In Defense of George Westinghouse Jr.

[@Kathy_Loves_Physics]

At 10:12 I meant to say natural gas was cleaner than coal not safer than coal. sorry

[@lordmuntague]

I've dropped the odd sack of coal on my foot in my time, I think you were right the first time...

[@johnopalko5223]

Natural gas, being mostly non-toxic methane, is very much safer than the coal gas (also known as town gas or illuminating gas) being used at the time. Coal gas is largely carbon monoxide. Perhaps that was Westinghouse's motivation.

[@NormReitzel]

It's safer than coal, for the miner By a lot.

[@WatchingDude]

I thought you meant safer in terms of health.

[@Neapoleone-Buonaparte]

This lady is a Jewish angel.

[@peterduffy1913]

Tesla's enormous respect and affection for George Westinghouse is readily apparent with just a bit of digging through the historic record. George Westinghouse was an atypical man of his time in many ways. In the end, the Electric Company was his pride and joy and its loss from the Panic of 1907 crushed and ultimately crushed his soul. He's a great man who should be honored for a life well spent at improving life quality for everyone.

[@hallkbrdz]

Excellent video as usual. I have read that unlike Edison, Westinghouse let the employees who came up with ideas on company time, patent them as their own inventions, so long as Westinghouse could make use of them. Very generous even compared to today.

[@Kathy_Loves_Physics]

Right! Not only did he let them file a patent in their own name, he would then put the inventors name on the product. I don’t know any other company that did or does that.

[@fromgermany271]

Today you would be the co-inventor to whoever is feeling responsible for technology on the board of your company. I checked this in my company years ago, when I knew the actual inventors of some of the patents.

[@chrisfuller1268]

@@fromgermany271 yes, this happened to me recently where I presented new technology to senior company management and one of the managers told me to patent the idea as their invention! First time this has happened to me after many patents.

[@YoutubeBorkedMyOldHandle_why]

Great to see you giving George Westinghouse the dignity that he deserves. None of this surprises me however. I read a book about Westinghouse when I was in grade 5, and he's been a hero to me ever since. In the age of 'robber barons', where most industrialists were monsters, Westinghouse was uniquely descent, kind and caring. My favourite story involved an irate employee who was frustrated at being unable to successfully complete a task. His timing was poor however, because at the same moment he was having his meltdown on the shop floor, Westinghouse happened to be giving a tour to some dignitaries. One can only imagine how other employers might have reacted. Westinghouse however, approached the employee and calmly asked him what the problem was. After the shock at seeing his boss subsided, the man explained the problem. Westinghouse put on a work vest and proceeded to spend the next 20 minutes showing the man exactly how to do the task correctly. When he was satisfied that the man understood ... he simply continued with the tour. Edison has 1093 patents to his name vs Westinghouse with 380. One might be inclined to think Edison won in this regard, until you realize that Westinghouse allowed his employees to file patents in their own names, whereas all inventions by Edison's employees were filed in Edison's name. Edison was not a patent troll ... but he leaned in this direction, whereas Westinghouse's patents ... were all genuine. Imagine a World where people treat others, including their employees, with this level of respect.

[@Kathy_Loves_Physics]

Exactly! That is why it makes me so upset to see him insulted or ignored. I was also thinking about how Westinghouse only let people file patents while working for him but also put their name on his devices (even if the person wasn’t at all famous like Schallenberger)! that seems unheard of then or now.

[@joyhaave6151]

A year late to the party here, but I just hit the "Like" and "Subscribe" buttons! Thankful for your curious mind and generous heart - am citing your work in an assignment, Ms. Lady.

[@NolanManteufel]

When I was a kid, I read many books about this Era of electrical engineers. I always respected Westinghouse more than others and wished to be like him if I ever succeeded big. Funny what we remember as we grow older.

[@pittlebelge]

As with every other bit of work you've shared on KZbin, the care you take with research and digging out those primary sources is remarkable. I look forward for your next video and I'm on my way to buy your book. Thank you for that brilliant history of electricity.

[@Kathy_Loves_Physics]

Thanks 🙏

[@-haclong2366]

You deserve your own P.B.S. show.

[@55Ramius]

Love your way of conveying the truth and the secrets of past inventors. Not many can hold my attention as you do. You are doing a super job at this. Hope you never get burnt out with it. 🙂

[@TheCrotchetyoldwoman]

Self promotion seems to last a lot longer than the lives of the self promoters. Tesla, Edison, and Marconi are far better know and liked than Westinghouse, Maxwell, Lodge, Faraday, Cavendish, and Steinmetz. Thank you for bringing us the stories of some of the less promoted. Didn't Westinghouse witness a horrible train accident as a kid that was due to the limitations of the braking system of the time which was the brakeman having to run on the roof of the train cars and turn a wheel on each car? I think I read somewhere that's what inspired him to invent the air brake. His inventions saved many lives. I'm so looking forward to your book.

[@johnjohnson5028]

Add Reginald Fessenden to your list of little known inventors.

[@jag12549]

PBS Does a phenomenal piece on the incredibly generous, wildly intelligent and altruistic man that was George Westinghouse

[@Kathy_Loves_Physics]

I actually just found that special. It was very good.

[@unclemarksdiyauto]

What a turn a round from what we all believed! Good research Kathy! And a late congrats on the 100k subs!

[@PeterTreloar]

Excellent discussion again Kathy. Thanks for all your hard work in uncovering the source material. I believe every physics school student should be set compulsory viewing of every video you put out that is on topic!

[@timeflysintheshop]

Congratulations on hitting 100k subscribers! I look forward to congratulating you when you hit 1 million!

[@Kathy_Loves_Physics]

I’m looking forward to that too 🤣❤️

[@preiter20]

Love your videos. As a fan of science and discovery I always learn many new things from you.

[@tomschmidt381]

I was surprised to learn Westinghouse had a negative reputation. My understanding was the opposite. He was very unlike the robber barrens of the turn of the contrary, he was a generous person. If I remember correctly, forget where I read it, he supported financially Tesla late in Tesla's life.

[@pyropulseIXXI]

Funny how that works. The 'robber barons' all have mainstream support. Propaganda is a strong thing

[@LuisAldamiz]

I often play this old videogame (originally a board game) "1830 robbers and barons", which is loosely speaking "railroad monopoly" (but better) and you have to play as one of said "robber barons", I rarely pick up Westinghouse, but after watching your fascinating apology of him, I will from now on. Also thanks for calrifying all those legends about Tesla.

[@scottbrown4534]

Kathy, thanks for the further insight into George Westinghouse. This also helps to paint a better picture of Nikola Tesla, which picture is sadly missing in popular culture. The Westinghouse company built a large rotating equipment factory in Tampa long years ago before the corporation moved towards land development in Florida. The site of the Westinghouse factory is now a high rise condominium. As Florida developers go, sadly a sorry bunch if you really study them, I found the Westinghouse development people to be fair and ethical, especially compared with their contemporaries. My opinion of Westinghouse Development Company (WDC) now squares much better with the history of the Westinghouse Electric company, with much thanks to you!

[@TexRenner]

The magical super-intellect Nikola Tesla has become in pop culture has required Westinghouse and Edison to be cast as evil thugs. They were all just people who earned a level of power and notoriety that has historically been very hard for men to deal with. Westinghouse seems to have been more successful at attaining personal happiness than either Tesla or Edison.

[@uprightape100]

Thank you so much, Kathy. Another enlightening essay.

[@mikemike7001]

It's so nice to get these ever-fascinating stories straight. It's not clear what if anything remains of the original Westinghouse Electric Company after what appears to have been its disastrous focus on the nuclear power industry. As far as I can tell, its most direct descendant is a company that licenses the Westinghouse brand name. I'm not sure they actually make any products themselves. OTOH, a descendant of the Westinghouse Air Brake Company, Wabtec, still manufacturers railroad equipment, including braking systems and even locomotives. In the latest of many entanglements between Westinghouse and GE, Wabtec merged with GE's locomotive division, GE Transportation, in 2019.

[@jimprice1959]

Great video. George Westinghouse is overdue for some honest reporting about his achievements and fair treatment of his workers. Also... The "frog" you mentioned was not for rerailing train wheels. It is used in switches where the rails cross over.

[@Kathy_Loves_Physics]

Strange, because he invented one when he saw a train that was derailed and complained that it would take too long to try to get back on its track.

[@jimprice1959]

@@Kathy_Loves_Physics I know he invented the switch frog. He might have also invented the rerailer which lifts up a derailed train wheel onto the track.

[@Kathy_Loves_Physics]

Thanks for clarifying.

[@joelb8653]

Your book was delivered yesterday. Can't wait to get into it!

[@kennethgroves6552]

Kathy = Amazing! Thank You!

[@alastairchestnutt6416]

Another great talk thanks

[@itsevilbert]

Great as always, thanks.

[@seazenbones6945]

Excellent. Looking forward to the next episode.

[@quentinhilpert9606]

I love Ms. Kathy's descriptions and analysis. She teaches so a high school freshman could understand which means she knows her material. Anyone who teaches with high brow technicals probably does not fully understand what they are trying to "teach" or even talk about.

[@martinpollard8846]

Excellent as always.

[@cslloyd1]

One of your best videos ever! Someone should do video about the history of history and how many lies and agendas are codified by nefarious historians. I see it all the time in current events, and it’s not new.

[@keacoq]

That was just an excellent video, thank you Kathy. Gave me much more of a background of the history of electricity that I woud like to have understood at the beginning of my career, not long after the end of it. If Tesla was a scientist, Westinghouse was the engineer. It seems his interest was that technology be put into use. So he saw (as I interpret it) that patents often had the effect of suppressing advances in technology, because people were reluctant to put lots of effort into developing ideas, where everything could be thwarted by excessive demands for royalties. I read a historical novel about Tesla, Edison and Westinghouse that presented Tesla as arriving in the US with all the essential ideas for three-phase power worked out. (I do not have the publication details) . Edison rejected his ideas but Westinghouse adopted them . That book presented Westinghouse as the man who had the vision to put scientific discoveries into practical use. I guess that for people like that, the big reward was in getting his ideas adopted for public good. But what incredible courage and strength to pay good wages, and to pay the price demanded for those patent rights he needed.

[@frederickhampel5452]

So rare to have one person with such a clear grasp of science and history. Great piece of historiography.

[@JustaReadingguy]

Yea! I got you book today. Excited

[@Kathy_Loves_Physics]

Fabulous! Thanks

[@rexmyers991]

Great episode! Thanks, Kathy. I really appreciate your deep research and due diligence.

[@michaelmoorrees3585]

What I've read, there was a generous lump sum payment, from Westinghouse to Tesla, but also, while Westinghouse was alive, he'd fund any of Tesla's projects. Money got tight, only after Westinghouse died.

[@kerryjlynch1]

Your videos are always great! I was a client of both Westinghouse (now ABB) & GE electric power divisions for many years. Very smart people at both, and all treated me well. I do have to say the Westinghouse folk were kindler & gentler while the GE people were a little more hard-headed money-first business people. Reflecting their founders?

[@CharlieTechie]

It was so refreshing to hear history set straight. I love your channel and also saw your interview on EEV Blog with Dave Jones.

[@Jabber_Wock]

Just received my hardcover copy of The Lightning Tamers today!!!! 😊

[@xscale]

Beautiful work, thank you Kathy! Digging out details on why Wardenclyffe was shut down would be really interesting too. I used to think it was simply that such wireless transmission couldn't be properly secured to prevent theft by anyone who cared to float a conductive balloon. But I suspect the story is more interesting than that.

[@bitnertinkers]

Thanks for all your work on this history!

[@c_b5060]

I enjoyed this video. And I just received your book.

[@rexsolomon6325]

Thank you so much for researching this Kathy!

[@bobdinitto]

Thanks for this Kathy, I've always thought Westinghouse an unlikely villain and it seems history is now validating that suspicion. Looking forward to find out how the rumor got started!

[@josephrapoza6453]

I think you have cleared up the truth. Great job again.

[@garrysekelli6776]

Westinghouse was like a modern Leonardo da Vinci.

[@jbflores01]

Another captivating and informative video! Great work, as always!

[@jamesslick4790]

"Solitude" was demolished after World War I and the entire estate (A city block square) is now Westinghouse Park that straddles the Point Breeze and Homewood neighborhoods.

[@flyjet787]

You obviously do extensive research for your historical videos. I have really enjoyed the few I've seen to date, and especially enjoy your wonderful enthusiasm! 😊

[@lagautmd]

There's a strange cult-like overvaluing of Tesla. That's not to say Tesla wasn't an important inventor and contributor to the history of practical development of electrification. It's just that people latch on to him as an example of personal worries that 'big forces really control the world and they hated _____'. Insert into the blank whatever it is that you feel has been insufficiently recognized. It's a conspiracy theory mindset that doesn't past scrutiny of primary sources. Thank you for giving us the real story!

[@asalamkamal6365]

I love you ❤️Thank you so much for your effort, you provide great content

[@soldierofmygod]

Amazing video! Thank you for this.

[@piuswanyonyi9723]

Good 👍

[@I-Libertine]

Team Westinghouse here! Thanks for this awesome video.

[@brucewinningham4959]

I Love these videos. Please keep coming Kathy.

[@peteroconnor5537]

Great research Kathy to find that letter Tesla wrote. Wesinghouse was a true gentleman who deserved all the wealth he had. Everything I have read on him has been positive and Well balanced. Both were amazing men.

[@GraemePayne1967Marine]

Forty+ years working with electronics and electricity, and I have never heard this before. THANK YOU for bringing it up. Also, I now kow I need to find a copy of Tesla's book.

[@questionmark9684]

Dear Kathy, I loved this video lecture as I love all those that I've watched so far. Thank you for setting the record straight for me; this helps me enjoy the history that much more. I've received your book yesterday and I started reading it last night. This morning on my commute I was undecided: should I watch your new video or read on in your book? Well, I'll continue with the book on my way home. Have a great day. Cheers, Mark

[@boulderbobb]

Thank you for this great video! I worked for Westinghouse from 1975 to 1993 and started my career at the original Factory where the largest hydroelectric generators were made. I would like to read more about the development of the various Westinghouse manufacturing facilities in the first half of the 20th century

[@gregchambers6100]

I'm glad you covered this. And in such a caring way.

[@proof6930]

Except for the contract with Tesla, everything I've read or seen about Westinghouse indicates he was an excellent engineer, generous in business deals, fair boss. He was not greedy or egotistical. The electrical contract didn't make sense. The royalties were so excessive, the business would be untenable from the beginning.

[@philhermetic]

Brilliant video, loved it!

[@Ma_X64]

As far as I know, Tesla and Westinghouse were good friends outside of a purely partnership relationship. In addition, understanding something in psychology, I can say that Tesla almost certainly showed a difficult character in a close circle of friends / relatives.

[@johnstutzer8664]

Kathy, you have done right by George Westinghouse. Recently discovered that in a similar way, he bought , and then invested in the inventor of the electric range and automatic electric toaster - Flint Michigan native Floyd Copeman (and happens to be a grandparent of Linda Ronstadt). I believe deep digging will reveal that GW in fact, was this way with many others too.

[@largal3909]

Hi, I just wanted to say thank you for doing these videos! I have been watching and enjoying them. Please keep up the good work!

[@jonwatkins254]

I bought your book. You explain things more effectively than most teachers. Great Book

[@Kathy_Loves_Physics]

Thanks! Don’t forget to write a review on Amazon, sorry but they control the market and the more reviews I get the better it does

[@dustintran9459]

Rejecting an offer, the next person got it and made a ton of money. It happened in the past and still happens again and again

[@nkliewer]

Well done!

[@hemeoncn]

Great video. Thanks.

[@davidliddelow5704]

Westinghouse was a really great guy and its a travesty that people don’t know more about him. America would be a better place if more business people followed his example.

[@deepwinter77]

Very interesting, I picked up your book on Amazon UK kindle version, looking forward to it. I heard you discuss it with Dave Jones on the EEvblog sounds cool.

[@DJDouglasWarden]

excellent video very informative thank you!

[@alberthartl8885]

It is news to me that Westinghouse was anything other than ethical and generous person. There is a 90 minute KZbin video on his life which is excellent. The lump sum payment to Tesla is well known and would be worth $millions today.

[@petehall1900]

Looking forward to audio book

[@johnaweiss]

3:41 "If Tesla was paid a lump sum for his royalties in 1896, it was impossible that he ripped up a contract for those royalties. In 1891." But, PBS reported that Tesla agreed to "rescind the royalty clause" in 1891, not that he "ripped up the contract" as you state. It seems plausible that Tesla rescinded royalties in 1891. Then in 1896 Westinghouse honorably repaid Tesla for rescinding the royalties. The payment was $216,600 ($7.65 million in 2022) . It wasn't until that time that Westinghouse felt it ethical to announce the completion of the purchase. Perhaps Tesla should be reprimanded for accepting $7.65 million in 2022 dollars. That would not make anyone "one of the richest men in history."

[@rachelbrionesbriones8042]

good for you dear Kathy!! bring up the truth and smash out those early conspirators I always suspect that nobody did anything alone, they always " step on giant shoulders"

[@jamesslick4790]

I'm from Pittsburgh. The names Westinghouse and Heinz were REVERED in our home. Carnegie and Frick? Not so much.

[@Kathy_Loves_Physics]

I don’t know about Heinz (aside from ketchup) sounds interesting.

[@jamesslick4790]

@@Kathy_Loves_Physics Like George Westinghouse, H.J. Heinz treated his workers well (Unlike the other "robber barons") People LIKED and were PROUD to work for these men. Also, in a wider scope, He and his company lobbied FOR the Pure Food and Drug act of 1906! I understand that that COULD be perceived as a way to promote how "pure" Heinz foods were, BUT how often does ANYONE actually LOBBY FOR regulating very business they are in?!?

[@jamesslick4790]

@@Kathy_Loves_Physics P.S. on Ketchup. Pittsburgh is slightly more "Pepsi" than "Coca-Cola", Even R.C. is "O.K." here. BUT using ANYTHING other than Heinz Ketchup will earn the same "looks" that a Pepsi drinker gets in Atlanta. LOL. I mean stores do stock Hunt's but I'm sure that's done for out of towners, LOL. My sister lives THREE BLOCK from where Heinz started his business (Sharpsburg, PA).

[@rb8049]

Westinghouse was great! He made USA great! Thanks!

[@anorlunda]

Off topic, but Westinghouse was a second wizard of Schenectday. He was born there.

[@Kathy_Loves_Physics]

Not to be a well actually kind of person but he was born near Schenectady and went to college for a semester in Schenectady before his professor told him that as he wouldn’t study German and all he did was draw figures of machines that maybe he should quit. But Schenectady still loves him and for good reason

[@larsmunch4536]

Regarding the mentioning of buried AC cables from 19:30 onwards: Did they know at that time, that the repetitive charging and discharging of the capacitance of insulated cables requires a current, that over a certain distance will make use of the whole load-carrying capacity of the cable, so nothing is left for the consumer? And did they know, that this problem could be overcome with uninsulated wires hung up in masts?

[@Kathy_Loves_Physics]

No they did not. Everything was new

[@mernokimuvek]

They did. And even in the early 1900s, inductors were connected in parallel with the cables to compensate for capacitance.

[@zhubajie6940]

I've always known this of Westinghouse. I only read, though disagreed, with the false Tesla stories later and it always confused me why they were so popular. I suppose it is the hero worship of Tesla who did some great things and some great failures as everyone does. People never seem to have a nuanced view of famed people viewing them as saints or demons.

[@nunyabusiness9613]

You don't get nicknamed Saint George by your employees unless you're doing something right.

[@RichardLightburn]

Wow!

[@TheCosmicGuy0111]

Nice

[@nikosfun]

Dear Kathy, I was wandering for very long time, when are you going to make a video about the only man who has been 84 times nominated for NP, but never got it. Prof. Arnold Sommerfeld!! Please, I beg you do it!!

[@andrewjmcgee]

excellent!

[@sphakamisozondi]

Mainstream even think Edison was beefing with Tesla. However, Edison was beefing with Westinghouse instead.

[@VincentGroenewold]

So annoying that my bringing-up was so misinformed all the time, also at school. :) We have the tendency to just accept well-known "facts". I've seen this everywhere, just recently I saw it mentioned on a cooking channel (of all places), where something was always mentioned to be true, even in scientific papers(!) referencing the same source. Which turned out to be a simple hoax source. * sigh *

[@jmmahony]

What does "soft opening" mean at 16:38?

[@johnopalko5223]

As I understand it, it's, essentially, a pilot project. Westinghouse installed a system to see how well it worked, or if it worked at all, before publicly announcing it and making it widely available. Today you usually hear the term in the context of a new store or restaurant having a "soft opening" for a limited number of select clientele before having the grand opening. It gives them a chance to fine tune procedures, etc., before they throw open the doors.

[@jmmahony]

@@johnopalko5223 Thanks. I remember when it was the tech geeks who were accused of using obscure jargon. Today it's business people.

[@johnopalko5223]

@@jmmahony Oh, we tech geeks still use obscure jargon. That hasn't changed. 😁

[@migalito1955]

Nice!

[@yasarsezgin9959]

Dear Kathy, I always follow your excellent videos. I would like you to give detailed information about Paul Dirac's physics work. Kind regards

[@yogiberraslovechild3080]

Isn't it interesting that two of Edison's competitors, Tesla and Westinghouse were discredited?

[@michaelmeenaghan8559]

Another good presentation, need to watch again without whisky fumes obscuring some points,

[@mad0scientist]

G Westinghouse was one of the first CEO's that cared for his employees. He inspired the five day work week. He also paid for Tesla's up keep at the end of his life. Edison was less than ethical in his business dealings.

[@liamthompson9342]

The negative view of Westinghouse is new to me. The documentaries I've seen on youtube typically present him as the super nice guy contrast to ruthless Edison.

[@phishfearme2]

and the even more ruthless Morgan

[@autishd]

Could you do a series on the contributions of women to science.

[@softwarerevolutions]

Mam, if you can make a video on the forgotten genius Oliver Heaviside.

[@jafinch78]

I'm going off on a tangent here with the theme related to hydrostations generators and my conspiracy gripe that comes to mind (among others) for some reason when thinking about this topic... why can't more fluid bearing be critically calculated and integrated into more systems to bring down the expenses and increase the operating lifecycle? I missed this video until now and is great, at the least, as always.

[@asimt2507]

I am from India. But Amazon India does not sell print version of the Book. Can you help me?

[@Kathy_Loves_Physics]

They should print it, please contact [e-mail] and we will look into what’s going on.

[@chiprenner3800]

Kathy is smart

[@leiferickson3183]

Cliffhanger!