All the praise of Tesla gets frustrating.
The history of technology is not a focus of attention for mainstream education. I feel like I have answered over a hundred questions about why is Nikola Tesla so forgotten, so unappreciated. He's not. All the praise of Tesla gets frustrating.
Ever hear the name Reginald Fessenden?
Reginald Fessenden worked for Thomas Edison for many years. Fessenden is often listed as an Edison mucker (1), the name given to one of the many men who worked in Edison's lab.
Reginald Fessenden worked for George Westinghouse for many years. Fessenden worked with George Westinghouse during the War of Currents.
George Westinghouse personally recruited Fessenden for the newly created position of chair of the Electrical Engineering department at the Western University of Pennsylvania, which later became the University of Pittsburgh.
If you study Reginald Aubrey Fessenden you will learn that he has as much right to be called “father of radio” as either Guglielmo Marconi or Nikola Tesla.
I could go on about the accomplishments of Fessenden, but hopefully you see my point. No one remembers Fessenden. It's sad that I did not learn about Reginald Fessenden until I was long out of school.
How much do you remember learning about George Westinghouse in high school?
Oh yea, I just mentioned George Westinghouse. Yes, Nikola Tesla was a great asset to the Westinghouse team during the War of Currents, but he was one member of the team. No one remembers George Westinghouse because he was a quiet man who did his best to stay out of the limelight.
How much do you remember learning about William Stanley in high school?
William Stanley created the first full feature AC power distribution system using transformers in Great Barrington, Massachusetts, a project funded by Westinghouse.
The Tesla fans remind you that Tesla helped harness Niagra Falls to produce electricity. He did not do it all himself.
In the 1880s and early 90s George Westinghouse had a team of some of the best engineers in the world: William Stanley, Louis Stillwell, Albert Schmid, Benjamin Lamme, Oliver Shallenberger and Nikola Tesla. (2)
How about Benjamin Lamme or Oliver Shallenberger, how much do remember about them?
If you want to put Tesla's accomplishments into perspective learn more at this answer…
References:
(1) https://www.nps.gov/edis/learn/kidsyouth/the-gifted-men-who-worked-for-edison.htm (2) https://edisontechcenter.org/WilliamStanley.html
close enough for government work
DuPont execs react to villain role in ‘Dark Waters’ film https://whyy.org/articles/dupont-execs-react-to-villain-role-in-dark-waters-film/
The powerful Thomas Edison versus well meaning inventor Nikola Tesla https://qr.ae/Tc3m0J
The Guru 42 Universe is not run by a university professor with a team of editors and advisers working to developing a website. Tom Peracchio is simply someone who loves technology and history and is amazed by how little people know about the great minds in the world of technology.
Support Guru 42 efforts by your small donation at Buy me a coffee