Nikola Tesla Father of Poly Phase Circuits and Radio
                        Part 1: Chronology
                        By Lionel Weightman
                      Navigating the Internet
                              CMI210
                            August 12, 1994

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                                Chronology

          This report on Nikola Tesla is in two parts. The first covers Tesla's
        life and some of his important accomplishments and milestones. The
        second part covers various construction articles for his Tesla coils
        and the Tesla turbine.

        1856 He was born in Smiljan, Croatia

        1857-60 As a boy Tesla played with wood disks turned by water in a
                stream. This led him to later develop the Tesla turbine.

        1875    Started studying electrical engineering at Gratz Polytechnic.

        1880    Finished studies at the University of Prague.

        1882-83 Made his first AC motor while working for a telephone company
                in France. Tried to get various backers in Europe for his ideas
                without any success.

        1884 Nikola Tesla decided to come to America.

        1885-87  Worked for Thomas Edison.

        1887-88 Patented AC motor and distribution system. Then sold the
                rights to George Westinghouse.

        1889-90 Worked with Westinghouse to further develop many sizes of AC
                motors and dynamotors. At this time he built his first
                Tesla coil to transmit power.

        1893 Lit up the Columbian Exposition and gave many demonstrations on
             electricity ideas such as lighting tubes without any wire con-
             nections. The first radio diagram was done during this time.

        1895-96 Fulfilled a dream with Westinghouse of harnessing Niagara Falls
                to provide electrical power and transmitted it 22 miles, thus
                creating the electrical distribution industry we use today.

        1898 In Madison Square Garden demonstrated the use of radio to control
             a boat remotely starting, steering and turning on and off the
             lighting on the boat.

        1899-1900 Established a laboratory in Colorado Springs to develop
                  transmission of power using his coil design. Created 
                  lightning bolts 22 feet long. This research was support-
                  ed by Col. John Jacob Astor.

        1901-16 Built the Wydencliff Tower to transmit various radio programs
                around the world, thus anticipating modern use of radio. This
                project was never completed because he went broke. In 1902
                Tesla patented a four circuit tuner.

        1921-28 Received patents on a VTOL aircraft which was never built.

        1930-40 During these years due to financial constraints became a 
                recluse. Wrote some articles and anticipated many uses of
                radio, facsimile, radar, & television.

        1943 Died on January 7  at age 86 in a New York hotel room.

        References used [1], [2], [3], & [4]




                        Reference sources

                Magazines

        The Dream That Won't Die
        By Ken Gilmore
        Electronics Illustrated July 1965
        First powered remote helicopter by transmitting power using radar.

        [1] Who Was Tesla
            By Commander E.J. Quimby, USN(ret)
            73 Magazine November 1972
            Covers Mr. Tesla's life accomplishments.

        Inventors of Radio Nikola Tesla
        By Dexter S. Bartlett
        Radio Electronics April 1963

        Nikola Tesla's 100th Birthday
        By Hugo Gernsback
        Radio Electronics June 1956 and July 1956

        12 Million Volts
        By Fred Shunaman
        Radio Electronics June 1976
        Covers Robert K. Golka's work on ball lightning using a Tesla Coil.

        In Search of Fireball Lightning
        By Robert K. Golka
        Radio Electronics March 1985 pages 46 & 47
        Radio Electronics February 1981 no info
        Both articles cover his additional research.

                   Books

        [2] The Prodigal Genius
            By John J. O'Neill
            First Printing 1944
            *ISBN 0-685-52651-8   1992 (pbk)

        [3] Tesla Man Out of Time
            By Margaret Cheney
            First Printing 1981
            Dell Pub. Co. 1983
            *ISBN 0-440-39077-X,LE

        [4] Lightning In His Hand
            By Inez Hunt & Wanetta Draper
            First Printing 1977
            ISBN no listing
        The asterisk before the ISBN indicates books in print.

                   Net references to books

        Hytelnet
        select library catalogue 
        select Europe/Scandinavia 
        select  United Kingdom
        select  Cambridge University
                #2 Main building University Library
                        Post-1977 Imprints
                            1-Prodigal Genius /John J. O'Neill
                            2-Nikola Tesla und sein Werk /s. Boksan
                            3-Nikola Tesla Electrical Genius /A.J. Beckhard
                            4-Nikola Tesla /APM Fleming
                        Index of pre 1978 borrow books
                                In search of Nikola Tesla /David Peat

        Telnet ipgate.cam.ac.uk  131.111.12.21 for an alternate search.




        Gopher
                #8 other gopher & information servers
                #2 Titles search gopher space using veronica
                #6 Search gopher titles via SCS Nevada
                key word Tesla
                        Tesla.ee.cornell.edu 128.84.253.11
                                #18 Community-The International Tesla Society


                Companies where books can be obtained.

        International Tesla Society
        P.O. Box 5636
        Security, CO. 80931
        USA
        2 books covering tube circuits,3 programs for designing Tesla coils
        using a PC (IBM compatibles).
        16 books on the subject approx. $200+.

        International Tesla Society
        Museum & Book Store
        2220 East Bijou
        Colorado Springs, CO. 80909
        Same company just a different address. This location is about two
        blocks north of where Tesla's lab was.

        Tesla Book Company
        P.O. Box 121873
        Chula Vista, CA 91912
        800-398-2056

                        Conclusion
        
           There is very little information on the net on Nikola Tesla's life
        and the many areas to which he contributed.
           He was a very talented individual who opened many doors and
        anticipated many uses of power, radio and energy.






                Nikola Tesla Father of Poly Phase Circuits & Radio
                        Part 2: Construction articles
                        Compiled by Lionel Weightman
                        Navigating the Internet
                                CMI210
                             August 12, 1994

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             Construction Articles on Tesla Coils & Turbines

                 Through the years many articles have been written on constructing
        Tesla coils, and a few on the Tesla turbine. Some of these are listed
        below, followed by some current books and sources on the internet.
        Sources can be found on microfish in most libraries. The best sources
        are Popular Science and Popular Mechanics. Popular Electronics and 
        Radio Eletronics will be more difficult to retrieve.

                        Tesla Coil Articles

        ******************************************************
          The misuse of the following information can be very hazardous.  
        Please take the time to understand the hazards BEFORE energizing 
        the curcuits.
        ****************************************************************

        Experiments on Electric Oscillations & Waves
        By R.P. Howgrave-Graham A.I.E.E.
        Model Engineer & Electrician
        Facsimile Volumes
        Vol 8 Jan-June 1903
        Vol 10  Jan-June 1904
        Vol 11 July-Dec 1904
        Also info on spark coils/medical coils, good info on interrupters. [1]
        
        Further Remarks On Spark Coil Construction
        By J. Pike
        Model Engineer And Electrician
        Facsimile Volume
        Vol 7 Jan-June 1903
        Same as above. [1]
        
        250kV Tesla Coil/Lightning Generator
        pages 193-202
        Uses spark gap & neon sign step-up transformer.
        Solid State Tesla Coil
        pages 262-267
        Uses transistors & a horizontal flyback transformer.
        Both are in the book:
        Build Your Own Laser,Phaser,Ion Ray Gun & other Working 
        Space-Age Projects
        By Robert E.Iannini
        Tab Books 1983
        ISBN 0-8306-0604-1 (pbk)
        ISBN 0-8306-0204-6

        Rotary Interrupter
        Scientific American Volume 83: pages 44 to 46 Sept 1917, Jan 1917
        

        Tesla Coil Outfit
        By G. K. Pierce & H. D. Campbell
        Industrial Arts Magazine Volume 18: pages 100 to 105 March 1929
        Uses a spark gap, fair instructions, very good illustrations &
        dimensions for all parts including the step up transformer.

        Induction Coils
        By L. H. Baxter
        Industrial Arts & Vocational Education
        Volume 23: pages 385 to 386 December 1934
        Uses a spark gap, fair instructions, good illustrations & dimensions.
        Includes an induction coil similar to the Ford spark coil.


        Simplified Tesla Coil
        By K. M. Swezey
        Popular Science Volume 125: pages 65, 66 & 115 December 1934
        Uses a spark gap some illustrations, instructions & dimensions.

        Spectacular High Frequency Experiments
        By Kendall Ford
        Popular Science February 1935 pages 86 & 87
        Uses a Ford spark coil some instructions, illustrations & dimensions.

        Juggling Thunderbolts with Huge Home-made Spark Coil
        By K. Ford
        Popular Science volume 126: pages 82 to 83 & 105 May 1935
        Uses a rotary spark gap some instructions, illustrations & dimensions.

        Cigar-Box Tesla Coil
        By T. Diers
        Popular Science January 1946 Volume 148: pages 190 to 94
        Uses 2-# 10 tubes, good instructions, some illustrations & dimensions.

        New & Improved Tesla Coil
        By Harold P. Strand
        Science Experimenter magazine
        #651 Fall 1963 pages 16 to 21 & 141 to 144
        Uses 2-811A tubes, good instructions and illustrations, well
        dimensioned.

        Tesla's Trickery
        By Kenneth Richardson
        Popular Electronics May 1960 pages 72-76
        Electronic Experimenter's Handbook 1961 edition pages 15 to 16
        Uses a Ford spark coil & a spark gap, good instructions, some
        dimensions.
        
        Experimenting with a "Souped Up" Tesla Coil
        By Harold P. Strand
        Science Experimenter #563 1959 pages 149 to 152
        Craft Print #191
        Handyman's Electrical Guide Volume 2 1954 pages 23 to 26
        Science & Mechanics October 1953 pages 217 to 221
        Uses 2-5514 tubes, good instructions & illustrations, well dimensioned

        Tesla Coil for Electrical Experimenters
        By Harold P. Strand
        Science & Mechanics April 1952 pages 167 to 171
        Uses 1-5514 tube, good instructions/illustrations, well dimensioned.

        Building A Miniature Tesla Coil
        By Harold P.Strand
        Craft Print #290
        Science Experimenter #557 1958 pages 65-72
        Science Experimenter #608 Fall 1962 pages 122-129
        Science & Mechanics Sept. 1958 part 1, Oct. 1958 part 2 pages 139 to 143
        uses 5514 tube,no schematic see above,good instructions/illustrations
        well dimensioned.

        Build A Tesla Coil
        By Elbert Robberson
        Popular Science August 1954 pages 190-196 & 234
        Uses 1-811A tube, good instructions/illustrations, well dimensioned.

        A Tesla Coil 
        By Harvey Pollack
        Electronics Illustrated October 1959 pages 54-57 & 102-106
        Uses 1-811A tube, good instructions, illustrations & well dimensioned.

        Midget Oudin-Tesla Coil Operates on Flashlight Cells
        By Thomas A. Blanchard
        Science Experimenter #563 1959 pages 37-39
        Uses a Ford spark coil & a spark gap,good instructions/illustrations
        but has only a few dimensions.

        Li'L TC
        By Edwin N. Kaufman
        Electronic Experimenter's Handbook fall 1965 pages 99-101
        Uses 1-6L6 tube & J.W.Miller #4526 High Voltage Coil
        good instructions/illustrations, no dimensions.

        Big TC
        By Charles Caringella W6NJV
        Popular Electronics July pages 29 to 32 & 76, October 1964 page 12
        Electronic Experimenter's Handbook fall 1965 pages 93-98
        Uses a neon-sign transformer & a spark gap, good instructions
        & illustrations. Be sure to read the correction for safety in
        October 1964.

        Circuit Circus
        Fun with Tesla Coils
        By Charles D. Rakes
        Popular Electronics October 1992 pages 63 to 71 only 3 pages.
        1 solid state circuit & three methods of tuning, some dimensions.

        Circuit Circus
        More High-voltage Circuits
        By Charles D. Rakes
        Popular Electronics
        November 1992 pages 72 to 74
        Three solid state circuits, no dimensions.

        Solid State Tesla Coil
        By Duane A. Bylund
        Radio Electronics
        September 1991 pages 33 to 39
        Uses hand wound transformers, good instructions, no dimensions, has
        a good circuit board pattern. Parts are available form author. 
        The author also has a book available from the International Tesla
        Society. See the address listed in Sources of books.

        Simple Tesla Coil
        By Eric Wold
        Radio Electronics September 1981 page 84
        Uses a flyback transformer, good instructions, no dimensions.

        Electronic Tornado Plasma Display Power Supply
        By Robert Iannini
        Radio Electronics March 1988 pages 43 to 48 & 82
        Uses a flyback transformer, good instructions, illustrations, has a
        good circuit board pattern. Good example of Tesla's experiments.

        Build This Plasma Display Globe
        By Jeffery C. Caudill
        Radio Electronics January 1989 pages 62 to 64
        Good instructions, illustrations, some dimensions.
        This is a companion to the above article.

        
        Hardware Hacker
        By Don Lancaster
        Radio Electronics October 1991 pages 72 to 78, 80 & 81
        good list of Suppliers for Tesla Coil parts.


        The following two articles are high voltage DC circuits which could
        be converted to operate as a Tesla coil. These are very hazardous
        circuits so follow the instructions and cautions if built per the
        articles.

        Build A Negative Ion Generator
        By Anthony J. Caristi
        Radio Electronics January 1991 pages 41 to 44 part 1
        Radio Electronics February 1991 pages 55 to 60 & 70 part 2
        Uses a flyback transformer, transistors. Has good instructions,
        illustrations, and circuit board patterns.

        Build This Negative Ion Generator
        By Robert E. Pyle
        Radio Electronics July 1981 pages 36 to 38
        Uses a three terminal 12 volt automotive spark coil, fair instruct-
        ions, no illustrations and no dimensions.


                Books

        Vacuum Tube Tesla Coils
        By J. F. Corum & K. L. Corum
        ISBN on listing
        International Tesla Society cat #370001
        Covers tube circuits. [2],[5]

        The Capacitor Handbook
        By Cletus J. Kaiser
        ISBN 0-9628525-0-3
        International Tesla Society cat #430005 [2]

        Tesla Coils! 100 Years of Electrical Magic
        By Brent Turner
        ISBN no listing
        International Tesla Society cat #430004
        Covers tube, transistors & spark gap circuits. [2]

        The Very Best From The Electrical Experimenter 1916-1917
        From Hugo Gernsback publications 105 pages
        Covers Tesla coils, spark gaps and other circuitry. [2], [5]

            Some possible transistors

        The transistors used to drive the horizontal flyback transformer
        have a high cbo and ceo rating. I've included two replacement
        source catalogue numbers.
        
        SK Series        Vcbo        Vceo        Watts        Ic        Type        Case
        SK3115                1500        600        50        7amp        NPN/SI  TO3
        SK3111                1500        600        50        5        NPN/SI  TO3
        SK3710                1500        600        50        6        NPN/SI  TO3
        SK9486                1500        800ces        120        5        NPN/SI  TO220 type

        NTE replacements
        62                2500        900        50        3        NPN/SI TO-3
        165                1500        1500        50        6        NPN/SI TO-3
        389                1500        1500        100        6        NPN/SI TO-3

                With damper diode
        89                1500        600        50        7        NPN/SI TO3
        2302                1500        800        120        5        NPN/SI TO220 type
        2318                1500        700        125        8        NPN/SI TO218           
        2331                1500        800        60        6        NPN/SI TO218 type

        
                Darlington Transistors
        98                700        500        175        20        NPN/SI T03
        99                600        400        250        50        NPN/SI T03
        256                600        400        150        28        NPN/SI TO218
    
         Some useful tubes [4], [5]
        Num.        Type   Plate    Plate   Grid    Grid   Fil    Class   Output
                       Volts    I ma        Volts   I ma   Volts

        811A   triode   1250    140     -120    45     6.3     CP     135W
        5514   triode   750        175        ----        ----   7.5     ----   ----
        572B   triode   1650    165     -70     32     6.3     CT     205W
        833A   triode   3000    335     -160    70     10      CTO    800W
        8877   triode   2500    1000    -8.2    -      5       AB2    1520

                CP-class C plate modulation, CT class C telegraph, CTO class
                C amplifier- oscillator, AB2 Push-pull AF amplifier

                        Tesla Turbine Articles

        Cardboard Blower Works Like Tesla's Lost Turbine
        By Walter E. Burton
        Popular Science September 1955 pages 230 to 232
        No dimensions.

        Make a Model Tesla Turbine
        By Walter E. Burton
        Popular Mechanics September 1965 pages 188 to 193
        Fair on dimensions and good text.

        The Tesla Turbine
        By R. S. Hedin
        Live Steam Magazine November 1984 pages 32 to 35
        Fully dimensioned parts and excellent text on construction.
        This is the best article in print I've seen.

                Available Kits

        Corona Coil
        P.O. Box 474
        Riverton, UT 84065
        See Radio Electronics September 1991 for add.

        Resonance Research
        E11870 Shady Lane Road
        Baraboo, WI 53913
        (608) 356-3647

        Combination Solid State Tesla Coil & Variable 100,000Vdc Generator

        Table Top Tesla Coil 250,000V

        Both are available from:
        
        Information Unlimited
        Dept ENS16
        Box 716
        Amherst, NH 03031
        Phone 603-673-4730 for inquiries
        FAX 603-672-5406
        800-221-1705 for Phone orders only
        Catalogue is $1.00 P&H




                Sources of Books

        [1] Tee Publishing
            Edwards Centre
            Ragent Street
            Hinckley, Leics LE10 0bb
            England/United Kingdom

        [2] International Tesla Society
            P.O. Box 5636
            Security, CO 80931
            USA
            Books covering tube, transistors & spark gap circuits. 3 programs
            for designing Tesla coils using a PC (IBM compatibles).
            16 books on and related to the subject.

        [3] Tesla Book Company
            P.O. Box 121873
            Chula Vista, CA 91912
            800-398-2056

        [4] The ARRL 1986 Handbook for the Radio Amateur
            Published by American Radio Relay League
            Newington, CT USA 0611
            Library of Congress #41-3345
            ISBN 0-87259-063-1
            All years of the ARRL handbook are good sources of tube, tran-
            sistor and electronics information. The 40's & 50's are the best
            years for tube specifications.

        [5] Antique Electronic Supply
            6221 S. Maple Ave.
            Tempe, Arizona U.S.A. 85283
            Source of tubes.
        
                Sources of articles on the Net

        ftp at bode.ee.ualberta.ca
                cookbook/misc
                        tesla.ps.Z by Harri Suomalainen
                                haba@snakemail.hut.fi
                This is a good article on Tesla coil basics.

                        teslarec.ps.Z by John w. Herbold Jr.
                                jherbold@bigbang.astate.edu
                This covers rebuilding The Tesla coil at Arizona State.

        2om6a2$sk4@falcon.ccs.uwo.ca

        1994Apr16.193830.4496@ohstpy.mps.ohio-state.edu

        1994may22.225215.4776@ohstpy.mps.ohio-state.edu
        Article 73479 of sci.electronics
        This is an update to an earlier post. Very good information on sources
        of books.

            The two references above are the courtesy of
        [5] edharris@ohstpy.mps.ohio-state.edu

        Some questions and answers can also be found on the USENET News group
        sci.electronics.





                        Conclusion

           Very little information is on the net on constructing any of Tesla's
        ideas. This information is to help those who have asked "Where can I
        find information on building Tesla coils/Tesla turbines?"