by
cameron, posted July 24, 2010, 03:03:10 PM
Nikola Tesla / New Yorker Hotel Photos
(Click image to view larger)Since my previous visit to New York City when I spent two nights in Tesla's room, The New Yorker Hotel has added a commemorative plaque on the door of room 3327 where Tesla lived the final years of his life from 1933 to 1943. I recently traveled to New York City for work and stopped by to see the new plaque, which reads:
The Nikola Tesla Room
The great inventor Nikola Tesla occupied this room from 1933 to 1943. He invented the system of AC electrical power that is used throughout the world today, include the generator, motor and method of transmission. He also holds the patent for wireless communication. Perhaps his most famous project is the electrical powerplant at Niagara Falls, NY.
The new plaque joins another plaque previously added on the outside of the hotel which was created by the Yugoslav-American Bicentennial Committee in 1977 and finally installed in 2001. The original plaque reads:
Here died, on January 7, 1943, at the age of 87, the great Yugoslav-American scientist-inventor, Nikola Tesla, whose discoveries in the field of alternating electric current advanced the United States and the rest of the world into the modern industrial era.
You can see photos of the plaques, the hotel, room interior and views from the room in the New Yorker Hotel - Tesla Room Photo Gallery. You may also see a video from my previous visit to the room on the Tesla Universe YouTube Channel.
Thank you to The New Yorker Hotel and the hotel's operations manager, Mr. Joe Kinney, for honoring the memory of Nikola Tesla.
Cameron B. Prince
Tesla Universe Webmaster
by
cameron, posted July 01, 2010, 11:15:31 PM
Scenes from The Sorcerer's Apprentice If you've seen any of the previews for Disney's forthcoming “The Sorcerer's Apprentice” film, you may have noticed many Tesla coil props including a replica of the large pancake coil featured in one of the most famous photos of Tesla. It seems that both the writers and producers of the film are Tesla fans, but what's most impressive is the level of interest Nicolas Cage, the star of the film, has in Tesla and his history. In a recent interview promoting the new film, Nicolas Cage had the following comments about Tesla:
“...coincidentally, I found out that the day he died is the same day I was born, and so with that in mind, I went to stay in Nikola Tesla's room at the New Yorker Hotel, to try to just see if I could call up the spirits, figuratively speaking, and see what came to me. And then I was in the room, and nothing really happened, but something hit the window, and I think it might have been a pigeon, and I read a little bit about Tesla, and I found out those were his friends, he loved pigeons. And he really cared about them, he would take care of them, that was it. That was it for him, his pigeons and his science. So I thought, okay, that's the gift. I'm going to try to find a way to put a pigeon in the movie, I'm going to fix his leg, and it's for you, Nikola Tesla.”
Nicolas Cage also noted that the filming of the movie completed on Tesla'a birthday.
You can read the full interview here:
Jon Turteltaub, Nicolas Cage, Jerry Bruckheimer Interview, Sorcerer's Apprentice
The film opens July 16th and the previews are impressive.
Cameron B. Prince
Tesla Universe Webmaster
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cameron, posted June 18, 2010, 01:41:13 AM
The Launching of the S.S. Nikola Tesla
(Click image to view larger)I was recently contacted by Nancy Prospero Anderson of Gaylord, Michigan. Nancy explained that she had found several photos while cleaning the homes of deceased relatives. Some of the photos were taken of her relative, Etbin Kristan, at the launching of the S.S. Nikola Tesla on September 25th, 1943. Mr. Kristan was a Serbian freedom fighter, writer and Yugoslavian diplomat. He is featured in the photos along with Sava Kosanović, Nikola Tesla's nephew.
You can see enlargements of the photos or versions that include designations. Etbin Kristan is designated as number 12 and Sava Kosanović is number 4. If you know anything about the photos or can help identify the other parties shown in the photos, please leave a comment.
Cameron B. Prince
Tesla Universe Webmaster
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cameron, posted April 11, 2010, 11:04:38 PM
Henry L. Transtrom's High Voltage Experiments
(Click image to view larger)Henry L. Transtrom is the author of ELECTRICITY at High Pressures and Frequencies and was also a performer of high voltage demonstrations. It has been widely believed that Mr. Transtrom was electrocuted while perform his experiments before an audience in the early 1900s. Legend has it that Mr. Transtrom was sitting on an insulated platform which was connected to the output terminal of a Tesla coil. When the coil was powered on sparks would issue from Mr. Transtrom's fingers or he would illuminate lamps using energy from the coil as it passed through (over) his body. On this particular occasion, when the coil was turned on, an arc emanated from Mr. Transtrom's back and struck an unknown grounded wire or structure behind a curtain on the stage. This alleged incident created a current path through Mr. Transtrom's body and he was killed instantly.
While planning for the S.H.V.E. platform I had numerous people cite this story as they warned me about the dangers of such experiments. While I totally agree that ALL high voltage experiments are dangerous, I was very pleased to learn that the story isn't factual based on the following email:
Hello my name is Tamara (Holm) Zizzo. My father is James Holm, who is the son of Edith (Transtrom) Holm, who is the daughter of the late Henry L. Transtrom referred to on your webpage. I enjoy the fact that my Great-Grandfather is an urban legend, but I regret to inform you that Henry L. Transtrom, did not die performing. He succumbed to Leukemia, with my grandmother at his bedside. I have confirmed this with both my father and my grandmother, who currently resides in California. Do with this information what you will, but since he only had one child who only has one surviving son and 3 surviving grandchildren and 6 great-grand children so far, there are very few people around to set the record straight. I know it makes a better story if he died on stage, so do what you must, but I thought I would let you know.
Sincerely,
Tamara Zizzo
The Henry L. Transtrom Wikipedia page has been updated to reflect this same information. I have no idea of how such a dreadful rumor would have been started and grown to such a degree but it would be nice to know the source. If you have any information, please comment on this article.
Cameron B. Prince
Tesla Universe Webmaster
by
cameron, posted March 06, 2010, 10:02:42 AM
Photos from W.W.T. 2010 - Winter Western Teslathon
(Click image to view larger)
******** FINAL UPDATE ********
March 14, 2010, 11:07:05 PM
The 2010 Winter Western Teslathon was a great success and one the largest Teslathons I've ever attended, but it wasn't just a Teslathon. Christopher Hooper and Henry Hurrass of the Arizona Tesla Coil Builders made arrangements with the local elementary school to host the event in the gymnasium and provide a demonstration for the students the day before. New photos from Fred Gimeno have been added to the slideshow and you can tell from the children's expressions that the demonstration was a big hit.
While adding the photos from Fred Gimeno and John Forcina, Phillip Slawinski and I cleaned up and reorganized all the photos. We removed a lot of similar photos and a lot that just really weren't that good. What remains is the best of the best and I encourage you to take a look at the 2010 W.W.T. Photo Gallery again if interested. In addition to the photos, some additional videos were added to the Tesla Universe YouTube channel. We have a few more videos to add and possibly more photos. Please consider subscribing to the YouTube channel if you'd like to be notified when those are added.
At the end of the event, while packing up, Christopher was approached by a local official who congratulated him on the success of the event and spoke to him about next year. I won't steal Christopher's thunder by going into details, but let's just say that next year is already shaping up to be even bigger and better.
We certainly appreciate the efforts of Chris and Henry and their hospitality. Everyone had a great time, everyone acted safely and responsibly and all the equipment worked flawlessly. This is not something that can be said of most Teslathons and is a testament to hard work put into the event by Chris, Henry and the volunteers who helped them. Thank you guys and we look forward to seeing you again next year.
Cameron B. Prince
Tesla Universe Webmaster
************************
March 06, 2010, 10:14:43 PM
Well, we're wrapping things up and packing it in. It's been another great year for the W.W.T. I'll post the remaining photos and a summary report tomorrow, but here's a video for you to check out until then.
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March 06, 2010, 7:04:37 PM
The 'thon is now well underway and the band has just started. Jeff Parisse took the first set as the drummer playing along with the “Stroker II” coil. There is a really impressive turnout of locals to participate in the event. Have a look at the additional photos. We'll wrap this up with a final post later tonight or in the morning.
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March 06, 2010, 2:57:04 PM
We arrived at the school here in Black Canyon City, Arizona and everyone is setting up their coils and displays now.
Phillip, John, Steve, Terry and I took a little hike up to the top of this hill to take some nice panoramic shots. Take a look at the new photos. We'll check in later with an additional update.
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March 06, 2010, 10:02:42 AM
Today is the 2010 W.W.T (Winter Western Teslathon) in Phoenix, AZ and we'll be heading over to help with set up shortly. I'll update this entry a little later with some additional details. For now, please enjoy the photos Phillip and I took of the pre-show get together and testing from last night. Without a doubt, Steve Ward's new Q.C.W. coil was very impressive. Also, please join me in congratulating Phillip for several runs of his D.R.S.S.T.C. with no explosion or leaked smoke. More later...
by
cameron, posted December 22, 2009, 05:41:23 PM
Nikola Tesla Character in New Dark Void Video GameThere have been many video games over the past several years that reference Nikola Tesla but the new “Dark Void” title from Capcom, which is scheduled for release in January, is the first to actually include Tesla as a prominent character.
The plot of the game centers around a pilot that crashes in the Bermuda Triangle and teleports to a parallel universe where he and other survivors must battle against aliens intent on conquering Earth. Tesla's role in the game is somewhat comparable to James Bond's Q. He reverse-engineers the alien technology so that it can be used against them.
Initial reviews of the game are very positive and many critics compliment Capcom for honoring Tesla. There are also reports that a production company owned by Brad Pitt has purchased rights for a film adaptation of the game.
Tesla Motors has teamed with Capcom to give away a new Tesla Roadster in a sweepstakes celebrating the release of the game. You can register for the promotion for your chance to win.
You can also visit the official Dark Void game site for more information.
by
cameron, posted December 03, 2009, 03:00:00 PM
Terry Blake as Dr. Zeus Drawing Tesla Coil Arcs
to His FingersOur friends and fellow TU members Terry Blake, Jeff Larson and Steve Ward make up a group they call “Masters of Lightning.” The group was featured in an impressive and well-written Chicago Tribune article yesterday. Here's an excerpt along with a link to the full article:
Under a starry Saturday sky behind a Lake Zurich warehouse, three men unload a small flamethrower, electric cabling, neon-tube “light sabers,” about 80 pounds of chain mail and two 7-foot devices that look like monster-movie props. Terry Blake, 48, Jeff Larson, 39, and Steve Ward, 24, call themselves the Masters of Lightning and are members of a small sect within the hobbyist world: Tesla coil enthusiasts. Their coils -- which generate beautiful, lethal electrical sparks up to 12 feet long -- are a much-modified version of the device Nikola Tesla invented to wirelessly transport electricity.
There are likely only about 1,000 Tesla coil hobbyists worldwide, but they have a growing following as parts have become more readily available over eBay and videos have gone up on YouTube. For obvious reasons, Tesla coils are popular among electrical engineers. And now their appeal is seeping into pop culture, most recently with a fan making a video of a new Flaming Lips song using a musical Tesla coil that the band posted on its Web site.
The Masters of Lightning have won their own measure of fame. Videos of their performances, typically before crowds of 50 to a few hundred, have been viewed more than 2 million times on YouTube.
The three use advanced industrial transistors to produce what is essentially 1.6 million volts of lightning to play music from Bach's Toccata and Fugue to the 8-bit theme from Super Mario Brothers. It works by precisely controlling the firing rate of the sparks, using them like a speaker to make music so ear-splittingly loud that last summer people living a half-mile away from the warehouse complained.
To top it off, Blake stands between the coils wearing a metal suit of layered chain mail, sometimes carrying a lit flamethrower. On this night, they are testing a new homemade helmet that Blake, a Motorola engineer from Palatine who performs as Dr. Zeus, hopes will look good but also keep him as safe as a modified flamethrower with a glass insulator to showcase the sparks.
“When I first started making sparks, most people I know just thought that was insane,” says Blake, laughing. “ 'Why are you messing with lightning bolts in your backyard?' When I started putting on the suit and playing around with (the sparks), they were speechless. That was beyond crazy.”
Read The Full Article
by
cameron, posted November 19, 2009, 11:30:00 AM
Commemorative Bronze Plaque Donated
by Yugoslavian GovernmentAccording to a recent post on the Tesla Science Center at Wardenclyffe Facebook page maintained by Jane Alcorn, President of the Tesla Science Center at Wardenclyffe, the bronze commemorative plaque that was commissioned and donated by the Yugoslavian government on the 120th anniversary of Tesla's birth and placed near the entrance of the Wardenclyffe laboratory has been stolen.
Some have speculated that the thieves may have been taking any valuable metals to simply sell for scrap and were ignorant to the true value of the plaque. It would be an extremely selfish act for a Tesla enthusiast to have been involved only to further his personal collection. After all that has been done to save Wardenclyffe and the significant progress that has recently been made, I'm sure this comes as a discouraging blow.
Anyone who may have tips or information may contact the Suffolk County Police Department at (631) 852-8700 or email the Tesla Science Center at Wardenclyffe.
The inscription on the plaque reads, “IN THIS BUILDING DESIGNED BY STANFORD WHITE, ARCHITECT NIKOLA TESLA BORN SMILJAN, YUGOSLAVIA 1856, DIED NEW YORK, U.S.A. 1943. CONSTRUCTED IN 1901-1905 WARDENCLYFFE, HUGE RADIO STATION WITH ANTENNA TOWER 187 FT. HIGH (DESTROYED 1917), WHICH WAS TO SERVE AS HIS FIRST WORLD COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEM. IN MEMORY OF 120TH ANNIVERSARY OF TESLA'S BIRTH AND 200TH ANNIVERSARY OF U.S.A. INDEPENDENCE - July 10, 1976”
Hopefully someone will be able to intervene and the plaque will be recovered. There is no word of a reward or any other information at this time. This post will be updated as additional news is made available.
by
cameron, posted November 17, 2009, 11:00:00 PM
Scans of the Tesla trading cards.
(Click image to view larger)Other than an entry on their release calendar, the Topps website makes no mention of the recent release of their 2009 Mayo Football set which includes two styles of Nikola Tesla cards. The first is the number 95 base card which is also produced in a relic card, a mini card and limited edition red and blue back versions. The relic card includes an authentic piece of brick from the 1893 Columbian Exposition, also known as the Chicago World's Fair.
The back of the number 95 card reads: “Nikola Tesla: Electrical Engineer - Tesla, a Serbian inventor and engineer, developed theories that helped form the foundation for the type of electricity that power companies supply to homes today. In the late 1800s, he worked briefly for American icon Thomas Edison. Later, while partnering with George Westinghouse, Nickola (Editor Note: This misspelling was not my mistake. Take a look at the photo of the card in the gallery. Maybe Topps should consider using spell check next time.) made revolutionary advances in alternating-current theory. Tesla also had a deep interest in radio communication. As early as 1897, he demonstrated remote control of two model boats in New York City.”
The second card is the WF9, or World's Fair number 9, mini card. This card features the famous profile photo of Tesla reading a book in front of his large pancake Tesla coil from the Houston Street lab. I am still waiting on this card to arrive and will update this post with the text from the back of the card when I receive it.
I'm not sure which is worse, misspelling Tesla's name, or implying that Tesla only “theorized” alternating current and the polyphase system we use today. Either way, I'm going to choose to focus on the positive which is the fact that Topps did honor Tesla by featuring him on their cards. Let us know what you think by leaving a comment.
by
cameron, posted November 03, 2009, 02:34:50 AM
Photos of the 13M Tesla Magnifier
(Click image to view larger)Bill Wysock surprised the Tesla coiling community last week with the following brief and to-the-point post to the Tesla Coil Mailing List (TCML):
Model 13M is for sale. Contact me off list for details.
Best regards,
Bill Wysock
Tesla Technology Research
For those who may have never heard of Bill Wysock, he is one of the pioneers of modern day Tesla coil building. Among many other advancements in Tesla coil building, Bill has been credited for the transition from the sphere to the toroid as the most popular Tesla coil top-load. Bill is also Jeff Parisse's mentor and the chief engineer of kVA Effects.
The 13M is, without a doubt, one of the largest Tesla coils in the world. The “M” suffix in the model number designates it as a 3-coil system to which Tesla referred as a “magnifier.” The primary/secondary assembly of the 13M is over 10 feet in diameter and stands almost as tall. Its extra coil towers over 20 feet and is topped with a spun aluminum toroid with an unbelievable diameter of 8 feet and weighs in at 275 pounds.
The system is powered by a 100 kVA power transformer with a high voltage rating of 34.5 kV, and Bill has stated that the coil is capable of producing an output of more than 14-million volts.
I met Bill at a Tesla-related conference on Long Island back in 2006, and he and I have corresponded by email several times since then. When I saw his post about the 13M, I contacted him and mentioned the idea of posting the notice here on Tesla Universe. I've set up Bill's response as a forum post so that members may have open discussions about the 13M. The email from Bill includes many new details about the 13M system that you won't find anywhere else.
This is an opportunity to own a significant piece of Tesla-related history. There are numerous interesting stories behind the construction and the few public performances of the 13M. Hopefully, in the near future, we can feature them here on Tesla Universe.
In the meantime, please feel free to post any questions to the Bill Wysock Puts the 13M Up For Sale - One of the World's Largest Tesla Coils forum post or as comments to this blog entry.
