June 5.

1915 SCIENTIFIC AMERICAN 537

Some Personal R,ecollections

An Autobiographical Sketch

By Nikola Tesla.

I
AM glad to b e accorded this opportunity for two rea­ The lessons it teaches are much like those of "Ben-Hur," mathematics and whost' addresses were unforgetable
sons. In the first place I have long since desired to and in this respect it might be viewed as anticipatory intellectual treats, and Prof. Poeschl, who held the
express my great appreciation of the SCIENTIFIC AMERI­ of the work of Wallace. The possibilities of will-power chair of Physics, theoretical and experimental. These
CAN and to acknowledge my indebtedness for the timely and self-control appealed tremendously to my vivid men I always remember with a sense of gratitude.
and useful information which its columns are pouring out imagination, and I began to discipline myself. Had I Prof. Poeschl was peculiar; it was said of him that he
in a steady stream. It is a publication remarkable for a sweet cake or a juicy apple which I was dying to wore the same coat for twenty years. B u t what h e
the high quality of special articles as well as for the ac­ eat I would give it to another boy and go through the lacked i n personal magnetism he made u p in the perfec­
curate review of technical advances. The knowledge it tortures of Tantalus, pained but satisfied. Had I some tion of his exposition. I never saw him miss a word
conveys is always reliable and rendered still more valu­ difficult task before me which was exhausting I would or gesture, and his demonstrations and experiments
able through the scrupulous observance of literary always went off with clocklike precision. Some time ill
courtesy in the quotation of the sources. The services the winter of 1878 a new apparatus was installed in
it has rendered in helping invention and spreading en­ the lecture room. It was a dynamo with a laminated
lightenment are inestimable. The SCIENTIFIC AMERICAN permanent magnet and a Gramme armature. Prof.
is a periodical ably and conscientiously conducted, meas­ Poeschel had wound some wire around the field to show
ured and dignified in tone to the point of serving as a the principle of self-excitation, and provided a battery
model, and in these features, as much as in the wealth for running the machine as a motor. As he was illus­
and excellence of its contributions, it refi.ects great trating this latter feature there was lively sparking a t
credit, not only on its staff and publishers, but on the the commutator and brushes, and I ventured to re­
whole country. This is not an idle compliment, but a mark that these devices might be eliminated. He said
genuine and well-deserved tribute to which I add my Three rotors used with the early Tesla induction that it was quite impossible and likened my proposal to
best wishes for continued success on this memorable motor shown below. a perpetual motion scheme, which amused my fellow
occasion. students and embarrassed me greatly. For a time I
The second reason is one that concerns me personally. attack it again and again until it was done. So I prac­ hesitated, impressed by his authority, but my convic·
Many erroneous statements have appeared in print rela· tised day by day from morning till night. At first it tion �rew stronger and I decided to work out the solu­
tive to my discovery of the rotating magnetic field and called for a vigorous mental etfort directed against dis­ tion. At that time my resolve meant more to me than
invention of the induction motor which I was compelled position and desire, but as years went by the conflict the most solemn vow.
to pass in silence. Great interests have waged a long lessened and finally my will lind wish became identical. I undertook the task with all the fire and boundless
and bitter contest for my patent rights; commercial They are so to-day, and in this lies the secret of what­ confidence of youth. To my mind it was simply a test
animosities and professional jealousies were aroused, ever success I have achieved. These experiences are as of will-power. I knew nothing of the technical difficul­
and I was made to suffer in more than one way. But intimately linked with my discovery of the rotating ties. All my remaining term in Gratz was passed in
despite of all pressure and efforts of ingenious lawyers magnetic field as if they formed an essential part of it ; intense but fruitless effort, and I almost convinced my­
and experts, the rulings of the courts were in support self that the problem was unsolvable. Indeed, I thought,
of my claims for priority in every instance without ex­ was it possible to transform the steady pull of gravita­
ception. The battles have been fought and forgotten, tion into a whirling force? The answer was an em­
the thirty or forty patents granted to me on the alter­ phatic no. And was this not also true of magnetic at­
nating system have expired, I have been released of traction ? The two propOSitions appeared very much
burdensome obligations and am free to speak. the same.
Every experience which I have lived through bear­ In 1880 I went to Prague, Bohemia, carrying out my
ing on that early discovery is vividly present in my father's wish to complete my school education at a
memory. I see the faces of the persons, the scenes university. The atmosphere of that old and interesting
and objects of my attention, with a sharpness and dis­ city was favorable to invention. Hungry artists were
tinction and in a fullness of light which is astonishing, plentiful and intelligent company could be found every­
and is a measure of the intensity and depth of the orig­ ·;;here. Here I made the first distinct step in advance.
inal impressions. I have always been fortunate in by detaching the commutators from the machines and
ideas, but no other invention, however great, could be placing them on distant arbors. Every day I imagined
as dear to m e as that first one. This will be understood arrangements on this plan without result, but feeling
if I dwell briefly on the circumstances surrounding it that I was nearing the solution. In the following year
and some of the phases and incidents of my young life. there was a sudden change in my views of life. I real­
From my childhood I had been intended for thp ized that my parents were making too great sacrifices
One of the earliest of 'fesla's induction motors.
clergy. This prospect hung like a dark cloud on my for me and resolved to relieve them of the burden. The
Although it weighed only a little over ·20 pounds, it de­
mind. After passing eleven years at a public school American telephone wave had reached the European
veloped lJ. horse·power at a speed of 1,800 revolutions,
and a higher institution, I obtained my certificate of a performance considered remarkable at the time. continent, and the system was to be instaiied in Buda­
maturity and found myself at the critical point of my pest. It appeared an ideal opportunity, and I took the
career. Should I disobey my father, ignore the fondest train for that city. By an irony of fate my first em­
but for them I would never have invented the induction
wishes of my mother, or should I resign myself to ployment" witS as a draughtsman. I hated drawing; it
motor.
fate? The thought oppressed me, and I looked to the was for me the v"ery worst of annoyances. Fortunately
In the first year of my studies at the Joanneum I
future with dread. it was not long before I secured the position I sought,
rose"regularly at three o'clock in the-morning and worked
Just at that time a terrible epidemic of cholera broke that of chief electrician to the telephone company. My
till eleven at night; 110 Sunuays or holidays excepted.
out in my native land. People knew nothing of the duties brought me in contact with a number of young
My success was unusual and excited the interest of tl;1e
character of the disease and the means for sanitation men in .. whom I became interested. One of these was
professors. Among these \vas Dr. All�, who lectured
were of the poorest kind. Th!?y burned huge piles of Mr. Szigety, who was a remarkable specimen of human­
on differential equations and other branches of higher
odorous shrubbery to purify the air, but drank freely ity. A big head with an awful lump on one side and
of the infected water and died in crowds like sheep. a sallow complexion made him distinctly ugly, but from
Contrary to peremptory orders from my father I rushed the neck down his body might have served for a statue
home and was stricken down. Nine months in bed with of Apollo. His 3trength was phenomenal. At that
scarcely the ability to move seemed to exhaust all my time I had exhausted myself through hard work and
vitality, and I was given up by the physicians. It was incessant thinking. He impressed me with the neces­
an agonizing experience, not so much because of physi­ sity of systematic physiffil development, and I accepted
cal suffering as on account of my intense desire to live. his offer to train me in athletics. We exercised every
On the occasion of one of the fainting spells my father day and I gained rapidly in strength. My mind also
cheered me by a promise to let me study engineering; seemed to grow more vigorous and as my thoughts
but it would have remained unfulfilled had it not been turned to the subject which absorbed me I was sur­
for a marvelous cure brought about by an old lady. prised at my confidence of success. On one occasion,
There was no force of suggestion or mysterious influ­ ever present in my recollection, we were enjoying our­
ence about it. Such means would have had no effect selves in the Varos-liget or City Park. I was reciting
whatever on me, for I was a firm believer in natural poetry, of which I was passionately fond. At that age
laws. The remedy was purely medicinal, heroic if not I knew entire books by heart and could read them from
desperate; but it worked and in one year of mountain memory word by word. One of these was Faust. It
climbing and forest life I was fit for the most arduous " was late in the afternoon, the sun was setting, and I
bodily exertion. My father kept his word, and in 1877 was reminded of tl;le passage:
I entered the Joanneum in Gratz, Styria, one of the
"Sie riickt und weicht, der Tag ist iiberlebt,
oldest technical institutions of Europe. I proposed to
Dort eilt sie hin und fordert neues Leben,
show results which would repay my parents for their
Oh, dass Irein Fliigel mich vom Boden hebt
bitter disappointment due to my change of vocation.
.Thr nach und immer na('h zu streben!
It was not a passing determination of a light-h'earted
* * * * * * *
youth; it was iron resolve." As some young reader of
the SCIENTIFIC AMERICAN might draw profit from my Ach, zu des Geistes Fliigeln wird so leicht
example I will explain. Kein korperlicher Fliigel sich gesellen!"
When I was a boy of seven or eight I read a novel As I spoke the last words, plunged in thought and
entitled "Abafi"-The Son of Aba-a Servian transla­ marveling at the power of the poet, the idea came like
tion from the Hungarian of Josika, a writer of renown. Nikola 'fesla. (Ooncluded on page 576.)

© 1915 SCIENTIFIC AMERICAN, INC"

576 SCIENTIFIC AMERICAN June 5, 1915

used the dynamo in electroplating on a due in the first place largely to Langmuir
large scale. In 1866 Mr. George Westing· and Orange, working under the direction
house installed the first regular alternat- of Dr. W. R. Whitney in the Re­
ing-current central station in America at search Laboratory of the General Elec­
Buffalo, N. Y., a n d during the entire ten tric Company, has given us non­
years under consideration the central sta- vacuum incandescent' lamps with effi­
tion industry was rapidly extending its ciencies deemed utterly impossible a
roots and branches. By 1890 electric few years ago. Some of these big lamps,

DDDGE BRDTHERS
lamps-incandescent and arc-had made the bulbs of which are filled with inert
their way into every civilized country. gases, actually take less than half a watt
The nineties, too, were prolific of dis- per candle. They are giving the arc lamps,
coveries. In 1891 the cellulose or "squirt" particularly of the old open and inclosed

MOTOR CAR
process of making carbon filaments was types, a hard race just at present.
commercially introduced. Two years later Although there have been wonderful ac­
the cellulose filament generally supplanted complishments in arc and incandescent
the bamboo. In 1895 came the "chemical lighting during the past century, yet we
exhaust" for incandescent lamps, which all share more or less the attitude of Mr.
improved their average quality, at the Edison, who, in the course of a conversa­
same time reducing their cost, and was tion with the writer, remarked: "I don't
largely responsible for the reduction in like to go into things connected with an­
The gasoline price of carbon lamps in 1895 from 32% cient history, or the dead past-what I
cents to 20 cents each. Meanwhile the a m interested in is the future; in what is
con sump t ion is process of "treating" filaments in hydro­ going to happen to-morrow." And assur­
carbon vapor, rendering them more uni­ edly there is much to be done. Scientists
un u sua11 y 10 w. form and improving their radiating prop­ find that the most efficient arc and incan­
erties, had been introduced, although that, descent lamps of to-day waste something
too, had been discovered very early by like 85 per cent of their incident energy
Edward Weston. in other forms than light-from an effi­

The tire expense is reasonable,

As experts and facilities for research ciency standpoint they are outshone by
because the size of the tires is multiplied, improvements, first of minor the common firefiy. So the curtain of
right for the weight of the car.
importance, but more recently of a revo­ mystery still veils the lamps of our
lutionary nature, were evolved. The sub­ deSCendants.
stitution of molded bulbs for "free-blown"
,bulbs, about 1892, and the invention of Some Personal Recollections
the turn-down lamp by Phelps in 1898, be- (Ooncluded from page 537.)
The motor is 30-35 horsepower
long, relatively speaking, in the category a lightning flash. In an instant I saw it
The price of the car complete is $785
(f. o. b. Detroit) of minor improvements. Xhe first indica· all, and I drew with a stick on the sand
Canadian price $1100 (add freight from Detroit)
tion to the world that the metal-filament the diagrams which were illustrated in
lamp might eventually supersede the car- my fundamental patents of May, 1888, amI
bon came about 1898, when Dr. Welsbach which Szigety understood perfectly.
produced his first osmium filament lamp. It is extremely difficult for me to put
DODGE BROTHERS. DETROIT Curiously enough, tungsten had been tried this experience before the reader in itR
for filaments as early as 1889 by Lody- true light and significance for it is so
guine and Tibbets, but unsuccessfullY, as altogether extraordinary. When an idea
these workers did not realize the impor- presents itself it is, as a rule, crude and
tance of having the metal extremely pure. imperfect. Birth, growth and dew'lop­
The mercury arc lamp was originated ment are phases normal and natural. It
by Arons in 1892 and later developed to a was different with my invention. In the
point of greater commercial practicality very moment I became conscious of it. I
by Cooper Hewitt. saw it fully developed and perfected Then
The invention of the inclosed arc lamp again, a theory, however plausible, mURt
in a practical form waS announced at an usually be confirmed by experiment. Not
electrical convention in 1894, when L. B. so the one I had formulated. It was being
Marks described the first inclosed arc daily demonstrated every dynamo and mo­
lamp embodying the points that made it, tor was absolute proof of its soundnesR.
for a period of about ten years, ,the fa- The effect on me was indescribable. Mv
vorite unit for high candle-power lighting imaginings were equivalent to realities. I'
in America. had carried out what I had undertaken
In 1899 the Bremer flame arc was an- and pictured myself achieving wealth and
nounced, and in the following year Bremer fame. But more than all this waR to me
exhibited at the Paris Exposition a model the revelation that I was an inventor. ThiR
having four impregnated carbons, so ar­ was the one thing I wanted to be. Archi­
ranged that the light produced was re­ medes was my ideal. I admired the works
fiected downward. The modern "yellow­ of artists, but to my mind, they were
fiamer," with carbons impregnated with only shadows and semblances. The in­
calcium compounds, is an outgrowth of ventor, I thought, gives to the world crea­
Bremer's lamp. Flame carbons giving tions which are palpable, which live and
light of various colors have also been de­ work.
veloped, such as those containing salts of The telephone installation was now com­
strontium, giving a pink light, or those of pleted and in the spring of 1882 an offer
barium, which give a white light. The was made me to go to Paris, which I ac­
best-known of all the luminous arcs, how­ cepted eagerly. Here I met a number of
ever, is Steinmetz's invention, the "Mag­ Americans whom I befriended and to
netite," the electrodes of whiCh are com­ whom I talked of my invention, and one
'
posed of metals and metallic oxides, with­ of them, Mr. D. Cunningham, proposed to
out any carbon "body." It is essentially form a company for exploitation. Tbis
a direct-current lamp. might have been done had not my duties
The discovery of ductile tantalum came called me to Strasburg, Alsace. It was in
from a German laboratory in 1901, and this city that I constructed my first mo­
the first experimentally successful tanta­ tor. I had brought some material from
lum lamp was constructed a year or so Paris, and a disk of iron with bearings
later, although tantalum lamps were not was made for me in a mechanical shop
. in a condition to be placed on the market close to the railroad station in which I
for several years more. was installing the ,light and power plant.
Meanwhile, in 1905, the "metallized" car- It was a crude apparatus, but afforded me
bon lamp, in connection with which not- the supreme satisfaction of seeing, for the

in in able work was done by J. W. Howell in first time, rotation affected by alternating

1915
one of the laboratories of the largest currents without commutator. I repeated

1875 American electrical manufacturer, made the experiment with my assistant twice i n
its appearance and served a s a sort o f the summer o f 1883. My intercourse with
Barnes Lathes - Success - Progress - Satisfaction stepping-stone to the lamps of still higher Americans had directed my attention to
Have shippe d to every country of the world. We make Screw Cu tting Lathes, efficiency that were about to make their the practical introduction and I endeav­
9 to 18 in c h swing. Foot power or countershatt. Send for Lathe Catalog.
appearance. ored to secure capital, but was unsuccess-
W. F. & JOHN BARNES CO. 1999 Ruby Street. Rockford. Ill U. S. A ..
In 1907 came the pressed-filament tung- ful in this attempt and returned to Paris
sten lamp, for which we are indebted in early in 1884. Here, too, I made several
a great measure to two European invent- ineffectual efforts, and finally resolved to

How Manufacturers ors, Just and Hanaman. This lamp, un- go to America, where I arrived in the Rum­

ATENT Can Increaae T,h'l!, BU'SINESS

Read Carefully Every
Cla..ified Adverti.in" Column
Week. the
in the
der the hands of such men as Dr. W. D.
Coolidge, Dr. A. Pacz, and a host of other I
mer of 1884.
entered the
By a previous understanding
Edison Machine Works,
Trade-Marks SCIENTIFIC AMERICAN
experts, has gradually evolved into the where I undertook the design of dynamos

MUNtI&CO. P.�;:�� Some week youwill be likely to findan inquiry fOl'somet.bing that
strong, durable, cheap drawn-wire lamp and motors. For nine months my regular
A prompt reply may brmg an order
you manufacture or deal in.
of to-day. hours were from 10 :;�O A. M. till 5 A. M.
_1II"ed lSU B.ilii •• WATCH IT CAREFULLY The very newest nne of development, the next day. All this time I was getting

© 1915 SCIENTIFIC AMERICAN, INC.

June 5, 1915 SCIENTIFIC AMERICAN 577

more and more anxious about the inven­

tion and was making up my mind to place
it before Edison. I still remember an odd
incident in this connection. One day in
the latter part of 1884 Mr. Bachelor, the
EUTOPIA MIXTURE manager of the works, took me to Coney
by mail only beeause they eanno t get its equal in
a Island, where we met Edison in company
d
r �
aCW.nTn' a ��ii�rg{�� o"f
d
t����1��[ ���tgnC�fi�:�
Virginia. Kentucky. Turkish, Perique, Latakia and Ha with his former wife. The moment that I
vans tobaccos. Aged - not fla vor ed .
Se-nd for 1 lb. at nm' risk. Smok� ten plpefnls. and if yon like was waiting for was propitious, and I was
it sl:nd us th� prict>, $1.5.0. within ten da.l's, or r&

bank CilDlmt>n·ial refel'eD�e.

r tur
n at our
eJ:pf'nst>. euless .VI'HI s.-nd the money with or de , please give just about to speak, when a horrible look­
Three bJends-medium, mild and extra mild. If you want
or

ing tramp took hold of Edison and drew

real pipe satisfaction,write today. Booklet on req u es t .
CAMERON TOBACCO CO. . S....... & 9tb Sis Dept.C. Ridunoad. VI.
••
him away, preventing me from carrying
out my intention. Early in 1885 people
french Briar Pipe
with first order FREE approached me with a proposition to de­
velop an arc light system and to form a
company under my name. I si�ned the
contract, and a year and a half later I
was free and in a position to devote my­
self to the practical development of my
discovery. I found financial support, and
in April, 1887, a company was organized
for the purpose, and what has followed
since is .well known.
Water and Ri'Ver Sfs., Manistee, filich.

What a
A few words should be said in re�ard to Both treated 'With Tar'Via.
the various claims for anticipation which
were made upon the issuance of my pat­
ents in 1888, and in numerous suits con­
ducted subsequently. There were three
contestants for the honor, Ferraris, Schal­
City Manager says�
len berger and Cabanelias. All three suc­ MANISTEE is one 01 those pro�res- streets are now in a more satislactory con_
cumbed to grief. The opponents of my sive, modern cities which have taken dition than lor several � ears."
patents advanced the Ferraris claim very their m u n i c i p a l administration out 01 (Signed) CHAS. E. RUGER,
politics and vested it in an appointive city City Manager.
strongly, but any one who will peruse his
manager.
Tarvia is made in several grades to meet
little Italian pamphlet, which appeared in
One 01 the first problems to which this varying road conditions.
the spring of 1888, and compare it with
If you use an old-fashioned hand pump or an u"';ghtly expert devoted hi. attention was to street The teslimonial above relers only to the
wind mill to pump your water from well or cistern, lake the patent record filed by me seven months
paving. Evidently he determined upon a dust-laying and road preservation work
or stream---gcl this book--it tdls ofa �tter way.
before, and with my paper before the modern, economical program, lor in sub­ which has been done with "Tarvia A"
If you are U$ing a water motor to pump your rain
water you are /o.ing money that tba book will tell American Institute of Electrical Engi­ jecting his report he writes on November and .. Tarvia B."
you how to �ave.
neers, will have no difficulty in reaching a
20, 1914- A very large yardage 01 road was con­
If your cit)' service does not provide high4J�sure structed with .. T arvia X:' which is also
for upper Hoors. fire protection or sprinklina. send for conclusion, Irrespective of being behind .. We have covered about ten miles 01
.. Water Supply" and read pages 12 and 13. paved streets during the present summer giving excellent and satisla�tory results.
me in time, Prof. Ferraris's publication
This Book months with • Tarvia B' and sand, and The supremacy 01 T a r v i a _ b o n d e d
concerned only my split-phase motor, and
Mailed on Requ_t • T arvia A' and stone dust. Results have macadam over old-style macadam i. now
tells hOl» and at what cost a town in an application for a patent by him been very satislactory. Manistee's paved universally recognized.
or country home. office or apart­
ment buildina. country dub.areen­ priority was awarded to me. He never
hOUle or factory can be equipped suggested any of the essential practical l""111111111111111[IIHIITliIlIIi�lIllIIllHlllllllllllllllllmrIIllIIlrIIJNlm,"lltlllll1Irllllllrrnl11111ll1llllllllllrrlll1111111111!11OIIIIrlllllllllllllrlIHllrlllllrllllllllriimlrIIllIIllIHIIII!IIIII""lIlIrllllllllrIIHrlrIllMllimIUlnrllllrl�lIIlllmIlIlWllIlIl!millIIIIIIIUIIHHllru,"mlllk::IIU;IIt:,.

with watersuppiy. Send forcopy

today. cspecially if you are plan­ features which constitute my system, and
I Special Service Department I
nina building imp rooemcnb. I In order to brina the fact� �efore taxpayen road concliti�n. or problems In your v.icinity _,ill
in regard to the split-phase motor he was ;;: as well as road authorItIes, the Barrett the rnatterwllI have the""p rompt attention of '"-
THE DAYTON PUMP Manufacturing Company has o r g a njzed a experienced engineers. This service is.free for
AND MFG. CO.
very decided in his opinion that it was of Special Service Department, which keeps the uking.
637 Wool Fifth St., Dayton, Ohio no value. Both Ferraris and Schallen­ up to the minute on all road problems. If If you want bettcr roaJs and lower tax�s�
i!: you wiiJ write to near�t office regardina: this {kpartment can areatly assist you.
New York Philad elphia
=>

hf'r�er discovered the rotation accidentally iLu .:.uIBIDIDIIJIDIIIIIJIDIIlilUDlBlDlDIIIIIlIIIIRDIIIDDBII_nuanlDDBllnUllllIJIDIIIIPllllllIIDIIIIIlllllIIIIIWIII!lllJ:lIllllbllWlU

llllRlllDll �!WIIIIIIIlII1imIIIIItI!IlIIII!IIlIIIIIllIIIIIIIII/IW_IIIDIIIIIIIllIUUIII!IIIIWIIIl111IIIII1111IIIII11llll11UIIJIIIIIUIIJI111ml ,&
Boston San M""ra(lCis.c:.
while working with u Gaullard and Gibbs
The Onl,. Com­ transformer, and had difliculty in explain­ BARRETT MANUFACTURING COMPANY
fortable Goggle in� the actions. Neither of them produced New York Chicago Philadelphia Boston St. Louis Clevdand Cincinnati
The Onl,. Efficient Pittsburah Detroit Birmingham KansasCity Minneapolis SaltLakeCity Seattle
a rotating field motor like mine, nor were
E,.e Protector their theories the same as my own. AR 'fHE PATERSON MFG. CO.• Limited: Montreal Toronto Winnipea:
The hln2ed ce nterpi ec e Vancouver St. John, N. B. Halifax. N.S. Sydney. N. S.
May 1911 i i i
which is the dlst ni'u sh n2' to CabanelIas, the
only reason for his
teature ofthe Autoglasallowsthe lenses to conform to the curves '
of t he lace and excludes all dust. wind aDd flyinir particles. T he claim is an abandoned and defective tech­
le-1l$eS are ground "l ass and curved in shape. ensurin2' comfort
vi io
ud�sj&"htand anowingunobstructed s n in all directions. nical document. Some over-zealous friends
Over 40,000 in Actual Use have interpreted a United States patent
For Sale by All ()pticiam, Motor Supply HOU6U and .
�ranted to Bradley as a contemporary rec­
Sporling Good. Deole"
Dept. E ord, but there is no foundation whatevei'
F. A. HARDY &: CO. Boa 804 CHICAGO.IU-
for such a claim. The original application

ELL-IS
only described a generator with two cir­
cuits which were provided for the sole pur­
NGINE pose of increasing the output. There was
-.old on SO days' free trial and goann- .
teed 10 years. Powerfully oonltrueted,
easily and economically operated. Ellis

V rt
Engines operate successfully on cheap
ker08enea.nddistillate. e ica and bor..
l
not much novelty in the idea, since a num­
ber of such machines existed at that time. The Only Patented
izonta} types from Hi H.P.to ISH. P.
Send for free boo klet, "Engine Facti:·
- ElLIS EllSIIIE COMPAIIY
To say that these machines were antici­
pations of my rotary transformer is wholly
Face Brick in America
rl. E. U......O_-.II£IItIIf.lltC1..
unjustified. They might have served as
one of the elements in my system of trans­ We have the only face brick whose dis­
formation, but were nothing more than
dynamos with two circuits constructed
tinctiveness has been officially recognized
with other ends in view and in utter ignor­ by the government patent office. The pe­
ance of the new and wonderful phenom­ culiar texture makes each brick cast its own
ena revealed through my discovery.
lights and shadows. This produces the
The Development of the Dye wonderful blending qualities found only in

Greenaale:R!!g 13.rick
Industry
By M. L. Crossley, Sc.M., Ph.D., Associate
Professor of Chemistry and Acting
Head of the Department, Wesleyan By their use magnificent color combinations are
University, Middletown, Conn.
afforded. These brick give any structure a re­
and every­
P.ric••• Factor,
and AutomobIle Supplies.
. A T this time when the entire public is in
a feverish excitement over our newly
finement, warmth and artistic individuality that
unmistakably marks the architectural taste of the
MEAD CYCLE CO., DEPT N-175, CHICAC q realized dependence upon Germany for
dyes and organic chemicals it is not amiss
builder. They stand absolutely alone in their class.

KOnlmfl
PROFESSIONAL
school. situated in
the heart of Chi-
cago. MEDICAL SCHOOL in hospital center
-1500 beds in seven hospilals. Recent benefaction
at $1,000,000 gives Medical School special clinical
arivanta"es. Two yean coHeae credit required. Law
School near court•. Elbert H. Gary Library of Law.
40.000volum... Campusof Liberal ArlSon shoreooE
Lake Michisan. Larae 8ymnasiwu. new dormitories.
rs.
\\'rite for Requirements fol' ent nce to Medical School,
Ty picRIleS80ns in Pbarm&t·y, Engineering as a vocatiou,
to call attention to the marvelous triumphs Greendale Rug Brick are designed to con­
of cheinists in the development of the dye form to Nature's laws in the growth and formation of
industry. In spite of the fact that in our trees, plants and verdure in interwoven vertical lines,
enormous coke production we have almost
an unlimited supply of by-products suit­
Write for special color sheet showing these
bricks as they are, in the beauty of their actual
able for the manufacture of dyes and or­
colors, or ask your architect about them.
ganic chemicals, this industry has not made
much progress in this country. This is Hocking Vailey Products Company
�
n t because of any inferiority on the part D. E. REAGAN. Pres. C. C. W ALTERS. Sales Mgr.
of American chemists to solve problems
1 B 1 South High St. CoIUInbU8, Ohio
of this type, but rather, because circum­
stances have been more favorable for the

cOQnJeB in S
Views of Campus, Earning One'.!! \\'&y. Also books of
chools of Law, Dentistry. Musk. Orator y
Comm e rce, Summer Scbool and Evanston Academy. ,
development of other industries in Amer­
ica. The thorough organization of the
E. S. BRANDT. 45' Nortb"e8�rn VDinnlt,. Bide.
Dearborn and I,.b. Cbi�.l'o dye industry abroad, backed by govern­
ment support, made it impossible for our

© 1915 SCIENTIFIC AMERICAN, INC.