Tesla's Egg of Columbus
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How Tesla Performed the Feat of Columbus Without Cracking the Egg
Electrical Experimenter, March, 1919
Fig. 2. Illustrating the Polyphase Coil and Rotating Magnetic Field Which Caused Copper Eggs to Spin. Fig. 3. Insert: Detail of Coil Apparatus Showing Coil Connections to Different Phases. Click image for higher resolution.
Probably one of the most far-reaching and revolutionary discoveries made by Mr. Tesla is the so-called rotating magnetic field. This is a new and wonderful manifestation of force — a magnetic cyclone — producing striking phenomena which amazed the world when they were first shown by him. It results from the joint action of two or more alternating currents definitely related to one another and creating magnetic fluxes, which, by their periodic rise and fall according to a mathematical law, cause a continuous shifting of the lines of force. There is a vast difference between an ordinary electro-magnet and that invented by Tesla. In the former the lines are stationary, in the latter they are made to whirl around at a furious rate. The first attracts a piece of iron and holds it fast; the second causes it to spin in any direction and with any speed desired. Long ago, when Tesla was still a student, he conceived the idea of the rotating magnetic field and this remarkable principle is embodied in his famous induction motor and system of transmission of power now in universal use.
In this issue of the Electrical Experimenter Mr. Tesla gives a remarkable account of his early efforts and trials as an inventor and of his final success. Unlike other technical advances arrived at thru the usual hit and miss methods and hap-hazard experimentation, the rotating field was purely the work of scientific imagination. Tesla developed and perfected, entirely in his mind, this great idea in all its details and applications without making one single experiment. Not even the usual first model was used. When the various forms of apparatus he had devised were tried for the first time they worked exactly as he had imagined and he took out some forty fundamental patents covering the whole vast region he had explored. He obtained the first rotations in the summer of 1883 after five years of constant and intense thought on the subject and the undertook the equally difficult task of finding believers in his discovery. The alternating current was but imperfectly understood and had no standing with engineers or electricians and for a long time Tesla talked to deaf ears. But, ultimately, his pains were rewarded and early in 1887 a company bearing his name was formed for the commercial introduction of the invention.
Tesla's Houston Street Laboratory Illuminated Using Patent 514,168 - Note the wireless receiver table right lower front.
Fig. 1. This hitherto unpublished photograph is extremely interesting as it shows not only "Tesla's Electric Egg" apparatus in the center of the background, but also a comprehensive view of a corner of his famous Houston Street laboratory of a decade ago. At the left may be seen a number of Tesla's electrical oscillators or high frequency generators, while in the rear may be noted a large high frequency transformer of the spiral type, the diameter of which was a little over nine feet. The electric egg apparatus comprising a two-phase A.C. circular core and winding, rests on a table, and this particular model measured about two feet across. In making the demonstrations, Tesla applied as much as 200 H.P. from a two-phase alternator to the exciting coils, and so intense was the revolving magnetic field created in the surrounding space, that small delicately pivoted iron discs would revolve in any part of the hall, and a great many other devices could be simultaneously operated from this magnetic field when thus excited. The frequency of the two-phase A.C. energizing the coils, was varied from 25 to 300 cycles, the best results being obtained with currents of from 35 to 40 cycles. This laboratory was lighted by Tesla's vacuum tubes, several of which may be seen on the ceiling, and each of which emitted 50 C.P. The coil resting on three legs and observed in the immediate foreground is the primary of a resonant Tesla transformer which collected energy from an oscillatory circuit encircling the laboratory, no matter in what position the transformer was placed. A low tension secondary of one or two turns of heavy cable (not visible) was provided for stepping down the energy collected by “mutual Induction,” and supplied the current to incandescent lamps, vacuum tubes, motors and other devices. When the circuit around the hall was strongly excited, the secondary furnished energy at the rate of about three-quarters of one horse-power.
Dr. Tesla recently told the editors an amusing incident in this connection. He had approached a Wall Street capitalist — a prominent lawyer — with a view of getting financial support and this gentleman called in a friend of his, a well-known engineer at the head of one of the big corporations in New York, to pass upon the merits of the scheme. This man was a practical expert who knew of the failures in the industrial exploitation of alternating currents and was distinctly prejudiced to a point of not caring even to witness some tests. After several discouraging conferences Mr. Tesla had an inspiration. Everybody has heard of the “Egg of Columbus.” The saying goes that at a certain dinner the great explorer asked some scoffers of his project to balance an egg on its end. They tried it in vain. He then took it and cracking the shell slightly by a gentle blow, made it stand upright. This may be a myth but the fact is that he was granted an audience by Isabella, the Queen of Spain, and won her support. There is a suspicion that she was more imprest by his portly bearing than the prospect of his discovery. Whatever it might have been, the Queen pawned her jewels and three ships were equipt for him and so it happened that the Germans got all that was coming to them in this war. But to return to Tesla’s reminiscence. He said to these men, “Do you know the story of the Egg of Columbus?” Of course they did. “Well,” he continued, “what if I could make an egg stand on the pointed end without cracking the shell?” “If you could do this we would admit that you had gone Columbus one better.” “And would you be willing to go out of your way as much as Isabella?” “We have no crown jewels to pawn,” said the lawyer, who was a wit, “but there are a few ducats in our buckskins and we might help you to an extent.”
Mr. Tesla thus succeeded in capturing the attention and personal interest of these very busy men, extremely conservative and reluctant to go into any new enterprise, and the rest was easy. He arranged ror a demonstration the following day. A rotating field magnet was fastened under the top board of a wooden table and Mr. Tesla provided a copper-plated egg and several brass balls and pivoted iron discs for convincing his prospective associates. He placed the egg on the table and, to their astonishment, it stood on end, but when they found that it was rapidly spinning their stupefaction was complete. The brass balls and pivoted iron discs in turn were set spinning rapidly by the rotating field, to the amazement of the spectators. No sooner had they regained their composure than Tesla was delighted with the question: “Do you want any money?” “Columbus was never in a worse predicament,” said the great inventor, who had parted with his last portrait of George Washington in defraying the expenses of the preparation. Before the meeting adjourned he had a substantial check in his pocket, and it was given with the assurance that there was more to be had in the same bank. That started the ball rolling. Tens of millions of horsepower of Tesla’s induction motors are now in use all over the world and their production is rising like a flood.
Fig. 4. This photograph represents a collection of a few of Tesla's wireless lamps, such as he proposes to use in lighting isolated dwellings all over the world from central wireless plants. The two lamps at either corner at the bottom are illuminated, owing to the fact that a high frequency oscillator was in operation some distance away when this photograph was being taken. These tubes were filled with various gases for experimental research work in determining which was most efficient.
In 1893 Mr. Albert Schmid, then Superintendent of the Westinghouse Electric and Mfg. Co. constructed a powerful rotating field ring with an egg made of copper, and larger than that of an ostrich, for Dr. Tesla’s personal collection at the Chicago World’s Fair. This piece of apparatus was one of the most attractive novelties ever publicly shown and drew enormous crowds every day. Subsequently it was taken to Mr. Tesla’s laboratory and served there permanently for demonstrating rotating field phenomena. In his experiments it was practicable to use as much as 200 horsepower for a short time, without overheating the wires and the effects of the magnetic forces were wonderfully fascinating to observe. This is the very ring indicated in the accompanying photograph (Fig. 1), giving a view of Mr. Tesla’s former laboratory at 46 E. Houston Street, New York. It is shown in detail in Fig. 2, and the mode of winding is illustrated in diagram (Fig. 3). Originally the two-phase arrangement was provided but Mr. Tesla transformed it to the three- and four-phase when desired. On top of the ring was fastened a thin circular board, slightly hollowed, and provided around its circumference with a guard to prevent the objects from flying off.
Even more interesting than the spinning egg was the exhibition of planetary motion. In this experiment one large, and several small brass balls were usually employed. When the field was energized all the balls would be set spinning, the large one remaining in the center while the small ones revolved around it, like moons about a planet, gradually receding until they reached the outer guard and raced along the same.
But the demonstration which most imprest the audiences was the simultaneous operation of numerous balls, pivoted discs and other devices placed in all sorts of positions and at considerable distances from the rotating field. When the currents were turned on and the whole animated with motion, it presented an unforgettable spectacle. Mr. Tesla had many vacuum bulbs in which small, light metal discs were pivotally arranged on jewels and these would spin anywhere in the hall when the iron ring was energized. *
Rotating fields of 15,000 horsepower are now being turned out by the leading manufacturers and it is very likely that in the near future capacities of 50,000 horsepower will be employed in the steel and other industries and ship propulsion by Tesla’s electric drive which, according to Secretary of the Navy Daniels’ statement, has proved a great success.
But any student interested in these phenomena can repeat all the classical experiments of Tesla by inexpensive apparatus. For this purpose it is only necessary to make two slip ring connections on an ordinary small direct current motor or dynamo and to wind an iron ring with four coils as indicated in diagram Fig. 3. No particular rule need be given for the windings but it may be stated that he will get the best results if he will use an iron ring of comparatively small section and wind it with as many turns of stout wire as practicable. He can heavily copper plate an egg but he should bear in mind that Tesla’s egg is not as innocent as that of Columbus. The worst that can happen with the latter is that it might be, — er — over ripe! but the Tesla egg may explode with disastrous effect because the copper plating is apt to be brought to a high temperature thru the induced currents. The sensible experimenter will, therefore, first suck out the contents of the egg — thus satisfying both his appetite and thirst for knowledge.
Fig. 5. This illustration shows one of Tesla's high frequency oscillation generators and a bank of his high frequency lamps lighted by the same. These highly evacuated, gas filled tubes were operated in different ways. In some cases they were connected to one wire only: In other instances to two wires, in the manner of ordinary incandescent lamps. Often, however, they were operated without any connection to wires at all, i.e., by "wireless energy", over quite appreciable distances, which could have been greatly extended with more power. The oscillator comprises a Tesla high potential transformer which is excited from a condenser and circuit controller, as described in his patents of 1896. The primary exciting element comprised a powerful electro-magnet actuating an armature, and this circuit was connected with 110 volt, 60 cycle A.C. or D.C. When the oscillator was put into operation, the interrupter actuated by the electro-magnet connected to the 110 volt circuit, became simultaneously the spark gap for the high potential exciting circuit, which included this vibrator, spark gap, a high tension condenser and the primary of the high frequency Tesla transformer. The lamps were connected to the secondary of the latter, the terminals of which are seen in the rear of the machine.
Besides the rotating field apparatus Mr. Tesla had other surprises for his audiences, which were even more wonderful. So, for instance, the coil on three legs, visible in the foreground, was used to operate wireless motors, lamps and other devices, and the spiral coil in the background served to show extraordinary high potential phenomena, as streamers of great length.
End
Source File: Tesla's Egg of Columbus
Also See: Mr. Tesla's Personal Exhibit at the World's Fair
Addendum
Images, Notes, Additional Links
A - Above is a historic example of Tesla's Egg of Columbus photographed at his personal exhibit at the Chicago World's Fair in 1893. Click for a high resolution clip taken from a photograph preserved by the Detre Library & Archives, Heinz History Center and hosted by the University of Pittsburgh Library System. It is the source image of the table setup shown on page 478 of the Martin Book. Martin credits Mr. C. F. Scott - Charles F. Scott (engineer), of the Westinghouse Electric and Manufacturing Co., for the construction of the demonstration device shown in this photograph. Years later, Electrical Experimenter credits Albert Schmid, and I do believe that credit is in error. Thomas Commerford Martin took great care to check the accuracy of his information prior to publication, and the magazine article above was published over 25 years after the fact. -- Additional note: The induction coil, labled U above, was identified by Martin as the actual coil Tesla used in the demonstration shown in Figure 125 of his 1891 Lecture.
Above: Tesla designed 2-phase motor/generator of the type used to power Tesla's Egg of Columbus in the New York laboratories. Tesla had one of these type two-phase machines furnished to the laboratory in NY at the same time the Egg was being constructed in Pittsburgh: they appeared to be a matched pair or set of equipment specifically designed to maximize the power, intensity, and effects produced by the Egg during demonstrations. Large power factor correction capacitors were likely used by Tesla to cancel some or all of the inductive reactance of the windings, in accordance with 455,067 and 464,666. It is also very likely that Tesla had the Egg layered with windings of thin iron sheet alternating with the copper magnet wire windings. Tesla had exclusive access to a 500 h.p. two-phase generator circuit at the 1893 World's Fair which presumably powered the Egg for the demonstrations recorded there. This type generator head above was used in New York, where they also served as iso/synchronous motors, as well as the Colorado Springs, and Wardenclyffe laboratories. Click image for more information.
This is a more modern reproduction of Tesla's Egg
Tesla thoroughly patented the electromagnetic geometry of his Egg of Columbus, and he discussed the technology at length in a paper he provided to the American Institute of Electrical Engineers in 1888. Figs. 9-10 in this paper depicts the two-phase generator power supply driving the four coils of Tesla's Egg in patented motor-generator technology.
But the most important aspect of Tesla's development here is his use of this particular device as his starting point into wireless energy technology. There is no question based on the description above and on the description provided by Thomas Commerford Martin that Tesla's Egg of Columbus was the first research tool into wireless motor technology. Somewhere, I have read a quote about Tesla that was I believe credited to his public demonstration of the Egg at the 1893 World's Fair. Tesla was asked if people attending his demonstration were witnessing practical wireless power transmission soon to be exploited on an industrial scale, and Tesla replied "No". He disclosed that the motor armatures that were spinning wirelessly were inductively coupled to the field generator, which is the iron ring wound with four coils. Because the coupling is only inductive, the range is severely limited, and while it makes an impressive demonstration, it is not practical on a large scale. But Tesla also stated that this was his "starting point", and I need to be very clear... Tesla was launching powerful rotating magnetic fields from an iron ring and this was his first wireless transmitter... It operated at a frequency well below the radio range, and maxed out at about 300 Hertz when Tesla was driving 200 horsepower into the windings. But even in these demonstrations the effects always work best at the lower frequencies, 25-30 Hz for the Egg.
If this is not understood, then understanding Tesla's process and his wireless development can never be understood
* Editors note: My bolding
Articles by Tesla
Tesla made public disclosures of means, methods, systems, and apparatus in various articles.
The Inventions, Researches, and Writings of
Nikola Tesla
