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The
Broadcast
Powerof
Nikola Tesla
Part I

by Gery Vassilatos
HE drama of Twentieth Century Science and its
intrlguing relationship with financiers and gov
I
I
ernments unfold together in the remarkable life
of Nikola Tesla. His is a biography replete with all the
elements of tragedy. Tesla, a great discoverer of unsurpassed force, became the focal point of old insidious
forces intent on destroying the future for the selfish sake
of the statusquo. Tesla remains a focal point of wonderment, of dream, and of worlds which yet should be to
those who are familiar with his biography. For them,
Tesla stands astride the quaint past century and the
gleaming future. He is a technological Colossus, pointing the way to a new dawn.
The biography of Nikola Tesla should be the very
first chapter in every child's science text. Yet, we ffnd his
name stricken from the record in every avenue of which
he alone holds priority. This conspicuous absence
prompts wonderment. What the world does with discoverers determines the world course. In the life of Nikola
Tesla we see the portrayal of our own future, the fate of
the world. The achievements of this researcher were
lofty. The world has not yet implemented his greatest
works. For a time, all the world's dramatis persone focussed on
Tesla. He remains the legend, the theme, the archetype of all
Twentieth Century scientists.
But who was Nikola Tesla, and where was he from? How did he
reach such a mighty stature,and what did he actually invent? Tesla
was born in 1856,the son of an illustrious Serbian family. His father,
an Orthodox priesl his uncles noteworthy military heroes of
highest rank. He was educated in Graz, and later moved to
Budapest.Throughout his life he was blessed, or haunted, by vivid
visions. In the terminology of Reichenbach he would be termed an
extreme sensitive. It was through these remarkable visions that
Nikola Tesla invented devices which the Victorian world had never
seen. Indeed, his visionary experiences produced the modern
tTf

36 Second
Quarter1996

world as we know it.

He attended various Universities in Eastern Europe during his
early adulthood. While delving into his studies, he became aware
by the new and insidious scientific trends which questioned the
validity of human sense and reason. An impassioned soul, Tesla
felt the pain of modern humanity in its intellectual search for a soul.
Finding no solace in any of his classes,he sought refuge in a more
romantic treatment of science and nature. None could be found.
Professors dutifully promoted the "new view" by which it was
declared that the natural world was "inert...dead...amere collection
of forces".
This quantitative regime was mounting force among academes,
who were then attempting the total conversion of scientific method.

Bonnent-aNos

Those who would not accept the new order were compelled !o
departfrom academicpursuits.Tesla totally rejectedthesenotions
on the shongestof inner intuitions. Most of his instructorswould
have said that he was not Univenity material. Tesla, sensitiveto
every such dogmaticwind, rejected their thesisand sought some
befrermeansfor knowing nature.If he was to excel in engineering,
there could only be cooperationwith natural force, never violence.
It was clear to him that the new scientific world-attack would
ultimately lead to violent responsesfrom nature itself.
His inner conflict expresseditselfopenly and candidly, bringing
young Tesla into certain disrepute,unong rigid Univenity authorities. Universitieswere more like military academiesthan places
where original thinking was conducted in open forum. Tesld
challenged too many persons of esteemed rank with probing
questionsfor which he was given rebuke but no real answers.
A gifted researcherand voracious reader, he chanced upon
someforgottenvolumes of natural sciencewritten by Goethe.He
had not been awarethat Goethe, long before he chosepoetry for

theseeffortswas the strongestdesireto achievesomethingoriginal,

and by this, to attain financial independencefor the sake of pure
research.His only dream was to have a laboratory facility of his
own.
The excessivelabors and mental exertionsnearly drove him to
the brink of madness.He was, for as time, seizedwith stxange
maladies and sensitivitieswhich physicians could not address.
Reichenbachaccuratelydescribesthese symptoms,characteristic
of extreme sensitives.There come times when the neurological
sensitivityof these individuals literally transformsand processes
through their being. The emergence of these rare sensitivities
affectssuch personsfor the remainder of their lives.
Tesla found that his senseswere amplified beyond reason.He
was terribly frightened at first nervousexhaustionpermeatinghis
frail being. Eventually leaming to managetheserare faculties,he
again resumed his life. But the visions which began in his youth
were now more vivid and solid than ever before.When they came,
unbidden, he could literally touch and walk around them. Now

the vehicle of his scientific themes, had

written several magnificenttomes on the

also, he was equal to receiving them.

He was waiting for the revelation by
which his alternating current motor
would appear.
Tesla's life came into a new focus
while walking in a park with some
friends, the year 1881. It was late
afternoon, and Tesla became enhanced with the sight of a glorious
sunset. Moved to indescribable
emotions, he began quoting a verse
from Goethe's "Faust":

ilffi,-A1lffi:.'#,l,1'lo*il"
Tesla
Whileyeta student,
hadbecame
awareof cer[:"Jil3:*,T;fr,$?T:':"'ilfi

very same emotions, When the new

tain scientific imperatives

;Tl*;il""asonewhostandswatch
Goethe was well aware of the new

it,i*;ri;;;;. ih" enqngiated by JOhann YOn

trend
and
scientinc
reduction of nature to forces and mecha-

was
Oneof these
li:T:iff":H:;"#fff,
[,fff*:;Goethe.
'i#'
andextent":il:'T
kffi: thepreservation
;J[T::"";,
natural.
sionof allactivities

textsand read theseto the exclusion of

all other philosophies.It was through
this window that we may comprehend
all of Tesla'ssciendficmethodsand later
For in Teslawe seethe quest
statements.
for communion with nature, one based on the faith that mind,
and ordained skucture form the worldsensation,consciousness,
foundations.
The sense-validating
Q;ralitativeTheme againappearsin Nikola
Tesla.Armed with this foundation,he was able to filter and qualify
every other new study with which he was presented.In addition,
he was irresistibly drawn into the study of electricity, the "new
magick". In the following months, he absorbed the electrical
engineeringcoursesso rapidly that he no longer attendedclasses.
He had taken a technical position in Budapest. Several new
intuitionshad seizedhim. Tesla becamefascinated.obsessedwith
alternatingeurrent electricity.The problem he faced was considered insurmountable, Tesla was sure that he could devise an
enginewhich wasturned, not by contact-currents,but by magnetic
field actionsalone.
The struggle toward designing such a device, begun as a
puzzlingamusemen!was now completelyconsuminghis strength.
The answer,tantalizingand near,seemedelusive.Undergirding all

"The glow retreats, done is our

day of toil;
it yonder hastes,new fields of life
exploring,
ah, can no wing lift me from this
soil...
upon his track to follow, follow
soaring?"

As he reachedthis last line of verse,Tesla was suddenlyseized

by an overwhelmingvision. In il he beheld a greatvortex, whirling
eternally in the sun and driving acrossthe earth with its infinite
power. Completely absorbed in this glory, he became catatonic
and irresponsive...tothe great fear of his companions.His mind
and body buzzingwith the power of the vision, he suddenlyblurted
oul "seemy motor here...watchme reverseit", They shookhim,
believing he had lost his mind completely.
Rigid and resistingall of their efforts,he would not move until
thevisionsubsided.When he waslinally led to a bench,he seemed
completelyhansformed.The remainder of the day was spentin a
grand and joyous celebration,Tesla's remaining funds supplying
the feast.Throughout the long hours of that night he sharedwith
his friends the great sight he had beheld. They spoke of the sure
implications portended for the world's future, and departedwith
very great expectations.
Moving to Strassburg,he was employed as an engineer in a

BononRr-eNns

SecondQuarter 1996 37

It was
telephone subsidiary of the Continental Edison Company'
inasmallmachineshopthatheconshuctedtheworld'sfirst
umagnetic vortex motors"' Their
brushless motors, He called them
Tesla's
whirling magnetic fields ba.filed electrical engineers' Now,
in his
absolute
was
Goethe
profurri., riere studying his work'
judgement of science and human nature: nature leads humanity to
"follow, follow soaring".
Tesla'sstxangewhi.lingdevicesworkedontheirveryfirsttrial.
no
There were no connections between the rotors and stators'
elficienl
sparking, lossy brushes. The motion was smooth and
alternating current generators, transformers' and
Nu*"ro,r.
succes-'
"brushless" motors, all were developed by Tesla in quick
draftsman'
a
professional
sion. The vision in material form. Himself
he mapped out his entire Polyphase System' Tesla emigrated to
America with a full pordolio of plans. America would be the place
where his dreams would find fulfillment'
Continually attracted to engineering problems which none
his
could master, his sudden visualization of the solutions became
he
others'
well
as
as
respec!
this
In
operation'
of
mode
normal
for
remained the wonder of all his technical assistants' He worked
Thomas Edison in NewJersey for a very short time period until
securing a laboratory and financial supPorters of his own'
In his first independent venture he developed arc lamps and
lighting systems. When his financial supporters betrayed his trusg
ti"y tJft'frit" bankrupt ovemight. He became a ditch digger,
all the indignities which immigrants faced in America
sufiering-the
1880's. He learned the value of publicity after his
during
incesslantmention of polyphase and alternating current managed
to attract the attention of certain new financial supporters' They
drew him out of the ditch, but not before he demanded his own
laboratory, a machine shop, and a sizable personal percentage "up
front". The resultwas our present day electrical distribution system'
Tesla did not invenf alternating current' Tesla reinvented
alternating currentin the form of Polyphase Current' His Polyphase
system *a. a no\rel means for blending three identical alternating
currents together simultaneously, but "out of step"' The idea was
similar to having three pistons on a crankshaft rather than one'
Tesla's method had wonderful advantages, especially when motors
were to be operated. Formally, no one could make an alternating
current motor turn at all simply because no net motion could be
derived from a current which lust "shuttled" to and fro'
Polyphase applied a continuous series of separate "pushes" to

lously wealthy at a Young age'

Tesla extended Lis generatorfrequenciesin multiples of sixty
very
until reachingsomethirty thousandcyclesPer second'These
marvel
the
became
current
high frequeriry altemating
Senerators
and engneering world' They were copied and
of-all tt u
".ua"mic
modified by several other subsequent inventors including
Alexanderson.Remarkably driven at excessivespeeds,they constitutedTesla's first belief that high frequency alternatingcurrent
generatorswould supply the world's Power'
High frequencycurrent phenomenawere new and exceedingly
culoJs. A line of experimentalresearchwas conductedin order to
evaluatenew safeand possiblymore efficientwaysfor hansmiting
power along long elevatedlines, Tesla statedthat the transmission
of such safe currents acrossve{y long powerline distancesin the
future would be a certainty,seeingtheir wonderful new qualities.
Tesla found that high frequency currentswere harmlesswhen
contactedby the human body. Dischargesfrom these generators
haversedthe outer surfaceof materials,never penehatingmafrer
with depth. There was no danger when working with high
fr"q.r"ncy currents. He also observed their very curious and
beautifuf spark effects. They hissed and fizzled all over wire
conductors, could stimulate luminescence in low pressure gas
bulbs. seemedto traverseinsulativebarriers with ease,and made
Iisle pinwheelsspin like delicate little fireworks displays'
Though curious, the effects were weak and furtive' They
seemed to intimate some future technology which he was yet
unable to penetrate.Tesla learned that his intuitions and visions
were infallible. What he guessedusually proved true' This very
revelation,he later claimed, was his Sreatestdiscovery'
personal
^,
As the safety of all personnel was his main concern, he was
consumedwith the idea of making his High FrequencyPolyphase
Systemcompletelysafefor human operaton and consumen alike'
An extensiveexamination of each SystemcomPonentwas under'
taken with this aim in mind. Tesla was thorough and relentlessin
his quest for safetyand efliciency.
But, his involvementwith alternatingcurrentswould come to an
abrupt and unexpectedend. During a seriesof experimentswhich
followed thesehigh frequencytests,an amazingseldom-mentioned
accidento""u.r"d in which Tesla observeda phenomenonwhich
forever altered his view of electricity and technology'

DISCOVERY
SHOCKING
experimenterthroughouthis
professional
and
Teslawas an avid
rotors. hesla's-iolyphase System made brushless motors and
nature that he was able !o
intense
an
such
of
was
life. His curiosity
brilliant lighting methods possible. Polyphase made it also possible
with no regard for
peculiarity
electrical
an
of
mysieries
the
to send elect ical power to very great distances with little loss. plumb
sleepfor a few
and
work
would
Edison
Whereas
comiort.
iri. o*r,
Alternating electrical currents vibrated in the line. Current did not
had achieved
he
until
sleep
never
would
Tesla
the
floor,
on
flow continuously from end to end, as in Edison's flawed system' hours
could last for
marathon
This
venture.
experimental
in
an
success
Edison's direct current system could not supply electricity beyond
two hour
a
seventy
through
work
to
observed
*".
orr..
He
days.
a few city blocks before current virtually disappeared'
him'
awe
of
in
were
technicians
His
fatigue.
without
period
In efforts to discover a more efficient kind of polyphase, Tesla
The Victorian Era was flooding over with new eleckical discovexplored higher frequency alternating currents' During this reby the day. Keeping up with the sheer volume of shange
eries
,"ur.h, he built and patented several remarkable generators'
discoveries and curiosities was a task which Tesla
electrical
with
to
perform
Higher frequency polyphase was found by Tesla
thoroughly enjoyed...and preferred. His Polyphase System in
than the common sixty-cycle variety which we
faigreater
"ffi.u"y
order, the pleasurableoccupationofshrdying new
still-use. He fully intended on implementing these special genera- perfeciwotking
gazettesand slientific journals often fascinatedhis mind to the
tors in the systemwhich his Patron and friend, George Westinghouse,
iesponsibilities. A millionaire and worldbusiness arrangement rendered Tesla fabu- Ixclusion of all other
had proliferated. The

38

SecondQuarter 1996

BoRoBRleups

were quickly closed and opened in his Polyphase

System.Swirch terminals were often blasted to pieces
when the speed of the switchmanmatched the current
phase.
Tesla assessedthe situation very accurately. Suddenly applied currents will stress conductors both
-I Postttvely E'',.ct Tt'Elt Wkt h, tl', Nos, Dc{od.Nt*
elecbically and mechanically' When the speed of the
Up Wl&h
Sourcq ol EneeJI llflll Bcopend
switch-actionis brief enough, and the power reachesa
Emryvbn
ft|vo
mtl fttt at th U.rloJ/d ol MatM
suflicientlyhigh crescendo,the effectsaf,enot unlike a
tn llnttmttud Amo.iitt-I
Ha|, LId.a
D''(',V.'/l
miniature lightring stroke. Electricity initially heatsthe
whlch I.E t.Et to Ant'pdtitr. &6"
wire, bringing it to vapor point. The continual applica& Flrry Gol&r
tion of current then blaststhe wire apart by electrostatic
repulsion.Butwas this mechanisticexplanationresPonsible for eveqypart of the phenomenon?
The mostrefractorymetalswere saidto be vaporized
by such eleckical blasts.Others had used this phenomhtl$ddbldUd.t.r{|d
enon to generatetiny granular diamonds. Yes, there
rhll bffib
La
.a.
ad
*
h
5ll.
were other aspectsabout this violent impulse phenomenon which tantalized him. Sufficiently inhigued, he
developeda small lightning "generator"consistingof a
high voltagedynamo and small capacitorstoragebank.
His idea was to blast sectionsof wire with lightningJike
currents.He wanted to observethe mechanicallyexplo
sive effects which wires sustain under sudden
high-poweredeleckifications.
Instantaneousapplicationsofhigh current and high
voltage could literally convert thin wires into vapor.
Chargedto high direct current potentials,his capacitors
were allowed to dischargeacrossa sectionof thin wire.
Tesla configured his test apparatus to eliminate all
possiblecurrent alternations.The applicationof a single
switch contactwould here produce a single, explosive
electrical surge: a direct current impulse resembling
lightning. At first Tesla hand-operated the system,
a heavy knife switch on and off. This became
snapping
manually
before the age of thirty, Tesla sought the pure kind
,;;",us
the
dynamo voltageswere deliberatelyincreased.
as
less
favorable
of research he had so long craved'
the large knife switchheld in his glovedhand.
closed
He
quickly
he
effect
electrical
Whenever he observed any intriguing
But as it did so, Tesla was stungby a
wire
exploded.
The
Bang!
with
a
hundred
study
immediately launched into experimental
penetrations.Closing the dynamo
needle-like
of
blast
knowlpressure
new
wealth
of
a
him
such
study
brought
variations. Each
neck,
arms, chest,and hands' The
face,
his
he
rubbed
down.
he
was
he
observed,
which
on
phenomena
based
that,
edge
irritation was distinct.He thoughtwhile the dynamo whirred down
immediately able to formulate new inventions and acquire new
to a slowspin.The blastwaspowerful.He musthavebeensprayed
patents.
Though he
Tesla's New York laboratories had several sections. This com- by hot metal droplets as small as smoke particles.
No evino
wounds.
found
fortunately
he
his
person,
examined
plex was arranged as a multilevel gallery, providing a complete
felt.
powerfully
he
so
which
blast
stinging
the
dence
of
research and production facility. Tesla fabricated several of his
Placing a large glassplate between himself and the exploding
large transformers and generators in the lower floors, where the
wire,
he performed the test again.Bang!The wire again turned to
floors
The
upper
housed.
machine shops of this building were
the pressuredstingingeffectwas still felt. But' what was
vapor...but
had
athacted
a
He
laboratories.
contained his privaie research
these stinging effectsable to penetratethe glass
were
How
this?
trusted
was
a
Czito
Kolman
these,
all
loyal staff of technicians. Of
not surewhetherhe wasexperiencinga Pressure
was
Now
he
plate?
life.
Czito
of
his
remainder
for
the
Tesla
by
friend who would stand
one. The glasswould have screenedany
electrical
or
an
effect
New
York
Tesla's
of
in
each
foreman
shop
was the machine
mechanicalshrapnel,butwould not appreciablyshield any electrilaboratories.
cal effects.
Tesla observed that instantaneous applications of either direct
Through careful isolation of each experimental componenl
or altemating current to lines often caused explosive effects. While
Tesla graduallyrealizedthat he was observinga very raxeelechical
these had obvious practical applications in improvement and
phenomenon.Each"bang" producedthe sameunexpectedshock
safety, Tesla was seized by certain peculiar asPectsof the phenomexploding small wire sectionsinto vapor'
enon. He had observed these powerful blasts when knife-switches responsein Tesla,while

GREATSffi

DISCOVEWhyendl
Nhola Tesla

f,llIOU
l!
-i..

fEl,I
r.

|ffi.

l.

,fl

BoRornt-nNos

Second
Quarter1996 39

The instantaneousburst produced strangeefrectsnever observed

with alternatingcurrents.The painful shockingsensationappeared
each time he closed or opened the switch. These sudden shock
currentswere MPUISES, not alternations.What surprised him
was the fact that these needle-like shocla were able to reach him
from a disiance: he was standing almost ten feet from the discharge
site!
These electrical irritations expanded out of the wire in all
directions and filled the room in a mys6$ing manner. He had
neverbeforeobservedsuchan effecl He thoughtthat the hot metal
vapor might be actingas a'carrier' for the electricalcharges.This
would explain the shong Pressurewave accompanied by the
sensationof electrical shock. He utilized longer wires. When the
dischargewire was resistiveenough, no explosion could occur.
Wire in place,the dynamo whirred at a slowerspeed.He threw
the switch for a brief instanl and was again caught offguard by the
stingingpressurewave! The effect per-

He could freely walk around the room during the tesLHe could
hold the shield or simply walk without it A small rotary spark
switch was arranged in place of the hand-held knife switch. The
rotary switch was arranged to intemrpt the dynamo current in slow,
successiveintervals.The system was actuated,the motor switch
contact procranked it contactsslowly. Snap...snap...snap'..each
duced the very s:une room-Iilling irritation.
This time itwas most intense.Tesla could not get awayfrom the
shocks,regardlessof his distance from the apparatusacrosshis
considerablylarge gallery hall. He scarcelycould get near enough
to deactivatethe rotating switch. From what he was able to painfully
observe,thin sparksof a bright blue-whitecolor stood shaight out
of the line with each eleckical contact.
The shocke{fectswere felt far beyond the visible sparkterminations. This seemedto indicate that their potential was far greater
than the voltage applied to the line. A paradox! The dynamo
charge was supplied at a tension of
Iifteen thousand volts, yet the stinging sparks were characteristics of
electrostatic discharges exceeding
some two hundred fifty thousand
volts. Somehow this input current
was being bansformed into a much
higher voltage by an unknown pro.
cess. No nahral explanation could
be found. No scientilic explanation
sufticed.Therewassimplynot enough
data on the phenomenonfor an answer. And Tesla knew that this was
no ordinary phenomenon. Somewhere in the heart of this activitywas
a deep natural secret.Secretsof this
kind always opened humanity into
new revolutions.
Tesla consideredthis strangevoltage multiplying effect from several
viewpoints. The problem centered
around the fact that there wursno
magnetic induction taking place.
Transformersraise or lower voltage
when current is changing.Here were
impulses. Change was happening
during the impulse.But there was no
bansformerin the circuit. No wireswere closeenoughfor magnetic
inductions to take place. Without magneticinduction, there could
theoreticallybe ro transformationeffecl No conversionfrom low
to high voltage at all. Yel each switch snap brought both the
radiating blue-white sparksand their painful sting.

;:::l'i** Theshockeffects
:ff*,*":3ih.l.l:
werefelt
spark
thevisible
farbeyond
H'tr;*:J:'n*;lm:*s'T
knew
H terminations...Tesla
H#ff"*l'ilffi::.?":ll'il
thatthiswasnoordinary
phenomenon.
Somewhere
ff:i'Jlilffi'1#y"Tf*::5
intheheartof thisactivity
secret.
natural
wasa deep
;:T"ffiffifl:ffi;;;il:JllT
of thiskindalways
Secrets
l*,:"*"liffH'X"""#":J.:
ine mystery. Hotvaporwas not available

what was happening here?

The pressure wave was sharp and
strong,like a miniature thunderclap.It
felt strangely "electrical" when the dynamo voltage was sumciently high. In

beyond certain thresholds.It became

used.Perhapshe was fortunateenough

,","ph;;;;; r?; Opened hUmanity intO ney

toobserve-tl,u
the first time.

revolutions.
*Jf"Th*;l:lT:;i"n:*il

this shangemanner?Here was a phenomenon which was not described in

any of the texts with which he was familiar. And he knew every
written thing on electricity.Thinking that he was the victim of some
subtle,and possibly deadly short circuil he rigorously examined
the circuit design.Though he searched,he could find no eleckical
'fhere
were simply no paths for any possible corona
leakages.
effectsto lind their way back into the switching terminal which he
held.
Deciding !o better insulate the arrangementin order that all
possibleline leakagescould be eradicated,he again attemptedthe
experimenl The knife switch rapidly closed and opened,he again
felt the unpleasantshockJustas painfully as before. Right through
the glassshield! Now he was perplexed. Desiring total distance
from the apparatus,he modified the grstem once more by making
it "automatic'.

40

SecondQuarter1996

IMPULSES
Tesla noted that the shangesparls were more like elechostatic
discharges.Ifthe sparkshad been direct current arcsreachingfrom
the test line, he would surely have been killed with the very first
closeof the swilch.The physicalpressureand sfrngingpain of these
sparksacrosssuchdistancescould not be explained.This phenomenon had never been reported by thosewho should have seenand
felt its activities.

BonoeRLANos

Tesla gradually casre to the conclusion that the shock effect was in the confidence that all elechical phenomena had been both
something new, something never before observed. He further observedand mathematicallydescribed,academicianswould be
concluded that the effect was never seen before becauseno one very slow to acceptTesla's claims.
had ever conskucied such a powerful impulse generator.No one
But this academic sloth is not what bothered Tesla. He had
had ever reported the phenomenon because no one had ever already found adequatecompensationfor his superior knowledge
generatedthe phenomenon.
in the world of industry.Tesla,now in possessionof an effectwhich
Tesla once envisioneda vortex of pure energy while looking was not predicted by Maxwell, began to question his own knowl..
into a sunsel The result of this great hovidential vision was edge. Had he become a "mechanist", the very thing which he
polyphase cunenl A true revelation. But this, this wiu an original reviled when a shrdent?Empirical fact conbadicted what that upon
discovery found through an accidenL Itwas an empirical discovery he based his whole life's work. Goethe taught that nahnre leads
of enormous signiffcance.Here was a new electrical force, an humanity.
utterly new species of electrical force which should have been
The choice was clean accept the empirical evidence and reject
incorporated into the electrical equations ofJames Clerk Morwell.
the conventional theory. For a time he struggled with a way to
Surprisingly, it was not
"derive" the shock elfect phenomenon by mathematically wresTesla now questionedhis own knowledge. He questionedthe tling "vdidity" from Maxwell's equations...butcould not. A new
foundationson which he had placedso much conlidencein the last electricalprinciple had been revealed.Tesla would take this, as he
severalyears. Maxwell was the "rule and measureoby which all of did the magnetic vortex, and from it weave a new world.
Tesla'spolyphasegeneratorshad been
What had historically taken place
constructed.Tesla penetratedthe validwas indeed unfortunate. Had Max.
ity of Maxwell's mathematicalmethod. f f: _t_
r/
well lived after Tesla's accidental

rtwas
weu
known
High voltage impulse cur".,'il'Jffl".:
derived his mathematical
descriptions
orerechomagnetic
inductio'
,t'.T i fents

great collection of available eleckical

pfgdqged

a hitheftO

unknown
radianteffect.
In
lTl"ffi;ji'i:1ff":*ff';f,',;
doing so.

pJrhaps
newer
phenomena.had
not factrhere was an electrical

discovery, then the effect might have

been included in the laws. Of course,
we have to assume that Maxwell
would have 'chosenn the phenomenon among those which he
considered "fundamental".
There was no otherway to see his
new discovery now. Empirical fact
conhadicted theoretical base. Tesla
was compelled to follow. The result
was an epiphany which changed
Tesla's inventive ourse. For t}te remainder of his life he would make
scientilic assertions which few could
believe, and fewer yet would reproduce. There yet exist several
reproducible eleckical phenomena
which cannot be predicted by Maxwell. They continually appear
whenever adventuresome experimenters
make
accidental
observations.

oobroadcast"
effectwhose
ilil:H:f:Jffi"'i1ffi:f;
implementation
inamyriad
buarredesignswouldset
nl;:[:l*U;**t""rt'#:of
Teslaapartfromall other
:ff';fl*::T'llTi:1'i:"f:I
been discovered, and were therefore

statinghis equationsas "final"? In deriving the laws of electromagnetic

induction, Maxr,vell had imposed his

observedsince the eighteenthcentury.

Maxweu
haddifficulty
;;;;:;

inVentOfS.

he consideredto be "the most fundamental" induction effectsfrom the start

The selectionprocesswas purely arbitrary. After having "decided"
which induction efrectswere "the most fundamental", Maxwell
then reducedtheseselectedcasesand describedthem mathematically. His hope was to simplif matters for engineerswho were
designingnew electrical machines. The results were producing
"prejudicial" responsesin engineers who could not bear the
thought of any variations from the ustandard".Tesla had experienced this kind of thematic propaganda before, when he was a
student.The quandtativewave of blindnesswas catching up with
him.
Tesla and others knew very well that there were strange and
anomalousforms of electromagneticinduction which were constantlyand accidentallybeing observed.These seemedto vary as
the experimentalapparatusvaried. New elechicalforce discoveries
were a regular feature of every Nature Magazine issue.Adamant

FOCUS
High voltageimpulsecurrentsproduceda hithertounknown
radiant effect. In facl here wirs an elechical "broadcast" effect
whose implementation in a myriad of bizarre designswould set
Tesla apart from all other inventors.This new electical force effect
wasa pre-eminentdiscoveryof greathistoricalsigniftcance.Despite
this fact, few academiciansgrasped its signiftcanceas such. Focussednow on dogmatizingMaxwell's work, they could not accept
Tesla's excited announcements.Academes argued that Tesla's
effectcould not exisl They insistedthat Tesla revisehis statements.
Tesla's mysterious effect could not have been predicted by
Maxwell becauseMaxwell did notincorporate itwhen formulating
his equations.How could he have done so,when the phenomenon
wasjust discovered?Tesla now pondered the academicramifica-

BoRnenLaNos

SecondQuarter 1996 41

with confidence.
Positionedbehind his copper mantle,Tesla initiated the action.
7Z727Z...the motorized switch whirring, dynamo voltage interrupted severalhundred timesper second,the shockactionwasnow
continuous.He felt a steadyrhythm of elechostaticirritationsright
through the barrier accompaniedby a pressurewave which kept
expanding. An impossibiltty.No elechical influence should have
passedthrough the amount of copper which composedthe shield.
Yet this energeticeffectwas penehating,electricallyshocking,and
pressured,He had no words to describe this aspect of the new
phenomenon.The shocksreally stung.
., Tesla was sure that this new discovery would p.roduce a
completelynew breed of inventions,once tamed and regulated.Its
effectsdiffered completelyfrom thoseobservedin high frequency
alternatingcurrenl These specialradiant sparkswere the result of
non-reversingimpulses. In facl this effect relied on the nonreversingnature of each applied burst for its appearance.A quick
contactchargeby a powerful high voltagedynamo wasperforming
a feat of which no alternatinggeneratorwas capable.Here was a
demonshationof "broadcast eleckicity".
Most researchersand engineersare fixed in their view of Nikola
Tesla and his discoveries.They seem curiously rigidiffed in the
thought that his only realm of experimental developmentslay in
altemating current electricity. This is an erroneous conception
which careful patentstudy reveals.Few recognizethe documented
facts thal after his work with alternating currents was completed,
Tesla switched over completely to the study of impulse currents,
His patentsfrom this period to the end of his careerare filled with
the ierminology equatedwith electrical impulsesalone.
The secretlay principally in the direct current application in a
small time interval. Tesla studied this time increment, believing
that it might be possibleto eliminate the pain lield by shortening
the Iength of time during which the switch contact is made. In a
daring series of experiments, he developed rapid mechanical
rotary switcheswhich handled very high direct voltagepotentials.
Each contact lasted an averageof one ten-thousandthsecond.
Exposing himself to such impulses of very low power, he
discoveredto hisjoy and amazementthat the pain field was nearly
absent.In its placewas a strangepressureeffectwhich could be felt
Nikola Tesla, age 63.
right through the copper barriers. Increasingthe power levels of
this device produced no pain increase, but did produce an
inhiguing increasedpressurelield. The result of simpleintemrpted
then
his
own
a"nd
possibly
other
of
tions of this new effect.What
into
Maxwell's
high voltage DC, the phenomenon was never before reported
which
were
not
incorporated
elechicalphenomena
force laws?Would academesnow ignore their existence?Would exceptby wihressesof closelightning strokes.This waserroneously
theynow evendareto rejectthe possibilityof suchphenomenaon attributed however to pressureeffectsin air.
Not able to properly comprehendttreir nature at firsl Tesla also
the basisof an incomplete mathematicaldescription?
Seeingthat the effectcould grant humanity enortnouspossibili- conservativelyapproachedthe pressurephenomenonasdue to air
ties when once tamed, Tesla wished to study and implement the pressure.He had first statedthat the pressurefield efrectwas due
radiantelectricalactionunder much saferconditions.The very first to sharp soundwaveswhich proceededoutward from the suddenly
stepwhich he took before proceedingwith this experimental line chargedline. In fac! he reported this in a little-knownpublication
was the conshuctionof special grounded copper barriers: shields where he first announcedthe discovery.Calling the pressureeffects
"elecbified soundwaves",he describedtheir penetratingnature in
to block the electricalemanationsfrom reaching him.
They were large, body sizedmandesof relatively thick copper. acousticterms.
Further experimentation however, gradually brought the new
He groundedtheseto insure his own completesafety.In electrical
that both the observed pressureeffect and eleckical
awaf,eness
him.
This
assembly
terms,they formed a "Faraday Cage" around
were not taking place in air at all. He demonstratedthat
fields
reaching
Tesla
shock
from
ever
static
discharges
would block out all
could take place in oil immersions.Impulse charged
these
actions
write
what
he
saw
and
Now
he
both
observe
the
tests.
could
during

42

Second
Quarter1996

BoRosRr-eNns

lines were placed in mineral oil and carefully watched. Strong

pressureprojectionsemergedfrom sharp wire ends in the oil, as if
air were sheamingout under high pressure.
Teslafirst believedthat this streamwaswire-absorbedair driven
off by electricalpressure.Continual operationof the phenomenon
convinced him that the projected stream was not air at all.
Furthermore,he was not at-a loss to explain the effecl but was
reluctantto mention his own theory of what had been generatedby
high voltage direct current impulses.
Tesla made eleckical measurementsof this projective sheam.
One lead of a galvanometerwas connectedto a copper plate, the
other grounded. When impulses were applied to wire line, the
unattachedand distantmeter registereda continual direct current.
Current through space without wires! Now here was something
which impulsesachieved,never observedwith alternaUngcurents
of any frequency.
Analysis of this situation proved that electrical energy or
electrically productive energies were being projected from the
impulse device as rays,not waves.Tesla was amazedto lind these
rays absolutelylongitudinal in their action through space,describing them in a patent as "light-like rays". These observations
conformed with theoretical expectations described in 1854 by
Kelvin.
In anotherarticleTesla callsthem "dark-rays",and "rayswhich
are more light-likein character".The rays neither diminishedwith
the inversesquareof the distancenor the invene of the distance
from their source.They seemed to stretch out in a progressive
shock-shellto great distanceswithout any apparent loss.
MAGNETIC
ARCS
Nikola Tesla now required greater power levels than those
provided by his mechanicalrotary switch system.He also sawthe
need for controlling ultra-rapid current interruptions of high
repetition ("succession")rates. No mechanical switch could perform in this manner. He had to envision and devise some new
meansby which ultra-rapidinterruptionscould be obtained.In his
best and most efftcient system, highly charged capacitorswere
allowed to impulsively dischargeacrossspecial heavy duty magnetic arcs.
The magneticarc gap wascapableof handling the largecurrents
required by Tesla.In achievingpowerful, sudden impulsesof one
polarity, these were the most durable. Horn shaped electrodes
were positionedwith a powerful permanentmagneticlield. Placed
at right anglesto the arc itself,the currentswhich suddenlyformed
in this magneticspacewere acceleratedalong the horns until they
were extinguished.Rapidly extinguished!
Arcs were thus completely extinguishedwithin a speciliedtime
increment.Tesla conliguredthe circuit parametersso as to prevent
capacitoralternationsfrom occurring through the arc space.Each
arc dischargerepresenteda pure unidirectional impulse of very
greatpower.No "contaminatingcurrent reversals'were possibleor
permissible.
Reversals..,alternations...would
ruin the "shock broadcast".The
effectwasnever observedwhen alternadngcurrentswere engaged.
High voltagewas supplied by a large dynamo. Tesla could speed
or slow this dynamo with a hand operated rheostat.Power was
applied in parallel across the capacitor. The magnetic arc was

linked almostdirectly to one side of this capacitor,a long and thick

copper strap connecting the magnetic arc and the far capacitor
plate.
This simple asymmetric positioning of the magnetic arc discharger to one side of the dynamo supply produced pure
unidirectional electropositiveor elechonegativeimpulses as desired. Tesla designed this very simple and powerfully effective
automaticswitchingsystemfor achievingultra-rapidimpulsesof a
singlepolarity. Capacitorvalues,arc distances,magneticfields and
dynamo voltages were all balanced and adjusted to leld a
repedtive train of ultrashort singular impulseswithout "flyback"
elfects.
The system is not really well understood by engineers,the
exceptional activities of the arc plasma inhoducing numerous
addifional featuresto the overall system.While the effectswhich
Tesla claimed can be reproduced with electron tube impulse
circuitry, these produce decidedly inferior effects.The overall
power of the basic arc discharge is diflicult to egual. Tesla
eventuallyenclosedthe magneticarc, immersingthe gap spacein
mineral oil. This blocked premature arcing, while very greatly
increasingthe systemoutput.
Most imagine that the Tesla impulse systemis merely a "very
high frequencyalternator".This is a completelyerroneousnotion,
resulting in elfects which can never equal those to which Tesla
referred. The magnetic discharge device was a kue stroke of
genius.It rapidly extinguishescapacitorchargein a singledisruptive blast.This rapid current rise and declineformed an impulseof
extraordina{F power. Tesla called this form of automatic arc
switching a "disruptive discharge" circuil distinguishingit from
rlumerousother kinds of arc dischargesystems.It is very simply a
means for intemrpting a high voltage direct current without
allowing any backward current alternations.When these conditions are satisfied,the Tesla Effect is then observed.
The asymmetricalpositioningof the capacitorand the magnetic
arc determinesthe polarity of the impulse train. If the magneticarc
device is placed near the positive charging side, then the sbap is
chargednegativeand the resultantcurent dischargeis decidedly
negative.
Tesla approachedthe testingof his more powerful systemswith
certain fear. Each step of the testing processwas necessarilya
dangerous one. But he discovered that when the discharges
exceeded ten thousand per second, the painful shock elfect was
absent.Nervesof the body were obviouslyincapableof registering
the separateimpulses.But this insensitivitycould lead to a most
seductivedeath. The deadly aspectsof elechicity might remain.
Tesla was therefore all the more wary of the experiments.
He noticed thal though the pain field was gone, the familiar
pressureeffectremained.In its place came a defined and penetrating heat.Tesla was well awarethat such heat could signalinternal
elecbocution. He had already made a thorough study of these
processes,recognizingthat such heatingprecedesthe formation of
electricalarcsthrough the body. Nevertheless,he applied power to
the dynamo in small but steady intervals.
Each increasebrought increasein the intemal heating effects.
He remainedpoisedat eachpower level,sensingand scopinghis
own physiologyfor danger signs.He continued raising the power
level until the magnetic arc reached its full buzzing roar. Tesla

BononRllNos

SecondQuarter 1996 43

fluidic sheathscovered coPper cylinders of

found that this heat could be adjustedand, when not extreme'was appeaxance.Smooth,
fascinated Tesla' There was an
absolutely
This
size.
was
speciftc
completelyenjoyable.So soothing,reloring, and comfortable
radiant eleckicity'
in
inherent
nature
aerodynamic
energies'
this manifestationthat Tesla daily exposedhimself !o the
produced remarkable volumes of white discylinders
Copper
An eleckical'sauna'.
from certain sized cylinders were actually
He Iater reported these ftndings in medical journals, freely charges.The discharges
applied. This inferred that an energy
offering the discovery to the medical world for ib therapeutic larger than those being
was talcing place withhf the cylinder' This
benefits.Tesla was a notorioususer of all such therapiesfrom this baisformation efrect
initial observation with the shock-excited
time on, often falling into a deep sleep in the warm and penetrating reminded him of his
not explode gaveforth far greatervoltages
influences.C)nce,having overindulged the electresaunatherapy, wires.Those which did
He had never understoodwhy this was
used.
he fell into a profoundly deep sleepfrom which he emergeda day than were initially
instance in which applied energy wrN
another
was
Here
later! He reported that this experience was not unpleasant but occurring.
Why was this happening?
conductor.
by
a
magnified
seemingly
realizedthat proper "electrodosages"would necessarilyhave'tobe
phenomenonmight be
this
bizarre
to
understanding
key
The
determinedby medical Personnel.
ftom copper
the
discharges
observed
He
thoughr
he
here,
found
the
where
lengths
During this time, Tesla found shorterimpulse
with white
edged
became
Each
diameters.
various
of
cylinders
the
radiance
rendering
heating effect disappeared altogether,
near or actually placed within the
absolutelyharmless.These impulse trains were so very high that brush discharges when held
impulser' The dischargeefrectwas
the deepestnenresof one's body could not sensethe permeadng conductive copPerstrap of the
were placedwithin the periphery
radiant energyfield. Now he could Pumuehis vision of broadcast most pronouncedwhen cylinders
energy systemswithout fear of rendering to humanity a technologi- of the copper strap.
Tesla noticed that white corona sheathswere actually covering
cal curse, rather than a true blessing'
the outer cylinder wall at times' These would appear, build in
strength, and disappear on sudden dischargewith a surprising
TRAI{ISFORMERS
length. The sheathing action was repetitive when the cylinder had
levels'
Tesla opera0edthe magnetic arc $'stem at higher power
small volume. Very small cylinders behaved like rods,
rates'
repetition
experim.entingwith various impulse lengths and
" "titi".[y
only appeared at their edges.The stability of
discharges
where
apparently
which
current
He measured the mys0eriouselechical
dischargesvaried with cylinder diameterand
sheath
shange
these
ftelds
radiant
These
this
system.
flowed through space from
length.
were
effecb
Strange
before.
than
power
operated at far greater
Tesla noticed that not every cylinder performed well near the
suddenlyappearingatcertaindistancesfrom the magneticimpulser.
stableand
For one thing,Teslanodcedthat metallicsurfacesnearthe impulser impulser. Only cylinders of specificvolume produced
were
too small,
the
If
cylinders
white electricalsheaths'
became covered with white brush-like corona dischaqges.While
"otttinoonr
was an
There
unstable.
and
were
intermitent
the sparksplayed in uails acrossthe metal surfaces,Tesla observed then the sheaths
the
hain
and
impulse
the
supplied
between
connection
physicalmovement among the metal objects.Tensionsand rock- obvious
it?
was
what
But
volume.
cylinder
he
was
ing motions. Both phenomena occurtng simultaneously,
Tesla surveyed the entire range of his recent discoveries'
utterly fascinated. The sparls themselves seemed alive. The
produced a radiant elechicd effect. Radiant electricity,
Impulses
effects.
What
motor
moving metal objectsseemedto suggestnew
flowing through space. As it flowed, it focussed
was
mysteriously
phenomena?
was this shange codition, this synchronicity of
as a white fluidic corona' When the shape
conductors
metal
over
gaseous
with
a
"hhslng"
forth
came
Brilliant white coronas
were just righg the energy
soundfrom metal poinb and edges.Metal plateswere soonpoised and volume of the metal conductors
greater voltage than the
far
of
corona
white
all around the device for observation' Tesla recognized at once that appeared as a stable
More discoveries'
quesdons.
More
supplied.
these efrecb were not identical with those obtained earlier while impulse generator
but not as long as
edges,
their
from
sparks
produced
Rods
using high frequency dteinating currents. These new discharges
which worked very
a
cylinder
selected
Tesla
did.
cylinders
copper
were white, energetic,and shong.
its surface'He
all
around
horizontal
several
placed
"cuts"
and
well,
and
The electricalbehavior of copper plates, rods, cylinders,
from the
spark
discharge
the
testing,
on
when,
surprised
totally
was
variety
of
a
great
spheresnear his Primary impulser brought forth
length
spark
Increased
than
before.
larger
notably
was
cylinder
cut
from
appeared
brushes
white fluidic discharges.Strong discharge
conductivity
did this diminished
the ends of copper plates' These came in prodigious volumes, meansincreasedvoltage.Butwhy
uP?
voltage
the
force
from
sharp
especially
directions,
in
all
wildly
hissing and arcing
The cuts diminished conductivity in the cylinder by forcing the
points. Tesla hied copper discs.These seemedto produce more
He had noted that eleckical
stabledischarges.He observedthe curious manner in which these energy into a tighter "squeeze".
*raceo
the outer surfaceof metal
traverse
to
tendency
around the disc edge at times, impuisesdisplayeda
white dischargesseemedto
ensheathedin a fluidic
were
often
cylinders
blending and separating with all the other sparls. Here was a conductors. Certain
between coil ends in a
havelled
which
smoothly
magnilied example of Reichenbach'sOd force perhaps! white discharge
Creatly
truly notable' His
was
something
Here
layer.
constricted
tightly
He noted the manner in which white brush dischargesappeared
the upper coil
from
produced
that
than
less
was
far
voltage
inpui
near
from copperconductorsof difrerentshapes.Eachform, poised
to
end?
end
why
from
But
terminal.
This
coronal
his impulser, gave a characteristiccorona dishibution.
The essentialreasonwhy current preferred outer surfaceconcorresponderrcewith specilic geometric form greatly {Pressed
becausethey were impulsing' The sudden
trim. With certain metal forms the discha^rgeswere very fluidic in duction was precisely

44

SecondQuarter 1995

BonpBnt-nvos

Tesla knew that here is where the secret lies. If resistancein the
conductor is great enough, the snapping electrostaticforce cannot
move any charges. It is forced to "grow" over the conductor surface
until it discharges at the end point where greatly magnified
voltagesare obtained. When the wire diameter is small enough, the
wire explodes under electrostatic pressures which exceed those
seen in dynamite.
In effect, Tesla had managed to interrupt a high voltage direct
current several thousand times per second. In doing so, he had
discovered away to completely separate electrostaticenergy from
current impulses. Tesla pondered these facts, wondering if it was
. possible to force the magnification effect beyond the limits of
standard electromagnetic transformers. In other words, how high
could voltage be raised? Was there a limit to the process?
In order to achieve such enormous voltage levels, he needed a
conductive shape which offered so much resistance to charge
movemen! that all the applied energy would become electrostatic.
In effect, Tesla wanted to convert a quantity of supply power into
a pure electrostatic voltage. This phenomena suggested that his
goal was not impossible.
Tesla extended his idea of the cut copper cylinder to coils. From
the viewpoint of electrostatic impulses, flat copper coils appear to
be "continuously cut" cylinders. The electrostaticfield focusesover
the coil as it did with the cylinders, from end to end. A simple
magnet coil of specific volume would offer so much resistancetirat
it would be difficult to predict the actual resultant voltage which
results without an empirical test.

shock which any conductor experienced produced an expansive

effect, where the electrical charge was rejected by the conductive
interior. This "skin effect" was a function of impulse time and
conductor resistance. Highly resistant objects forced all of the
impulse energy to the surface.
Now he was getting somewhere. Frustrated radiant electricity
constricted into a tighter surface volume when encountering metal
surfaces.This intense surface focussing effect brought the voltage
up to tremendous values. Here was a new transformer effect! He
believed it was an electrostatic transformation. Impulse currents
each possessedan electrostaticnature. The bunching of charge in
the impulser brings this electrostatic field to a peak in a small instant
of time.
Constricting this field volume produces a greatly magnified
voltage. Placement of any conductor in the field space alters the
field by constricting its shape. When symmetrical conductors of
special shape, volume, and resistanceare placed in this space, the
field is greatly constricted. Because the impulsing electrostaticfield
is very abrupt, it "snaps" over the conductor from end to end.

WHITEFIRE
Qonstructing several of these, he was ready for the test. When
each copper magrret coil was impulsed, Tesla saw tremendous
white brushes leaping from their free ends: dischargesapproaching
one million volts! But his supply power was nowhere near these
voltages, and the coil was not wrapped in thousands of windings.
These previously unexpected voltage magnifications were the
result of an energ'ytransformation, one which took electrical power
and converted it completely into pressure. Watts into Volts, an
unheard thing. It was the key to a new and explosive technology.
Tesla also found that such coils required very thin coil forms. He
ceased using cellulose and cardboard forms, preferring "squirrel
cage" type forms made of thin end-braced wooden rods. Wire was
wound about these cylindrically disposed rods, producing the very
best effects. Spacings were also tried between successive coil
windings with excellent results. Spaced windings reduced sparking to a minimum.
Tesla remarked that the electrostatic potentials along the coil
surface (from end to end) could be as much as ten thousand volts
per inch of winding! A ten inch coil of proper volume could
produce one hundred thousand volt discharges.In addition, and
in confirmation of his suspicions,no current was ever measured at
the free terminals of these coils. A "zero coil current" condition! It
was simply another paradox which would occupy the academ!
cians for several more argumentative decades.
Tesla suddenly realized that coils represented a truly special and
valuable component in his quest. The instantaneous resistance
which any coil offered to an applied impulse was so immense that
current could not flow through the wire length. As a phenomenal

BoRoBnleNos

S e c o n dQ u a r t e r 1 9 9 6 4 5

consequence,no current flowed through the coil windings at all!

But sparkingwas observed,travelling from coil end to end. Here
was yet another anomaly!
He began placing these"secondary" coils within his "primary"
impulsercircuit.The straPwhich connectedhis magneticarc to the
capacitorsformed the "primary". He made necessarydistinctions
among his Transformer components.Few engineersactually ap
preciate these distinctions.The "primary" and "secondary" of
Tesla Transforners are not magrretic inductors. They are resistive
capacitors.Coil-shapedcapacitors!Tesla Transformer action is
electrostaticinduction.
There were conditionsfor the most efffcientmanifestationof the ..
effect.Maxrvell could not predict thesevalues' Tesla empirically
discoveredmost of the rules for impulse behavior. He found that
the hansformative abilities of these smooth copPer coils were
maximum when the coil massequalled the massof the impulser's
conductive copper shap. It did not matter how thin the coil
windingswere. The equality of copper massesbrought mardmum
hansformativeeffects.When this equal mass condition was fuluin resonance''
Iilled, Tesla said that the coil-capacitorswere
Electrostaticresonance.
Tesla found it possibleto produce millions of elecirostaticvolts
by this method. His {irst Transformerswere horizontal in orientation, both free ends of the secondary coil-capacitorproducing
unidirectional impulses of great Power' White dischargesfrom
indicating
eachofthesefree endshad very differentcharac0eristics,
appeared
always
lerminals
the unidirectionalflow. Elechopositive
appeared
always
terminals
Electronegative
brushlike and broad.
and
dartlike.
conskicted
His next Transformer seriesemployed vertical cylinders with
the baseconnecteddirectly to ground. Free terminalsstood quite
a distanceabove the primary capacitor straP,sPoutinga brilliant
white crown.Thesemarked a turning pointin his theoriesconcerning electricity,sinceitwas possiblefor him to developwell over one
million volts impulsepower in a devicescarcelytaller than a child.
Thesedischargeswere of an intensewhite coloration.Whitefire.
Very sudden impulsescolor dischargechannelswith the brilliant
whitefire becauseTesla Transformersseparatethe effusiveeether
from electrons.Tesla Transformer conduct ether, not elechons.
The whitefirebrillianceis the disfnctive etheric hademark ofTesla
Transformers.
During this time, Tesla discovered the peculiar necessityfor
streamlininghis Transformers. Clindrical secondary capacitors
suddenlybecameconical forms.These presentedthe most bizarre
appearanceof all. Tesla used cone-shapedsecondariesto focusthe
impulses.Whitefire dischargesfrom these forms evidenced real
focussingeffects, the dischargesthemselvesassuming inverted
conical shapes.Their greatly intensified nature is seen in photo
graphswhich were taken under his own inhigued supervision.The
magnified voltageswere reaching those thresholdsin which his
laboratory enclosureswere far too small !o continue making
indushial scaleprogresson radiant energy systems.
The fact that whitefire dischargespass through all matter,
notably insulators,revealed the etheric nature. Tesla saw that
whitefire dischargescould permeate all materials in a strangely
gaseousmanner. This penetrationscarcelyheated mafrer. In facl
the whitefire brushes often had a cooling effect' The sparks

46

Second
Quarter1996

themselves, though violent in appearance' were "soft" when

compared to all other forms of electricity. He had successfully
removed the hazard from electricity. In blocking the slow and
dense charges,he had freed the mysterious effirsive ather streams
inherent in electricity.Becauseof this, new,and intensifiedradiant
effecb were constantlymaking their appearanceacrosshis laboratory space.
Tesla found that as thesenew "Impulse Transformers"greatly
magnified power supplied to them, so also their radiant elechic
effectswere equally magniffed. He found it possibleto wirelessly
project elechostaticpower to very great distances,lighting special
lamps to full candlepower at hundreds of feet' In these experiments,he alsoconceivedof signallingsystems.Itwould be possible
0o switch radiant effects in telegraphic fashion. Distant vacuum
tube receiverswould then light or dim in correspondingmanner.
Tesla experimentedwith a specialbreed of telegraphicwirelessin
1890.
He also found it possible to wirelessly oPeratespecially con'
structedmotors by properly interceptingthis space-flowingenergy
stream.He had made his own polyphasesystemobsolete!The new
vision was vastly more enthralling. The world would be hansformed. He discoveredways to beam the enerry out to any focus,
even !o the zenith. His plan to illuminate the night sky with a radiant
energy beacon captured the minds of all who listened'
the meansby which the radiant eleckicity
Tesla now possessed
could be Creadymagnilied and hansmised. He could now bansform the very nature of the radiance so that it could carry
increasinglygreaterpower. Now he could begin developinga new
technology which would completely revitalize the world order.
Powdr could be broadcastto any location without wire connections. Radiant electricity could be utilized in completely new
appliances.A new world was about to be released!
SPACE FLOWING CI,JRRENT
Understandingthe analogue between these electrical impulse
effectsand the behavior of high Pressuregasesw.ul of paramount
importance.This gaseousaspectof impulse electricalradiancewas
perhapsthe most mystifying aspectof these new-found energies.
Those who sought out Tesla's every lechrre were very aware that
a new elechical specieshad been discovered.
While yet a shldenl Teslahad becameawareof certainscientilic
imperativesenunciatedbyJohann von Goethe. One of thesewas
the preservation and extension of all activities-nahrral.Goethe
implied that when natural conditions were Preserved during
experimentation,then nature itselfwas in the bestconliguration0o
reveal more unified phenomenalexhibitions to qualitativeobservers.
Tesla recognizedthat his new discoveryof impulse,the resultof
an acciden! was a total departure from polyphase alternating
current.While his original vision of the vortex was applied by him
to the designingof motors and generators,Tesla now redized that
this was not its primary message'In fact, taken from the viewpoint
which Goettreexpressed,polyphasewas a most unnaturalform of
enerS'y.
Nahrral acfivity is suffused with impulses, not alternations.
Natural activity is initiated as a primary impulse. Nature is flooded
with impulses of all kinds. From lightning to nervous activities, all

BonoenLlNos

as conceived by Faraday. Young James Clerk Mocwell also

believed that force lines were dynamic, longitudinal lines of flow.
But flowlines of what substance?Here lay the principle problem
which occupied physiciststhroughout the Victorian Era.
Victorian researchersand natural philosopherswished to discbver the exact nature of the "flowing charge" of which force lines
were composed. Most agreed that the mysteriousflowing "substance" had to be an effusive, ultra-gaseousflux, This flux was
composed of infinitesimal energy particles which effected the
various pressuresand inductions observed.
Henry and Faraday shuggledwith the idea of deriving usable
elechic power from static charges.The notions was thal since
forcelineswere made of a "flowing charge substance",then lixed
contactsplaced on chargedm:Nseswould supply electricalpower
forever. No one was able, however, to derive this flowing charge.
Iossy dischargesprecededevery contact,Most researchers,
whose
attempts with highly charged leydenJarsfailed,soughta more benign
source of concenhatedcharge.The
quest shifted to magnets, but the
attempt remained as futile as ever.
There remained no availableway to
derive power from the individual
lr
/ zt
at
flowing
chargesof a forceline.
ilOWtnat"spaCe
Thomson
discoveredelechons
JJ.
in vacuum discharges,assumingthat
these"electric particles' operaledin
all instanceswhere electricalactivity
was observed.Victorian researchers
did not acceptthis view completely.
Thomson's "elechons"were viewed
as the result of violent collisions
acrossa vacuum accelerationspace.
It was not possible to ascertain
whether thesesame uThomsoncurrents' were active within eleckical
conductors operating at small voltages.
Very reputable experimenters
besides Tesla continued claiming
that "spaceflowing electricity' is the
real elechicity. Tesla's classicdemonstrations proved that rapid

natural energy movements occur as impulses. Impulses were now

seen by Tesla to fill the natural world. But, more fundamentally,
Tesla saw that impulses flood the metaphysical world.
The mysterious flow of meanings during conversation occurs as
a sequence of directed impulses in space. Though inert air vibrates
in alternations with sounds uttered, the flow of meaning remains
unidirectional. Intentions are also impulses. The unidirectional
flow of intentions appear as impulses. Motivations proceed from
the manifestation of sudden desires. Overtly expressed as actions,
the initiating impulses are then fulfilled.
Tesla wished to comprehend where this "motivating force"
came from, and where it went during the expressed actions. In all
of this, he was very much the wonderful stereotype of the Victorian
natural phllosopher. His scientific pursuits followed these considerations until the last. Those who study his announcements
recog'nize his metaphysical foundations, the basis of all his subse-

quent scientificquests.
Tesla observed the amazing "coordi-

r l

nation'
ornew
pr,",,o*",,u
*;'4 g"t VefV
fepUtable expefiment'
seemed to bring new technological po-

',lj,311'T;#::J"Tj;'ill
ersbesides
Tesla
continued
lillf,
new and fortunate position in nature.

"b.okenHaving
somehow
hisiixarionClalmmg
with the unnatural...with polyphase...he
re-entered the natural or

ing electricityt'
icity"iis the real
-,,,"-"
that ,::":::::j:;
the inductionof
Could if
it h6
be ,h'f
pulses..-,^,,,.,

electricity.
Tesla'sclassic
i,lil$ri'il'Jlij:il:ffi1,I1",*;
he producing a metaphysical vortex,

into
which
uutr,"i.,,p,l,:"ori;;; demOnStfatiOnspfovedthat
of nature would now flow? Was this the

rapidelectricalimpulses
;T:il:['T""'ff:;T:i;";31fi::
actuallyexceed
theability
of fixedcharges
to transmittheapplied
forces.
ffiifi:l,TnffiJ,:3iffi*,:fi

electricity the fundamental natural

energy...the motivator?
Victorian Science was not exactly
sure what electricity was, there being so
verv manv attributes associated with the

on the nature of both electric and magnetic forces. Gilbert and Descartes
shared the belief that these forces were a special kind of "flowing
charge", a space radiant stream which took place in tightly
constricted lines. Some equated the electromagnetic forces with a
"dark light", which Karl von Reichenbach later proved in part.
Faraday adopbed and modified the view that electromagnetic
forces acted through space because they were a special flow of
charge. This effusive charge movement changed when travelling
through conductors, becoming more densified and retarded in
velocity. Faraday's "lines of force' were not conceived by him to
be mere static tensions as modernists view them. Faraday envisioned these force lines as radiant, sheaming lines. They were
mobile, moving longitudinally into space.
Others would change the names, referring to electric force lines
as "dia-electric' or dielectric flux, but the view remained essentially

electrical impulses actually exceed the ability of ffxed charges to

transmit the applied forces. Charges lag where electrostatic forces
continue propagating. One is compelled to see that electrostatic
forces precede the movement of charges.
Tesla saw that electrostatic impulses could flow without line
charges. His "zero current coils" operated simply because the
charges themselves were immobilized. Electricrty was shown to be
more in the nature of a flowing force rather than a sheam of massive
u{lowing
current"?
particles. But what then was this
view,
In Tesla's
radiant electricity is a space flowing current
which is NOT made of electrons. Later Mctorians believed that
there was a substance which both filled all space and permeaied all
matter. Several serious researchers claimed to have identfied this
gas. Notables, such as Mendeleev predicted the existence of

BononnLeNos

SecondQuarter 1996 47

several ulha-raxe gases which Preceded hydrogen' These, he

claimed, were inert gases.This is why they were rarely detected'
The inert gaseswhich Mendeleevpredicted formed an atrnosphere
which llooded all of space.These gaseousmixtures composedthe
ather.
Tesla and others believed that both electrical and magnetic
forces were achrally streams of ether gas which had been ftxated
in matter.Materialswere somehow"polarized" byvarious "frictive"
beabnentsby which an ather gas flow was induced in them' Most
materials could maintain the flow indeffnitely, since no work was
required on their parl Matter had only to remain polarized,
transducing the ather flow' The ather gascontained all the powor'
Unlimited power.
This ether gas power manilested as the elechomagnetic forces
themselves,adequate reason to Pursue the development of an
ether gas engne. Such an engine could run forever on the eternal
kinetic ener$es of the ether itself, it being both generatedand
&iven by the stars.
Tesla believedthat radiant electricityis composedof ather gas'
He basedthis belief on the fact that his zero current coils were not
conducting the "slow and dense" charges usually obsewed in
ordinary electricalcircuib. Abrupt impulsesproduced distinctive
and difierenteffects...fluidiceffects.The qualitiesascribedby Tesla
to "electricity" or things "electrical" in his numerous Patent texts
and press inteMews are those which refer to the ether gas' Tesla
did not refer to elechon cunents as "electricity"' He did not equate
"elecficity" with electronflow. Whenever Tesla spoke of "eleckical" effects he always described their efrusive, gaseousquality.
Tesla referred to sPace as the "ambient or nahral medium".
Space, he claimed, was that which "conducb electricity". He had
found a means by which ttris gaseous electrical flow could be
gfeatly concentrated, magnifted, and directed. He saw that this
radiant elecblcity was, in reality, a gaseousemanation. An etheric
emanation. This is why he made constant reference to fluidic
termtnology throughout his lechrres.
Resistance,volume, capacity, reservoir, surface area' tension,
pressure,pressurerelease:thesewere the terms upon w-hichTesla
The terminology of hydraulics'
ielied throughouthispresentadons.
ether was a gas, it had
that
because
recognized
also
Tesla
aerodynamicrequiremenb.
.fBtiiet, in Tesla's lexicon, wiN sPaceflowing electricity: a gas of
superlative and transcendent qualities. /Ether was the electricity
*hi"h fiilud all of space,a vast reservoir of unsurpassablepower'
Motive, dynamic' and free for the taking. ,iEther gas technology
would revolutionize the world. ,Ether gas engines would provide
an eternalpower sourcefor the world. Science,indusbry,corPorawould
tions,financialalignmenb,socialorders,nations...everything
issuc)
|
ncxt
(Part
2
in
change.
Grnnv Vlssr,eros began lvrifing for Borderlands magazineseveral
video documentary
years
ago.He is the producerof the Rayof Drscooary
'seies,Tura
Motors,Earth Toncs,and is dso the author of rhe Vril
- a borderlandresearchencyclopediawhich now totalsI I
Compcndium
volumes' As an avid experimenter'lvfr' Vassilat'oshas conhibuted to
severaladvancementsin the lields of Radionics and energyresearch'
of theborderland"greats"'
Thisishisfifthbiographyinanongoingseries

48

Second
Quarter 1996

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lillll[ilffifl|[illlliln

The
Broadcast
Powerof
I{ikola Tesla
Parttr

by Gery Vassilatos
OMPLETING a tour of the major scientilic
instihrtes in America" Tesla expected to retire
for a seasonof rest in New York once again.
News of his advancements however, flooded every
technical trade joumal. The nasre Teslawas everywhere
once again. First polypbase and now radiant electricity.
He was the "darling" of the press.Tesla caphrred the
public eye once again. People everywhere were thrilled
with the projected fuhrre visions which Tesla freely
provided. He was a model European immigrant suave
and debonair. These are probably the qualitieswhich
ffrst attracted Anne Morgan- lrresistible, wealthy, unattached,and warm. Tesla was her obsession.
Despite his great personal charm and magnetic personality, he maintained his serious tone and poise
wherever he went. The vision of the future was far more
important than the a.frentionsof a young and llirtatious
lady. In anticipadonof theseforthcoming events,Tesla
often invited other socially esteemedgueststo his labe
ratory for special demonstrations.In this manner, it was
noised abroad that what he claimed was in fact real.
Anne often attended thesegatherings,breathing silently
i:n the shadowsof his laageloft laboratoqy.
There were otherswho, dthough not attendingthesedemonshations, were equally watchful of Tesla's newest radiant energy
developments,Severalof these Persons'shall we say, were interested in his new discovery and its implications...becausetheir
fortunes were threatened.Tesla had swept the world once with
polyphase.He wiped outEdison'sDirect Current Systemovernight.
sum
J.P.Morgan,Edison'srecent "patron", had lost a considerable
during that ffasco.It was certain that Tesla would soon sweepthe
world againwith broadcastelecbicity. This destabilizinginfluence
would not be tolerated.Anne complicatedthe affair considerably.
She was in love with Tesla. Obsessedin facl Too obsessedand
desperateto let go.

ROYAL SOCIETY LECTURES

In the very midst of all these national attentions, Tesla received

an invitation from Lord Kelvin. He was formally requested to

addressthe Royal Society,his latestfindingswere earnestlydesired.
The English,usually extremely conservative,were sure that Tesla
would changethe course of world history.
Tesla, adjourning from his daily researchesnow prepared
himself for the lectureswhich would start the world-change.He
packednearlyeverypieceof delicateequipmentone can imagine.
Vacuum tubes,Trinsformers, strangemotors, and equally strange
wirelessapparatus.Allwere carefullycratedand penonallybrought
to Europeby Teslahimself.His beloved elder and personalmentor,
Sir William Crookes,greetedhim.

BoRonnLeNos

Third Quarter 1996

53

In the opening portions of his Royal SocietylecturesTesla first

describedhis preliminaqrwork with high voltage high frequency
alternatingcurrentsin somelength.He explainedthatthesedevices
embodied the very last investigationsand improvements of his
PolyphaseSystem.He demonstratedseveralof the ffnt small high
-to
frequency alternators and iron-core induction coils in order
preparehis audiencefor a final announcemenl
In thisvery lastdramaiic demonshationTesla revealedto British
Academia the disruptive electric dischargeand the properties of
electricrays.Teslamade a rare and complete"full discLsurenof the
elechic ray effect at the very end of his lecture.It was the very last
time he would ever do so again in academiccircles,
Tesla showed that the new radiant eleckicity was distinctive.
been openly proclaimed during the london Royal Society
fraving

lectures.Tesla deliberaiely compared

and conbasted the potentimpulse rad!

eries as mere preparatoryinhoductions to impulses.

Teslashowedby way of comparisonthat disruptiveffeld impulse
banscendentlyexceedall other electro,inductiveeffectsby several
orders. He expresseddifficulty in discerning whether the effecb
were elechostaticor electrodynamicin nature, preferringto associ
atethem more with electrostaticeffects.We deducethathe had onlv
recentlybegun developingthe electricimpulse effectbecauseof his
hesitancein identiSing the phenomenaproperly.
Tesla was skingently exact in all his statements.This seems
uncharacteristicof his scientilic nature. But he did this in true
scientificopenness.Tesla did not know exactlywhat was occurring
in the eleckic impulse at that time, desiring only to share the
discovery openly and candidly. Academic disapproval of his
personalsemanticscame swiftly in journal afterjournal.
It is clear that Sir William Crookes
completelygraspedthe signilicanceof
Tesla'sentire demonshationand realized the closingformal announcement
ofthe new eleckicforce.Crookescould
not contain the thrilling implications.
He was also sure that the new force
would completely revolutionize the
scientiffcworld.
Crookesupheld Teslathereafteras
the true discovererofan unrecognized
eleckicalforce.Teslacontinuedcorrespondencewith his mentor after his
departurefrom England.He had hoped
that his dramatic announcementand
demonstrationwould produce a new
regime of electrical engineering,and
that otherswould now reproduce the
radiant electric effects as described.
His hopeswould be strangelydashed
to piecesin the comingyearswhen the
derisive academicattacksbegan.
To European academes,the lecture serieswas astounding.It was a
glimpseof the future,so clearthatfew
could find time to arguewith Tesla at
all. Tesla concluded his tour of England and France,everywhereheralded in typical Victorian heroic
style. One nighg while in Paris, a telegram informed him that his
mother was on point of death.Rushingto her bedside,he managed
a few hours offinal conversation.
He alwaysreferredto her asthe one who completelyunderstood
his strangeabiliues.Was she not the woman who had encouraged
him when he fint remarked about his childhood visions?\llien
siblingsand friends derided him, shewashis support.Early the next
morning, in an adjacenthouse,he wasabruptly awakenby avision.
What he beheld changed his life. A seraphichost surrounded his
mother. Shewasascendinginto bright clouds.Severalminutesafter
thal the announcementcame.His mother had quietly passedaway.
He spenta torturousweek in his nativeland for her funeral,and fled
back again to New York,

Tesla
discovered
that
;ffi"::.H"ffiil:;T*',fff

ruary 1892). Fluorescent lamps and

otherruminouswonders;"ffiiJ#
excessivg sparking,

encespellbound.All thewhile hisvoice,

thoughimpressive
to
f,T31;,:fil'5frT;li:,h'ouchHe demonshatedwirelesslamps,lit
to full brilliance by radiant electricity. observers,
wereactually

He ran small motors at sizable distancesfor hisaudiencesto see.This last

lechrre representsthe only recorded
instance in which Tesla openly announced his discovery of the
elecho-radiantimpulse. He tells the
personallyrevolutionizingaspectof his
discovery and how it virtually eradicates his previous work. He went bo
great detail verbally describing and
disclosingthe exactmeansfor eliciting
the phenomenon.
In his closing time Tesla quickly
demonstratesspecial "electrostatic"
motors and lamps made to utilize the
radiant effect. Examination of these
{irstlamp and vane-motordevicesrevealstheir primitive and initial
state. Tesla modelled the motor after the Crookes radiometer,
statingthis fact publicly for the benelit of his reveredmentor. Tesla
finally statedthe vastimplicationsof the discovery.He pointed their
minds toward the establishmentof true power transmission.
He prophetically announced the new civilization which would
emergefrom thesefirst devicesand systems.The world would be
completely revolutionized by this new principle. Tesla described
beam-kansmissionof electrical energy, and the possibility of har_
nessingthe radiant energiesof spaceitself.
Those who had witnessedTesla's entire demonstrauonwere
completely enthralled at his results, but misunderstoodhis new
announcementcompletely.This becameapparentto Tesla a short
while after he, highly decorated and honored, departed for his
Parisian tour. British Science was yet delving into Teslian high
frequencyalternations.Tesla had already disposedof thesediscov-

instabilities".
"lossy
Thedistant
radiant

effectshedesired
were
interrupted
and
distorted
whenever
sparking
occurred.

54

Third Quaner 1996

BonoenleNos

him. Opinion would fade when others gradually sawthe astounding

RE\rERSALS
these actions,Tesla
When Englishengineerswrote, askingthe meansfor generating developmenb which he would produce. In
world
had changed,but
The
nature.
naive
and
his
noble
his impulse effects,Tesla gave them very strict descriptivePaxam- revealed
rule.
brutish
more
a
toward
eters.He never failed to openly disclosethe secret by which his changed
spectaculareffectswere oblained. He had learned to freely share
BROADCAST POW.ER
what he kner,vwith all. He was surprised to discover that the
more powerful embodimentsof his
work
developing
to
He
set
were
in
Europe'
him
academicsocietieswho so warmly addressed
to
mal<ea BroadcastElectrical System
In
order
Transformers.
initial
of
incapable
utterly
Being
graduallylosinginterestin his discovery.
to
devisemore eIficienthansformers'
be
necessary
would
it
possible
to
be
the
effects
believed
most
parameters,
duplicatinghis specified
examining and dissectingevery
very
task,
this
on
work
set
to
He
"dubious".
The impulse effect had very skingent requirementsbefore its fundamentalpart of his existingTransformers'
Tesla discoveredthat excessivesparking,though impressiveto
manifestation.Carein conshuctingimpulsegeneratorswasthe basic
requirement.Engineerswantedequations.Teslagavethem descrip observers,were actually "lossy instabilities"' The distant radiant
tions. A few experimenterssucceededin later duplicating Tesla's effectshe desiredwereintemrpted and distortedwheneversparking
the
broadcastelectricityefrects.But thesesystemswere direct descen- occurred. Both sparking and brush dischargesactually ruined
which
had
a
situation
eleckicity,
radiant
efrects
of
broadcast
distant
dants of Tesla's earliestand lessefficient designs.
It is often in the nature of academesto forgo empirically evident to be remedied. Tesla sought elimination of the dischargesnow
factsand argue personaldilferences,especiallywhen foreigrrper- Tesla had already found that metalscould focus radiant elechical
sonalitiesaxegiven excessiveaduladon.Fixated on issueshaving !o effects.Addiuonal stability in his Transformerscould be achieved
do with words and personalpoise,Tesla'saudiencesfound several with the addition of large coPPersPheresto the active terminals.
acrid voices whose equally vile publications dared tamper with Tesla considered.copper spheres to be "ather gas resewoin",
providing his transmifrerswith an additional ather gas supply.
Tesla'scharacter.
Copper spheresattachedto Transformer terminalsreducedthe
New criticswere everywhere,evenathome. Dolbear, Thomson'
and even Pupin found rime to criticize and deride Tesla, Because required electricallevels for an efficient eleckic radiance' Copper
most younger academesrelied entirely on schooling and less on spheressigaificantlyreduced the injurious instabilitiesof visually
empirical method, they were easily swayedby academicopinion' spectacularbrush discharges,but did not eliminate them entirely.
Tesla underestimatedthe power of media and of opinions in What Tesla required was a new meansfor transmittingthe radiant
underratinghis abilities.He quickly found thatpublic opinion could eleckicity without loss.
Testswith elevatedcopper spheresfacilitatedefficienthansferof
actuallyswayscientificopinion. He failed to seewho wasbehind the
power between the Transformer and surrounding space.
radiant
media campaign.
Transformersbecame hue Tesla Transmitters'Tesla
irlow,
Tesla
always
Crookes
colleagues.
his
antagonistic
Tesla disregarded
to broadcastharmlessradiant electricitywith great
possible
found
it
younger
.$
a
loved
and
admired
whom
he
to
Tesla,
deferred
protege.Tesla reveredthe aged Crookes,upon whose confidence power to very great distances.Numerous subsequentpatentsrehe cameto rely during more difficultyears.Crookeshad beengiven corded his progressiveconquestof the broadcastPowerprinciple.
He succeededin making radiant electricitysafefor human use.
a hue Tesla Transformerwhen Tesla had given his lectures.The
small device was poteng giving the uncharacteristiceffectswhich Itwould simply travelaround conductorsif madeto impulsequickly
Tesla had alwaysclaimed.This singlepiece of evidencewas left in enough.Only speciallyentuned receiverscould properly intercept
Englandfor all to see.Remarkably,this evidencedid not silencethe the radiant power for utility. Not three years before he had
accidentallydiscoveredthe radiant electricaleffect.He dreamt of
critics.
safelysendingeleckical powerwithoutwires in 1892.Now, in 1895,
not
quiie
did
this'
Something
all
of
Tesla could seeno reasonin
naddup'. EvenTesla could seethat therewas a missingpart of the he had realizedhis dream. Would the systemwork acrossthe vast
"equation". Discoveringthis part would explain his own reversals. distanceswhich he envisioned?
He took his more portableTransmittersoutdoors,awayfrom the
As if thesepersonallydevastatingeventswere not enoughfor him,
the insolentyoungAnne continued haunting him at his every turn. confines of his South Fifth Street laboratoly. Both in northern
Manhattan and Long Island, Tesla tested his radiant broadcast
He continued being "polite" to her, but never more than this.
Crookes wrobemany times bo the Royal Society and to Tesla systemswithout reskiction.He measuredthe distantradiant electric
concerningthisfact.SurethatTeslawasa modem Faraday,Crookes effectsof thesedesignsin electrostaticvolts. Broadcastpower could
continued espousingthe belief that Tesla had discoveredthe next be convertedback into current electricityif so desired,the harmless
historicallyimportant electricaladvancement.He was encouraged high voltagebecoming current in appropriatelow resistancebansto continueresearchdespitehis protagonists.Few academeshusted former coils.
He found to his very greatsurprisethatvery distantlypositioned
Tesla's methods now. Fewer yet listened aly longer to his statevacuum
hrbescould be litto greatwhitebrilliancewhen the primary
ments.
was
operating.The requirementfor this actionwas twofold.
were
system
financiers
Losing credibility as quickly as he had found it,
the
systemand the receivershad to be grounded.Second,
Firstboth
inventions
continued
His
slow to trust investingin his new systems.
volumes
of copper had to be connectedto the receivers.
specilic
chronicles
new
device
Each
history.
theirsteadymarchinto electrical
weresatisfied,lampsmaximizedtheir
requirements
two
these
When
world.
the
changed
have
which
should
the
technology
a new stepin
He plungedhimselfheadlongintowork. Only workwouldvindicate brilliance, and motors operatedwith power.

BonneRLaNos

Third Quarter 1996

'55

Copper in the receiver had to "match" the copper massof the Their reticenceleftTeslain a stateof bewildermenl Once,in a ditch,
hansmifrerin a veqyspecialequivalence,otherwiseradiant transfer his conversationalone was sufiicient perfrrme to attract the bees.
would not be efiicienLThe requirementsdiffered very much from Now? None would dare leap into the new world sea.Why? What
those of ordinary radio antennas.He also found that elevated sharla were there besides themselves?Tesla could simply not
copper spheresmore powerfully enhanced the broadcastradiant understandthis new "dearthn, this incredulous conservafismand
power from his transmifrers.This was Tesla's meansby which his lack of imagination on the part of New York investors.
hansmittersand receiverscould be beter "connected"despitetheir
Eagerto begin,Tesla patientlywaited for the messengers
to call.
distance,
Had he known more of the world around him, however,he would
Tesla believed that theseelectricalbeamsinvisibly linked both have stoppedwaiting. Shortly after Tesla'sprivate
demonshations
his hansmitter and receivers together. He considered each as were concluded,Morgan'sagentapproached
Teslawith a "business
"disconnectedterminals"to ground. Electricalradiancespreadout proposition".The bribe being sizable,conhactswould
haveplaced
in all directionsfrom the elevatedcopper sphereof his transmitter. Morgan in control of Tesla'snew
system.Tesla laughedat the pale
The secret in receiving a maximum signal was to match the little Mr. Brown in his
pinching-tight tails, informing him that he
hansmitter'scopper masswith the receiver mass.Then, the ather himself was already a millionaire.
Why should he need such an
streamswould actuallyfocusinto the matchedreceiver.This afrnity af{iliation at all?
He was escortedvery graciouslyby the amused
would take time, the hansmitter energy "searching" for befrer Tesla.
ground sites. Radiant elechicity evidenced curiously vegetative
While dining in the Waldorf severalhours later, a rude intemrp"growth characteristics".
tion informed him that his laboratorieswere ablaze.The connection
Receiversnow were outfiued with small copper spheres.These
between his refusal to bow and the flames which now reached
provided a more elficient aflinity and absorption for the radiated
skywardwasnotmade until allwas consumed.Thatnight, theworld
power. The additional copper sphereswhich surmounted Tesla
changedcompletelyfor Nikola Tesla.He lost everythingof hispast
hansmifrerseffectivelylowered the input eleckical power for the
Everything. The totality of his technological achievementswere
production of focussedether discharges.
burned into vapor, Books,pricelesssouvenirs,delicateeguipmenl
Tesla took the gas dynamic analogy to another level when he
patents,models,drawings,newpiecesof apparatus.Everythingwas
found that both low pressuregaseousand vacuum tubes could
burned. He read the messagewell.
replacecopper. Electro-radianteffectsfrom gas-ftlledglobeswere
There wasa two week period where he simply vanished.No one
projectedwith lesselectricallossand evengreaterpower. Iarge low
could lind him. Kolman Czito, his trusted technical foreman and
pressure:ugon gasfilled globeswere empiricallyfound to broadcast
machinistfearedfor Tesla'slife. IGtherine UnderwoodJohnsonwas
hemendousradiancewhen usedatop histransmitters.Additionally,
besideherselfwith anguish.She was the wife of a closefriend, the
he found that argongasat low pressurescould serveas:urequivalent
only real love of Tesla's life. The lire was meant to kill. It was a
receiveras pure copper spheres.
messageas clear asanyonewould need. The assassinaHon
afrempt
Thu &" filled globeswould be lesscostlythan copper spheresto
failed to kill the intendedvictim. It certainly did not kill his dreams.
disseminatein public use. He was approaching a totally ellicient
Whereverhe wasfor thosetwo weeks,the dreamswerewith him.
system.Numerouspersonageswereinvitedto observethesehistoric
But a part of Nikola Tesla died in the {ire. It wasthe part which was
tests.J.H.HammondJr. was one such individual. Enthralled with
tied to the past.His eyeson the future,Tesladevelopedhis discovery
Tesla's developments,he and his wife invited Tesla repeatedlyto
into a major technologywhich the world seemsto have forgotlen.
their home in later years.Teslawas their honored guestfor months
Of all thosewho prayed and wept over Tesla,sdisappearance,one
at a time. Later in years, after World War I, both Tesla and
personwas no longer concemed.Never againwould Anne need to
Hammond worked on robotics and remote control.
be troubled by the thought of Nikola Tesla. His love was already
Teslaenvisionedsmall power units for both home and industrial
sealed.Tesla recoveredfrom the flames.
use.The installationand maintenanceof theseunits would require
His subsequentdiscoveriesand inventionssurpassedhis former
a small monthly fee. Through thesewirelessunits one could draw
works for forty more years;specialradiation projectors,self-acting
sufficient power to operate faotoriesand homes alike. Elechical
heat engines,power transmitters,remote control and robotics,the
usage could be metered. The superiority of this new broadcast
"World BroadcastSystem",Beam Broadcasttransmitters,"etheric
power systemwas obvious to all who observedit in operation.
reactors and etheric engines', cosmic ray motors, psychohonic
Tesla also describedthe use of thesepower units foi hansportatelevision...thelist of astoundinginventions is huly awe-inspiring.
tion. Transatlanticshipscould simply draw their motive power from
Tesla
demonshated each of these systemsfor a select group of
continentalpower broadcaststations.Trains and automobilescould
wibnesses.
be operatedby drawing their power. The potential fortuneswould
Furthermore,despiterumors of his public and scientificdemise,
soon stimulate{inanciersto investheavily in the "coming activity"
Tesla
maintainedtwo penthousesuitesatop the Hoiel New yorker
In keepingwith his publicity-mindedness,severalinvestorswere
in
a
time
when suchextravagancewasotherwiseunobtainable.One
alwaysinviied to Tesla's private demonshations.Tesla knew that
these
of
suites was converted into a complete radio laboratory,
their urge to supporthis new world-shakingventurewould become
several
accoutrements
of which having been rebieved by antique
irresistiblewhen once each had beheld his small broadcastpower
radio
enthusiasts.
Tesla
was an indefatigableresearcher.The biogsystem.The demonstrationswere deemed by theseindividuals as
raphy
Nikola
of
Tesla
is
replete with truly mysteriousdesignsand
"entertaining",in their typical dry tone. Bul he rarely heard from
developments.
But
these
are pa.rtsof his biography which must be
thesepeople again.
told
f
in
other
volumes.
Here was a new change.Shy moneymen.A true conhadiction.

56

Third Quarter 1996

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