洁各种用品，热烈欢迎冯克和他随从的到来。经过两小时的深思熟虑，他突然喊道：“我得走了！”他命令我把灯安在天花板上他指着的那个位置——那正是我最初选择的地方！
情形虽然日复一日地变化着，但我决心不惜一切代价来完成任务，而最终我的努力也得到了回报。1884年春天，所有的问题都得到了解决，设备被正式接受，我满怀憧憬地回到了巴黎。公司的一位负责人曾向我承诺，倘若我能将问题成功解决，就可以得到一笔奖金，以及依照我对发电机所做出的改进给出公平的报酬，我希望那是一笔丰厚的奖金。公司有三位负责人，为求方便，我用A、B、C来分别指代他们三人。当我拜访A时，他说B有发言权，而B认为只有C才可以做决定。C非常肯定地告诉我，只有A才有权利实施决策。经过几番互相推诿，我终于意识到我的奖金如西班牙的城堡般遥不可及。
筹集发展资金是另一个彻底失败的尝试。就在我感到无比失望之时，巴彻勒先生建议我去美国为爱迪生设计新机型，于是我便决心到这个遍地黄金的国度去试试我的运气。然而，我差点就错过了这次机会。我将自己的一部分资产变卖了，预订了座位，当我赶到火车站时，却发现火车已经启动了。而恰巧在这时，我发现我的钱和车票都不见了，接下来该怎么办可是个问题。赫尔克里斯有足够的时间深思熟虑，而我只能眼睁睁地望着火车离去，头脑里一片混乱，犹如电容器中的电流在恣意振荡一般。我突然灵机一动，想到了一个好办法，依照日常的经验，乘船旅行虽然不怎么愉快，但是相当便宜。就这样，我带着我所剩无几的财产、过去写的一些诗歌和文章、一包难以解决的数学难题以及我的飞行器，踏上了开往纽约的航船。在航行中，我大部分时间都坐在船尾，随时准备去救即将葬身鱼腹的人一命，却丝毫不担心自身的安危。后来，当我吸收了一些美国人的务实观念之后，回想起这一行为，不禁惊叹自己以前是多么的愚蠢。
会见爱迪生是我生命中非常难忘的一件事。我惊讶于这个优秀的男人在没有先天优势和科学训练的情况下，竟取得了如此非凡的成就。我学习过十几种语言，钻研过文学和艺术，并且将我生命中最好的时光花费在了图书馆研究各种资料，从牛顿定律到保罗·德·科克的小说，几乎各方面都有所涉及。我觉得我生命中大部分宝贵的时间被浪费了，但是没多久，我便意识到这是我所能做的最好的事情。几周之后，通过以下事情，我赢得了爱迪生的信任。
当时最快的客轮“俄勒冈州”号，因两套照明设备出现故障而航班被推迟了。客轮的发电机系统是在上层建筑建好之前就安装好了的，所以是无法取出来的。故障相当严重，爱迪生为此苦恼不已。那天晚上，我带上必需的工具上了船，并在那里工作了一整晚。发电机的故障很严重，短路和不通电的地方就有好几处。然而，在船员们的协助下，我成功地将以上问题解决了。早晨五点钟，当我正沿着第五大道走回去时，碰见了正打算回家休息的爱迪生和巴彻勒，以及其他几个人。爱迪生说道：“瞧！我们的巴黎人不知到哪去游荡了一晚。”当我告诉他我刚从船上下来，并且已将两台发电机修理好的时候，他默默地望着我，之后便走开了，没说一句话。然而，当他走了一段距离之后，我听到他说：“巴彻勒，这是一个好人。”并且从那时起，我在工作方面有了充分的自主权。接下来的一年我基本上都过着一种规律的生活，从早上十点半工作到第二天早晨五点，没有一天例外。爱迪生对我说：“我有许多勤劳的助手，但你是最棒的。”在此期间，我用短磁芯按照统一模式，设计了二十四种不同类型的标准机器取代了旧机器。公司经理曾向我许诺，在我完成这个任务后会给我五万美元，但结果证明这实际只是一个笑话。这件事带给我沉痛的打击，于是我辞职了。
之后立刻就有人找到我，建议以我的名义成立一家弧光灯照明公司，我同意了。我想终于有机会开发我的电机了，但当我将这一建议向我的新同事们提出时，他们说：“不，我们并不在乎你的交流电设备，我们只想要弧光灯。”1886年，我的电弧照明系统得到了完善，被用于工厂和市政照明。然而，我却离开了那家公司，什么财产都没带走，除了一张印刷精美但毫无实际价值的股票。随后，我在自己不太熟悉的新领域打拼了一段时间，但是机会终于还是到来了。1887年4月，特斯拉电气公司成立了，这意味着我拥有了自己的实验室和试验设备。我在实验室里设计的发电机与我之前设想的完全一样，我没有试图改进设计，只是将脑海中出现的新想法复制到现实设备中，并且实际效果与我所设想的完全吻合。
1888年初，我与西屋电气公司合作，开始大规模生产我设计的发电机，不过仍有巨大的困难需要克服。我的系统是基于低频电流设计的，而西屋公司的专家却采用了一百三十三周的方案，旨在获得变电优势。他们不想放弃自己标准形式的设备，因而我必须集中精力来调整我的发电机，以达到他们的要求。除此之外，我还要设计一种利用两根电线，依靠这种新频率能够运行的发电机，这可不是件容易的差事。
然而，1889年年底，我已经不必在匹兹堡工作了。我回到纽约，在格兰大街的实验室继续我的试验工作，并且立即进行高频机的设计。在这个未知的领域，我遇到了许多困难，因为设备构架是我之前从未接触过的课题。我由于担心感应发电机不会产生理想的正弦波而将它放弃了，毕竟正弦波对共振作用相当重要。若不是因为这样，我可以减少许多工作量。速度不稳定是高频交流发电机的另一个弊端，这可能会严重制约其在实际生活中的应用。在我向美国电气工程师学会演示之前，我已经注意到调谐出现了几次问题，需要进一步调整。在很久之后，我才找到一种解决的方法——这种电机在恒定速度和极限负载情况下运作时，将每一周期内的速度变化控制在极小的范围内。
从其他许多方面考虑，发明一种更简单的设备来产生电流振荡是很有必要的。1856年，开尔文勋爵提出了电容器放电理论，但是实际生活中并未运用这一重要知识。我看到了它的潜在应用价值，开始利用这一原理进行感应式电机的研发。我的进展是如此之快，在1891年的一次讲座上，我展示了一只线圈能制造5英寸长的火花。当时，我坦白地将利用这种新方法传输电力会产生火花间隙损失这一缺陷告诉了在场的工程师们。随后的研究表明，无论介质是什么，空气、液体、水银蒸气、石油或是电子束，效果是相同的。这是自然规律，犹如机械能的转换也有类似的规律。我们可以让物体从一定高度垂直降落，也可以让它沿某一曲线滑落。就目前的情况而言，这一缺陷所造成的影响并不大。然而，幸运的是，这一缺陷不是致命的，当合理安排共振波时，电路的输电率有望达到85%。自从我最开始将自己的发明公诸于众起，它已被广泛应用，在许多领域掀起了一场革命，并且还有巨大的发展潜力。
1900年，我获得了1000英尺的强大放电，并制造了一场全球范围内的人工闪电。我不由得想起了在格兰大街的实验室里观察到第一个小火花时的情景，当时简直比我发现旋转磁场时还要激动。
IV.The Discovery of the Tesla Coil and Transformer
For a while Igave myself up entirely to the intense enjoyment of picturing machines and devising new forms.It was a mental state of happiness about as complete as Ihave ever known in life.Ideas came in an uninterrupted stream and the only difficulty Ihad was to hold them fast.The pieces of apparatus Iconceived were to me absolutely real and tangible in every detail，even to the minute marks and signs of wear.Idelighted in imagining the motors constantly running，for in this way they presented to mind"s eye a more fascinating sight.When natural inclination develops into a passionate desire，one advances towards his goal in seven-league boots.In less than two months Ievolved virtually all the types of motors and modifications of the system which are now identified with my name.It was，perhaps，providential that the necessities of existence commanded a temporary halt to this consuming activity of the mind.
Icame to Budapest prompted by a premature report concerning the telephone enterprise and，as irony of fate willed it，Ihad to accept a position as draftsman in the Central Telegraph Office of the Hungarian Government at a salary which Ideem it my privilege not to disclose！Fortunately，Isoon won the interest of the Inspector-in-Chief and was thereafter employed on calculations，designs and estimates in connection with new installations，until the Telephone Exchange was started，when Itook charge of the same.The knowledge and practical experience Igained in the course of this work was most valuable and the employment gave me ample opportunities for the exercise of my inventive faculties.Imade several improvements in the Central Station apparatus and perfected a telephone repeater or amplifier which was never patented or publicly described but would be creditable to me even today.In recognition of my efficient assistance the organizer of the undertaking，Mr.Puskas，upon disposing of his business in Budapest，offered me a position in Paris which Igladly accepted.
Inever can forget the deep impression that magic city produced on my mind.For several days after my arrival Iroamed thru the streets in utter bewilderment of the new spectacle.The attractions were many and irresistible，but，alas，the income was spent as soon as received.When Mr.Puskas asked me how Iwas getting along in the new sphere，Idescribed the situation accurately in the statement that "the last twenty-nine days of the month are the toughest！"Iled a rather strenuous life in what would now be termed "Rooseveltian fashion."Every morning，regardless of weather，Iwould go from the Boulevard St.Marcel，where Iresided，to a bathing house on the Seine，plunge into the water，loop the circuit twenty-seven times and then walk an hour to reach Ivry，where the Company"s factory was located.There Iwould have a woodchopper"s breakfast at half-past seven o"clock and then eagerly await the lunch hour，in the meanwhile cracking hard nuts for the Manager of the Works，Mr.Charles Batchellor，who was an intimate friend and assistant of Edison.Here Iwas thrown in contact with a few Americans who fairly fell in love with me because of my proficiency in billiards.To these men Iexplained my invention and one of them，Mr.D.Cunningham，Foreman of the Mechanical Department，offered to form a stock company.The proposal seemed to me comical in the extreme.Idid not have the faintest conception of what that meant except that it was an American way of doing things.Nothing came of it，however，and during the next few months Ihad to travel from one to another place in France and Germany to cure the ills of the power plants.On my return to Paris Isubmitted to one of the administrators of the Company，Mr.Rau，a plan for improving their dynamos and was given an opportunity.My success was complete and the delighted directors accorded me the privilege of developing automatic regulators which were much desired.
Shortly after there was some trouble with the lighting plant which had been installed at the new railroad station in Strassburg，Alsace.The wiring was defective and on the occasion of the opening ceremonies a large part of a wall was blown out thru a short-circuit right in the presence of old Emperor William I.The German Government refused to take the plant and the French Company was facing a serious loss.On account of my knowledge of the German language and past experience，Iwas entrusted with the difficult task of straightening out matters and early in 1883Iwent to Strassburg on that mission.
Some of the incidents in that city have left an indelible record on my memory.By a curious coincidence,a number of men who subsequently achieved fame,lived there about that time.In later life Iused to say:"There were bacteria of greatness in that old town.Others caught the disease but Iescaped!"The practical work,correspondence,and conferences with officials kept me preoccupied day and night,but,as soon as Iwas able to manage Iundertook the construction of a simple motor in a mechanical shop opposite the railroad station,having brought with me from Paris some material for that purpose.The consummation of the experiment was,however,delayed until the summer of that year when Ifinally had the satisfaction of seeing rotation effected by alternating currents of different phase,and without sliding contacts or commutator,as Ihad conceived a year before.It was an exquisite pleasure but not to compare with the delirium of joy following the first revelation.
Among my new friends was the former Mayor of the city,Mr.Bauzin,whom Ihad already in a measure acquainted with this and other inventions of mine and whose support Iendeavored to enlist.He was sincerely devoted to me and put my project before several wealthy persons but,to my mortification,found no response.He wanted to help me in every possible way and the approach of the first of July,1919,happens to remind me of a form of "assistance"Ireceived from that charming man,which was not financial but none the less appreciated.In 1870,when the Germans invaded the country,Mr.Bauzin had buried a good sized allotment of St.Estephe of 1801and he came to the conclusion that he knew no worthier person than myself to consume that precious beverage.This,Imay say,is one of the unforgettable incidents to which Ihave referred.My friend urged me to return to Paris as soon as possible and seek support there.This Iwas anxious to do but my work and negotiations were protracted owing to all sorts of petty obstacles Iencountered so that at times the situation seemed hopeless.
Just to give an idea of German thoroughness and "efficiency",Imay mention here a rather funny experience.An incandescent lamp of 16c.p.was to be placed in a hallway and upon selecting the proper location Iordered the monteur to run the wires.After working for a while he concluded that the engineer had to be consulted and this was done.The latter made several objections but ultimately agreed that the lamp should be placed two inches from the spot Ihad assigned,whereupon the work proceeded.Then the engineer became worried and told me that Inspector Averdeck should be notified.That important person called,investigated,debated,and decided that the lamp should be shifted back two inches,which was the place Ihad marked.It was not long,however,before Averdeck got cold feet himself and advised me that he had informed Ober-Inspector Hieronimus of the matter and that Ishould await his decision.It was several days before the Ober-Inspector was able to free himself of other pressing duties but at last he arrived and a two-hour debate followed,when he decided to move the lamp two inches farther.My hopes that this was the final act were shattered when the Ober-Inspector returned and said to me:"Regierungsrath Funke is so particular that Iwould not dare to give an order for placing this lamp without his explicit approval."Accordingly arrangements for a visit from that great man were made.We started cleaning up and polishing early in the morning.Everybody brushed up,Iput on my gloves and when Funke came with his retinue he was ceremoniously received.After two hours"deliberation he suddenly exclaimed:"Imust be going,"and pointing to a place on the ceiling,he ordered me to put the lamp there.It was the exact spot which Ihad originally chosen,
So it went day after day with variations,but Iwas determined to achieve at whatever cost and in the end my efforts were rewarded.By the spring of 1884all the differences were adjusted,the plant formally accepted,and Ireturned to Paris with pleasing anticipations.One of the administrators had promised me a liberal compensation in case Isucceeded,as well as a fair consideration of the improvements Ihad made in their dynamos and Ihoped to realize a substantial sum.There were three administrators whom Ishall designate as A,Band Cfor convenience.When Icalled on Ahe told me that Bhad the say.This gentleman thought that only Ccould decide and the latter was quite sure that Aalone had the power to act.After several laps of this circulus vivios it dawned upon me that my reward was a castle in Spain.
The utter failure of my attempts to raise capital for development was another disappointment and when Mr.Batchellor prest me to go to America with a view of redesigning the Edison machines,Idetermined to try my fortunes in the Land of Golden Promise.But the chance was nearly mist.Iliquefied my modest assets,secured accommodations and found myself at the railroad station as the train was pulling out.At that moment Idiscovered that my money and tickets were gone.What to do was the question.Hercules had plenty of time to deliberate but Ihad to decide while running alongside the train with opposite feelings surging in my brain like condenser oscillations.Resolve,helped by dexterity,won out in the nick of time and upon passing thru the usual experiences,as trivial as unpleasant,Imanaged to embark for New York with the remnants of my belongings,some poems and articles Ihad written,and a package of calculations relating to solutions of an unsolvable integral and to my flying machine.During the voyage Isat most of the time at the stern of the ship watching for an opportunity to save somebody from a watery grave,without the slightest thought of danger.Later when Ihad absorbed some of the practical American sense Ishivered at the recollection and marvelled at my former folly.
The meeting with Edison was a memorable event in my life.Iwas amazed at this wonderful man who,without early advantages and scientific training,had accomplished so much.Ihad studied a dozen languages,delved in literature and art,and had spent my best years in libraries reading all sorts of stuff that fell into my hands,from Newton"s "Principia"to the novels of Paul de Kock,and felt that most of my life had been squandered.But it did not take long before Irecognized that it was the best thing Icould have done.Within a few weeks Ihad won Edison"s confidence and it came about in this way.
The S.S.Oregon,the fastest passenger steamer at that time,had both of its lighting machines disabled and its sailing was delayed.As the superstructure had been built after their installation it was impossible to remove them from the hold.The predicament was a serious one and Edison was much annoyed.In the evening Itook the necessary instruments with me and went aboard the vessel where Istayed for the night.The dynamos were in bad condition,having several short-circuits and breaks,but with the assistance of the crew Isucceeded in putting them in good shape.At five o"clock in the morning,when passing along Fifth Avenue on my way to the shop,Imet Edison with Batchellor and a few others as they were returning home to retire."Here is our Parisian running around at night,"he said.When Itold him that Iwas coming from the Oregon and had repaired both machines,he looked at me in silence and walked away without another word.But when he had gone some distance Iheard him remark:"Batchellor,this is a good man,"and from that time on Ihad full freedom in directing the work.For nearly a year my regular hours were from 10.30A.M.until 5o"clock the next morning without a day"s exception.Edison said to me:"Ihave had many hard-working assistants but you take the cake."During this period Idesigned twenty-four different types of standard machines with short cores and of uniform pattern which replaced the old ones.The Manager had promised me fifty thousand dollars on the completion of this task but it turned out to be a practical joke.This gave me a painful shock and Iresigned my position.
Immediately thereafter some people approached me with the proposal of forming an arc light company under my name,to which Iagreed.Here finally was an opportunity to develop the motor,but when Ibroached the subject to my new associates,they said:"No,we want the arc lamp.We don"t care for this alternating current of yours."In 1886my system of arc lighting was perfected and adopted for factory and municipal lighting,and Iwas free,but with no other possession than a beautifully engraved certificate of stock of hypothetical value.Then followed a period of struggle in the new medium for which Iwas not fitted,but the reward came in the end and in April,1887,the Tesla Electric Company was organized,providing a laboratory and facilities.The motors Ibuilt there were exactly as Ihad imagined them.Imade no attempt to improve the design,but merely reproduced the pictures as they appeared to my vision and the operation was always as Iexpected.
In the early part of 1888an arrangement was made with the Westinghouse Company for the manufacture of the motors on a large scale.But great difficulties had still to be overcome.My system was based on the use of low frequency currents and the Westinghouse experts had adopted 133cycles with the object of securing advantages in the transformation.They did not want to depart from their standard forms of apparatus and my efforts had to be concentrated upon adapting the motor to these conditions.Another necessity was to produce a motor capable of running efficiently at this frequency on two wires which was not easy of accomplishment.
At the close of 1889,however,my services in Pittsburg being no longer essential,Ireturned to New York and resumed experimental work in a laboratory on Grand Street,where Ibegan immediately the design of high frequency machines.The problems of construction in this unexplored field were novel and quite peculiar and Iencountered many difficulties.Irejected the inductor type,fearing that it might not yield perfect sine waves which were so important to resonant action.Had it not been for this Icould have saved myself a great deal of labor.Another discouraging feature of the high frequency alternator seemed to be the inconstancy of speed which threatened to impose serious limitations to its use.Ihad already noted in my demonstrations before the American Institution of Electrical Engineers that several times the tune was lost,necessitating readjustment,and did not yet foresee,what Idiscovered long afterwards,a means of operating a machine of this kind at a speed constant to such a degree as not to vary more than a small fraction of one revolution between the extremes of load.
From many other considerations it appeared desirable to invent a simpler device for the production of electric oscillations.In 1856Lord Kelvin had exposed the theory of the condenser discharge,but no practical application of that important knowledge was made.Isaw the possibilities and undertook the development of induction apparatus on this principle.My progress was so rapid as to enable me to exhibit at my lecture in 1891a coil giving sparks of five inches.On that occasion Ifrankly told the engineers of a defect involved in the transformation by the new method,namely,the loss in the spark gap.Subsequent investigation showed that no matter what medium is employed,be it air,hydrogen,mercury vapor,oil or a stream of electrons,the efficiency is the same.It is a law very much like that governing the conversion of mechanical energy.We may drop a weight from a certain height vertically down or carry it to the lower level along any devious path,it is immaterial insofar as the amount of work is concerned.Fortunately however,this drawback is not fatal as by proper proportioning of the resonant circuits an efficiency of 85per cent is attainable.Since my early announcement of the invention it has come into universal use and wrought a revolution in many departments.But a still greater future awaits it.
When in 1900Iobtained powerful discharges of 100feet and flashed a current around the globe,Iwas reminded of the first tiny spark Iobserved in my Grand Street laboratory and was thrilled by sensations akin to those Ifelt when Idiscovered the rotating magnetic field.
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