George Westinghouse

In celebrating the 40th anniversary of the entrance of George Westinghouse* into the electrical field, some interesting facts concerning that inventor and organizer and the company which now bears his name, came to light. In 1869, when only 23 years old, Westinghouse patented his air brake for stopping trains -- now standard equipment for railways all over the world. The young inventor soon became fascinated by the possibilities of electricity, as developed by Bell, Edison and others. In 1880 he founded the Westinghouse Machine Co. for the manufacture of high speed engines to drive dynamos for arc lighting. He controlled the Union Switch and Signal Co., which manufactured railway equipment. In 1880 he met William Stanley, who had just invented a self-regulating dynamo for lighting service, and signed a contract with him to conduct experiments for the Union Switch and Signal Co. From this meeting dates the growth of the present Westinghouse Electric and Manufacturing Co. George Westinghouse staked his fortune upon the development of alternating current equipment, and won. Gradually the inventions of the other brilliant inventors were acquired. Stanley worked out apparatus for handling alternating current. Oliver B. Shellenberger produced the first induction metre. Nikola Tesla sold out to Westinghouse his alternating current motor. In any history of electrical development, the work done by the Westinghouse Co. must be given a prominent place.

* George Westinghouse died of a weak heart and organic complications in 1914 in Manhattan.