Serbian inventor Nikola Tesla is widely viewed as one of the great minds of the 20th century. His most well know achieve is the invention of the alternating current (AC), although he made invaluable contributions towards the study and development of electromagnetism, wireless radio and more than 700 unique invention patents…
Nikola Tesla, with Roger Boskovich’s book, “Theoria Philosophiae Naturalis,” in front of the spiral coil of his high-frequency transformer at East Houston St. 46, New York.
As a child prodigy, Tesla was blessed with an eidetic memory and immense intelligence that allowed to consider inventions and concepts – such as the modern electric motor and the basic laser – that were well ahead of their time.
Photograph of the experimenter standing in the middle of the laboratory and lighting a vacuum bulb by waves from a distant oscillator — His body is, in this case, subjected to great electrical pressure.
Sadly, Tesla was not as revered during his life as he was after his death. Being so dedicated to his craft, Tesla was a social recluse that never married, remaining a solitary person for most of his life. He died living in extreme poverty, with many of his achievements recognized long after his passing.
Lighting a disconnected vacuum bulb of 1,500 candlepower by high-frequency currents — Photograph taken by the light of the bulb itself, exposure about two seconds.
Thankfully, the legacy of Nikola Tesla remains firmly intact. His genius is now fully recognized, as too are his contributions to the world, which continue to influence modern technology.
Check out these amazing photographs for an intriguing insight of the life of Nikola Tesla.
First photograph ever taken by phosphorescent light. The face is that of Mr. Tesla, and the source of light is one of his phosphorescent bulbs. The time of exposure, eight minutes. Date of photograph January, 1894.
Dr. Nikola Tesla — This immigrant from Yugoslavia invented a.c. motors and radio. A 1943 Supreme Court decision invalidated Marconi radio patents because of Tesla’s prior work.
A photograph of Nikola Tesla (1856-1943) at age 40.
The hand of Nikola Tesla, taken by his wonderful artificial daylight, just perfected. This is the first photograph made by the light of the future.
A glow of nitrogen fills the atmosphere. Tesla is photographed sitting in front of his generator. This photograph was taken in 1899.
Photograph showing an incandescent lamp lighted by means of waves transmitted through space to a coil without a condenser.
Publicity photo taken of Tesla by a reporter during his annual birthday press event.
Tesla working in his office at 8 West 40th Street.
Tesla demonstrates “wireless” power transmission in his Houston Street laboratory in March 1899.
Experiment illustrating the action of a synchronized circuit energized by waves transmitted from a distant oscillator – The energy received is transferred upon another unresponsive circuit, lighting the incandescent lamp attached to the same.
John T. Morris, Victor Beam and Tesla pose with the alternator that had been discovered.
Tesla holding a gas-filled phosphor coated wireless light bulb which he developed in the 1890’s, half a century before fluorescent lamps come into use. Published on the cover of the Electrical Experimenter in 1919.
Tesla is seen in his New York City office in 1916. The inventor often crossed the street to Bryant Park to feed the pigeons there. The drawings behind Tesla depict his steam engine design.
Tesla aged 23, c. 1879.
The master of lightning in his room at the Hotel New Yorker.
Tesla receives the Order of the White Lion from the Czechoslovak governments, July, 11, 1937.
Tesla in 1916 pointing to a discharge in a photograph taken at Colorado Springs in 1899.
Nikola Tesla photographed working in his office at 8 West 40th Street. The image was taken in 1916.
Pictured here is Nikola Tesla and one of his inventions. This image was taken in 1916.
Tesla experiments with currents of High Voltage and High Frequency in 1899.
Tesla near his transmitter in Colorado Springs. The device was capable of transmitting millions of volts of electricity over great distances without wires. The image was taken in 1899.
Tesla looks out the door of his laboratory in Colorado Springs. The image was taken in 1899.