War of Currents
In 1887, Nikola Tesla filed seven patents for his AC motor and power transmission. George Westinghouse, an industrialist, offered Tesla $60,000 for the patents, with $5,000 cash and 150 stock shares in the Westinghouse Corporation. Tesla quickly agreed, and spent half his new wealth on a new laboratory.
Feeling competition, Edison started a propaganda war and even electrocuted a man in an electric chair to prove AC was wrong. Despite Edison's efforts, Tesla and Westinghouse still progressed, and won the bid for lighting the Chicago World Fair in 1893.
The War of Currents wasn't over yet though, as a new competition emerged: building a power plant at Niagara Falls. The Niagara Falls Commission chose AC to power the plant and it was completed on November 16, 1896. Power surged to Buffalo, New York City, and other big northeastern cities, replacing DC with AC.
However, the celebrations were cut short. The expenses of the project took a major toll on Westinghouse's finances. Tesla ripped up his contract, returned Westinghouse's money and gave up his patents.
Feeling competition, Edison started a propaganda war and even electrocuted a man in an electric chair to prove AC was wrong. Despite Edison's efforts, Tesla and Westinghouse still progressed, and won the bid for lighting the Chicago World Fair in 1893.
The War of Currents wasn't over yet though, as a new competition emerged: building a power plant at Niagara Falls. The Niagara Falls Commission chose AC to power the plant and it was completed on November 16, 1896. Power surged to Buffalo, New York City, and other big northeastern cities, replacing DC with AC.
However, the celebrations were cut short. The expenses of the project took a major toll on Westinghouse's finances. Tesla ripped up his contract, returned Westinghouse's money and gave up his patents.