[TESLA NIKOLA]: (1856-1943)

[TESLA NIKOLA]: (1856-1943)

‘….our wizard friend Tesla….’

 

[TESLA NIKOLA]: (1856-1943) Serbian-American inventor, electrical engineer and futurist, best known for his contributions to the design of the modern alternating current (AC) electricity supply system. [HIGGINSON FRANCIS J.] (1843-1931) American Rear Admiral who served during the American Civil War and Spanish-American War and was the last commander-in-chief of the North Atlantic Squadron and first commander-in-chief of the North Atlantic Fleet. A collection of correspondence to Higginson from a variety of individuals at the time when Higginson was chairman of the United States Lighthouse Board (1898-1901) and seeking Tesla's assistance with wireless telegraphy. The collection comprises forty-eight A.Ls.S. and nine T.Ls.S., over 150 pages, 8vo and 4to, various places (New York, New Orleans, Washington, Newport etc.), largely 1898-1900, with both business and social content, some relating to wireless telegraphy and a few with references to Tesla, including Thomas Coulis, in part 'I have wanted to write to suggest….having some wireless telegraphy experiments while the Fleet is at Newport…..the scheme that had marked in my idle head was to use the Torpedo station as a Base for these experiments…..our electrical experts at the Torpedo station & on board the ships would do the work, & our wizard friend Tesla & his employers the Thompson Houston Company could furnish the machines necessary & advertise themselves as well at the same time. The Marconi experiments between…..[South] Foreland…..& Boulogne could be imposed (?) upon perhaps. The thing is at least up to date. The machines would cost something but if Tesla & the Thompson Houston people were called in their own advertisement would be sufficient & the plant would cost nothing….' (24^th April 1899); Thomas Perry, Naval Secretary of the Lighthouse Board 1899-1901, in part, 'In response to my letter which I wrote Mr. Tesla for you, giving him certain data desired by him, he replied in an official way in a letter addressed to the Light-House Board, in which letter he states, “I shall soon place at your service, apparatus thoroughly practical and satisfactory in every respect.” After talking the matter over with Hoxie, we both became convinced that it would be necessary to tell Mr. Tesla that the Light-House Board had not requested him to go so far as to provide any apparatus, which you can well imagine, coming from him, would involve the expenditure of a great deal of money - money which the Board has not. So I addressed an official letter to Mr. Tesla, a copy of which I inclose (sic) herewith (no longer present) that you may see and have a perfect knowledge of what has been done, and I hope that you will approve of it.' (18^th August 1899); Harry Taylor (7) largely discussing naval matters & tactics in war, in part, 'I think it will be well to have the fleet go to Newport and the officers to work out problems. To have the ships do so would require more, many more, than we have, but the fleet might as well lie there for a month or six weeks as at Tompkinsville and tactical problems, tactical war games and strategic war games could occupy them most usefully….' (2^nd May 1899), 'The Captains who are here to see the President are going to meet…..at 2pm today to confer before going to the White House - and all hope you will be there' (2^nd January 1900); William M. Folger (1844-1928) American Rear Admiral who served in the American Civil War (without seeing action) and fought in the Spanish-American War, thirty-two A.Ls.S., most with initials, largely social in content, although discussing naval matters, fever amongst the officers ('There is no reason in the world why it should not break out within a week in every village with 200 miles…..It is perfectly possible there may be a great epidemic'), Admiral of the Navy George Dewey and other mutual colleagues, recommending various novels and other books, warning against the side effects of Laxative Brown Quince, and in one letter mentioning the soprano Emma Eames, 'Mrs. Eames (mere) asked me to dinner for Wednesday - and the opera (Walkure) afterwards - to hear her daughter, who I suppose contributed the box, but I wanted Wed. free for some Bohemianism (quite harmless) with you and declined (To tell the very truth I am glad to get out of it). The female part of Eames family believe with a certain amount of justification that I plucked Eames as a brand from the burning - and whenever they get a chance they try to shew it. I don't mind much, but I do not care greatly to go to the opera with the old lady'; Nelson A. Miles (1839-1925) American General who served in the American Civil War, the American Indian Wars and the Spanish-American War and held the position of last Commanding General of the United States Army (1895-1903), Silas Casey III, Rear Admiral of the Pacific Squadron 1901-03, and several other individuals. Together with a small selection of printed ephemera including the subscription list and balance sheet of Miss Weston's work in the Royal Navy, 1^st July 1894 to 30^th June 1895 and a number of partially printed receipts and invoices (most torn and with various faults) from Hirsbrunner & Co., Watchmakers & Jewellers in Shanghai, Tat Cheong, Ship Compradore & General Dealer in Hong Kong, Alphonzo Smith, piano agent in New York, C. Guieu & Co., Parisian Bakery in Shanghai etc. Some overall age wear, a few P, generally G, 70