Jim sez: "Coherers are not electrolytic, they use powdered metal filings
which
stick together (cohere) under the influence of applied rf energy.

There is good reason to believe that while marconi developed the
coherer into a relatively well-funtioning product, he did not
invent it."
Reginald Fessenden invented the electrolytic detector which is
probably the 'liquid diode' mentioned above."

My mistake Jim. The key point is that Marconi developed a way to detect
(demod) RF whereas Tesla may have been among the first to generate RF. I
think it is safe to say Marconi perfected wireless transmission of telegraph
signals. Thanx for the correction on Fessenden's liquid diode. I recall
reading that early watt-hour meters were electrolytic devices. Not sure how
they worked, though. Maybe someone can help.

Boib Swinney