Talk:Charles Proteus Steinmetz
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I have heard the tale of Steimetz and the faulty generator. I have also heard it told of others. Can anyone document that this happened to someone? Rich J 16:48 1 Jun 2003 (UTC)
snopes doesn't seem very impressed either - andrew cooke
I read about it in "The Man Who Tamed Lightning". I have found a transcription online at this website. The story is right at the end. It really seems more in character for him than for the other people the story has be attributed to. Just my two cents. Eoseth
There is a John Dos Passos´ literary text about Charles Proteus Steinmetz. The title of the text is "Proteus", and it is included in the Martin Gardner´s compilation The sacred beetle.Randroide 12:59, 19 May 2006 (UTC)
[edit] Steinmetz electrical engineering library
I am sitting here with the 3. edition of "Theory and calculation of transient electric phenomena and oscillations" on the binding it says "Steinmetz electrical engineering library, volume 8" I like to know what the others volumes are. The only thing I could find on the web where Steinmetz Electrical Engineering Library, orig. publ. 1915 - 1920 in 9 volumes by McGraw Hill
[edit] Pioneer of AC?
I believe the statement from this article that says He fostered the development of alternating current that made possible the expansion of the electric power industry in the United States is wrong.
First and foremost the man who ushered in AC to the US industry was Nikola Tesla who also invented the first workable motors/generators for AC. All of the early AC patents are in Tesla's name. AC was strongly opposed by Edison whose company was merged with another to form General Electric. They originally merged so that they could combat Tesla's investor (Westinghouse) over the DC/AC controversy.
Since GE was opposed to AC power generation in their inception I find it very suspect that one of GE's engineers "ushered in AC" to the US industry. Most likely GE hired this guy to help them convert from DC to AC generation when they realized they were losing the battle. I suggest that, that statement be removed from the article, or altered to better reflect his contributions to the electric field and the US economy. I will remove it in a week if there are no objections and/or changes Grundle 19:02, 26 June 2006 (UTC)
- Well..."fostered the development" does NOT mean "ushered in". As I recall Tesla was obsessed with wireless power transmission using AC. Yes his contributions were significant. Steinmetz made serious mathematically based contributions that fostered [Quoted Def- To promote the growth and development of; cultivate: See Synonyms at advance] significant advances in applied theory that helped concepts such as the transmission of power over lines for distribution. While I understand your caution, we have no conflict nor inaccuracies here. Regardless of GE's motives, Steinmetz's accomplishments stand in the end. See the list of his papers and patents in the article... -- --Steve 17:28, 27 June 2006 (UTC)
Tesla DEMONSTRATED AC motors to the American Institute of Electrical Engineers 1888, and to best of my knowledge, HE invented them on his own, together with Alternating Current, which would be impossible without his AC generators.... See: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electric_motor —Preceding unsigned comment added by 78.1.115.186 (talk) 00:30, 19 February 2008 (UTC)
[edit] Anecdote
I think this anecdote should be removed. It is attributable to so many different people and does not do as good a job as is possible in showing some of Steinmetz' character.--patrickc284 16:32, 13 July 2006 (UTC)
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Here is the anecdote in case anyone ever authenticates it (I remember reading it and really liking the human quality, but it does need to be checked):
The following was published in the Letters section of Life magazine (May 14, 1965): Sirs: In your article on Steinmetz (April 23) you mentioned a consultation with Henry Ford. My father, Burt Scott, who was an employee of Henry Ford for many years, related to me the story behind that meeting. Technical troubles developed with a huge new generator at Ford's River Rouge plant. His electrical engineers were unable to locate the difficulty so Ford solicited the aid of Steinmetz. When "the little giant" arrived at the plant, he rejected all assistance, asking only for a notebook, pencil and cot. For two straight days and nights he listened to the generator and made countless computations. Then he asked for a ladder, a measuring tape and a piece of chalk. He laboriously ascended the ladder, made careful measurements, and put a chalk mark on the side of the generator. He descended and told his skeptical audience to remove a plate from the side of the generator and take out 16 windings from the field coil at that location. The corrections were made and the generator then functioned perfectly. Subsequently Ford received a bill for $10,000 signed by Steinmetz for General Electric. Ford returned the bill acknowledging the good job done by Steinmetz but respectfully requesting an itemized statement. Steinmetz replied as follows: Making chalk mark on generator $1. Knowing where to make mark $9,999. Total due $10,000.
