Tim Williams wrote:
"DoN. Nichols" wrote in message
Wasn't it Westinghouse who was the proponent of the DC power
distribution system, and Tesla the proponent of AC distribution?
Nah, Edison was DC. Westinghouse bought rights to Tesla's patents and
employed him.

I recall soon after Tesla arrived, he was digging ditches for Edison; I
don't remember if he did anything technical. I know he didn't like Tom and
his big interest in DC. g

Tesla did technical work for Edison - he moved from Paris
to New York 1884 to work for Edison there. In fact, Edison
promised a significant amount of money (50000 usd) to
Tesla for optimizing DC generator design - Tesla did it - and
when ready, presented it to Edison and asked for his money.
Edison gave nothing, and just said "Tesla, you don't understand
our American humour". At that point, Tesla stopped working
for Edison, and went to dig trenches rather than work for Edison.

Luckily, he found supporters, could patent his AC ideas, and
got George Westinghouse to commercialize the multiphase AC generator
and motor. Originally Tesla's deal was to get 2.5 usd / horsepower
of AC electricity sold.. However, he later (stupidly) gave up this
royalty because of his friendship with Westinghouse, and
died in a hotel room in New York, nearly penniless, in 1943..
He was a great scientist, but a very poor businessman.

Edison was a crook and a businessman, not a real scientist.
History is written my winners, either of war or business.

Kristian Ukkonen.