III. The Singular Misconception of the Wireless

(…) In the summer of 1897 Lord Kelvin happened to pass thru New York and honored me by a visit to my laboratory where I entertained him with demonstrations in support of my wireless theory. He was fairly carried away with what he saw but, nevertheless, condemned my project in emphatic terms, qualifying it as something impossible, “an illusion and a snare“. I had expected his approval and was pained and surprised. But the next day he returned and gave me a better opportunity for explanation of the advances I had made and of the true principles underlying the system I had evolved. Suddenly he remarked with evident astonishment: “Then you are not making use of Hertz waves?” “Certainly not“, I replied, “these are radiations. No energy could be economically transmitted to a distance by any such agency. In my system the process is one of true conduction which, theoretically, can be effected at the greatest distance without appreciable loss.” I can never forget the magic change that came over the illustrious philosopher the moment he freed himself from that erroneous impression. The skeptic who would not believe was suddenly transformed into the warmest of supporters. He parted from me not only thoroly convinced of the scientific soundness of the idea but strongly exprest his confidence in its success. (…)

Source: Famous Scientific Illusions by Nikola Tesla (Electrical Experimenter – February 1919)



Did you find this article interesting?

If so, please support NikolaTesla.fr from time to time so that the website can continue to offer its articles free of charge or, if you can, make a donation of €12 (approx. US$13) per month, which would enable us to work full-time on the website and the replication of Nikola Tesla's inventions. Thank you.