The Abandoned Atom Smasher Explained

[@robertschemonia5617]

I wish more people knew about George Westinghouse. He and Nikola Tesla are the reason we have the infrastructure we have today. Also, he invented air brakes for trains, and the railway frog, amongst other things. He also pioneered the 2 day weekend for his workers. He was also a Civil War veteran.

[@michawisniewski4654]

just don't forget how Westinghouse effectively stole some inventions (including AC induction motor) using fake witnesses. It was a shame, because his workers were really smart, but it seems that it was cheaper to pay lawyers than to actually obtain IP rights

[@bender7565]

Worked for the circle bar dubya in the 80's, 70-80's no one in the free world made more radars. George liked $$ and he played Tesla like a $3 banjo. Tesla helped him whip Edison, George passed one of the richest men in the world, Tesla passed penniless in a NY hotel. I met a guy in Coronado back then that had a hard on for George saying he took the brake invention from his grand dad. I believed him.

[@robertschemonia5617]

@bender7565 well, Edisons patents? 90% weren't his. If you worked for Edison and invented something, the patent went to Edison. And, nobody is a saint. Tesla has his own issues as we all do. Rudolph Diesel died penniless as well. This world runs on sweat and diesel fuel. Ships, trucks, trains, 95% of construction equipment, etc. Nobody knows who he was, but everyone knows about diesel.

[@angelmasionett7150]

Ask the Jews they seem to know everything

[@dazaspc]

A mad inventor indeed. He drilled for gas in his back yard built a proper well head and proceeded to sell it to his neighbours.

[@misterjaxon2559]

Should have been made a National Heritage Site. What a shame to lose it.

[@bockhouse]

They would like to move it up to the new park on Ardmore boulevard but the weight of it will destroy the road and it's in the middle of a residential area so it's not easily turned into something of high traffic

[@bockhouse]

Sokash did you stop at Vincent's Pizza while you were in Forest hills? Greatest pizza you'll ever eat in your life... All hail the dirty Vinny pie

[@indridcold8433]

If it had a fomous name associated with it, it would be fully restored and maybe even functioning.

[@foreverpinkf.7603]

The USA spends millions on the preservation of war memorials and war equipment. Science is not so important.

[@SuperAgentman007]

I agree, 100% that should’ve been a national heritage site. It’s sort of like if the titanic was still around today that would be considered a national heritage site. Is this place helped developed the first atomic bomb as well

[@alonzobrickman7418]

Great video, I majored in Physics (1980s) and remember a single reference to this facility, a photo and one line of text. Always struck me how much the containment chamber resembled a hot air balloon or a light bulb. Nice to have more information.

[@ryanschweikhardt]

Westinghouse was THE man to work for. He let his employees keep their patents.

[@rtqii]

They got credit for the patent, but the Westinghouse Manufacturing Company was the assignee... The company owned the patent.

[@markrancatore9525]

My wife’s grandfather worked for Westinghouse Electric Company in the 1940’s and he and his whole family were relocated to Oakridge Tennessee. He was not given specifics about the work he was doing. As it turns out he was working on the Manhattan Project. Later he received a certificate commending him on the work he did on the Manhattan Project which we still have. Also as another fact, the atom smasher was referred to as the eggplant by many locals because of its shape.

[@koushiroizumi0]

The eggplant?! Not light bulb or hot air baloon but eggplant?! It ain't anywhere near that shape..

[@tj79jrfan]

I live a couple of miles from the original site the steel light bulb shaped hall that was over The vacuum tubes does still existt. All buildings were demolished It was said to be made into a monument to the original buildings and apartments put on the site, but the developer ran out of Money And was unable to do so last I heard the township where the building was located Is talking about moving The light bulb shape device to a local park and using it as a monument there.But it does still exist on the original property at this time Although it is laying on its side with no protection and at the moment is roasting away

[@rogerpenske2411]

I saw an Apollo capsule in a junk yard in Tucson in the late 1970’s!

[@alfredhernandez9799]

Westinghouse didn't "become" CBS in the 1990s. Both companies existed long before.

[@glenlongstreet7]

I did a bit of research and discovered that Westinghouse bought CBS and about a year later they dropped the Westinghouse name. So, CBS became Westinghouse and then Westinghouse became CBS. It is just semantics. Reported by LA Times on 8/2/95 "Just a day after the Walt Disney Co. announced that it would buy the nation’s most successful television network, Westinghouse Electric Corp. stepped up on Tuesday with an offer to pay $5.4 billion in cash for CBS Inc., the only remaining independent network and the weakest of the Big Three."

[@pazsion]

but didnt give up the name...

[@Tgspartnership]

ah thankyou i thought i had just eaten a gullible pill

[@SoCalBreakfastClub]

My father grew up in this neighborhood He took me back in 2018 to see it He was able to see it from his back yard. Im so glad you covered this. I can show my friends that ive been telling about this thing for years over some beers

[@KarldorisLambley]

i like your reply. it is like poetry.

[@brunonikodemski2420]

Both the Westinghouse and the later EG&G companies were utilized by the Manhattan Project to develop the earl Krytrons, Sprytrons, Ignitrons, and later Trigatrons, for weapons detonator triggering. We had two such shops across the street from our plant, and another down the road. These were later surperceded by light-fired thyratrons or solid state SCRs and IGBTs. In recent times, Westinghouse built the power Transistors for us, for the Lunar Roving Vehicles, and these devices were also used in railroad and ships-drive motoring systems. Used to be a great company.

[@hestheMaster]

It is a Van De Graaff generator that normally would produce almost a million Volts. This was modified to be like a vacuum tube with a cover that looks like a light bulb so no air was able to get to the static discharge produced so it was able to attain 5 million Volts.

[@HansOvervoorde]

@@hestheMaster one of a kind, it's engineering and the craftmanship must have been amazing. So very sad it's demolished, so fairly recently.

[@michawisniewski4654]

quite the opposite. Low vacuum would essentially make it large neon lamp, so the shell was at overpressure - compressed air is less prone to corona discharge, thus allowing Van de Graff generator to produce higher voltage

[@bockhouse]

@@hestheMaster would also be awesome Ryan for you to come visit it so you can see all of the ceramic insulators that are inside it It's truly something to walk up onto

[@scubasteve7858]

Its still there if you still want to see it. Its just on its side now​@HansOvervoorde

[@lbochtler]

it was a pressure vessel, not a vacuum chamber. The shell is far too weak to withstand a vacuum. The higher pressure allowed for higher voltages due to increasing the dielectric breakdown voltage. A vacuum would need to be in the range of 1e-5 torr to be able to achieve similar voltages, but has the problem of field emission discharges.

[@joshm3342]

I grew up near Pittsburgh, and that Atom Smasher was within my stomping grounds, but I never heard of it until this video (even though half the folks I knew had a friend or relative who had worked at one of the MANY Westinghouse plants around Pittsburgh). There was a decent sized Van de Graaff Generator at the Buhl Planetarium, now called the Carnegie Science Center.

[@gordtron]

would've been so cool to see videos of this beast in action.

[@aviphysics]

@@gordtron I have worked on accelerators mass spectrometers that use peletrons to generate similar voltages is a similar way to a vandagraph. While they are cool, there isn't a lot to see.

[@newdefsys]

That W logo use to have so much meaning and influence on the public consciousness, everyone knew exactly what it stood for, everybody knew the name _Westinghouse_

[@spamanator666]

You would think some museum would want the real thing instead of a tiny replica, but, it is huge. Sad end.

[@michaelwhite2823]

Last time I looked up the location it was lying on its side across from houses. Imagine looking out your window and seeing that for 30 years.

[@TheDonSapius]

I would honestly love it. XD

[@aceman2506]

For about three years, I lived immediately across the street from it, it was kind of surreal walking out front every morning to go to work.

[@johannesswarts1440]

It's a shame this installation wasn't preserved as a historical site... For the importance and unique form, if nothing else.

[@charlottemiller7675]

This device close to the Westinghouse Bridge that goes from North Versailles into Forrest Hills. I drive over it everyday. I often think of my Aunt Charlotte who worked as the head secretary to the CEO of Westinghouse in NYC from the 50s to the 70s. I didbt realize until older that she was at the top of her career in the world 9d office assistants back then. I miss her but feel a bit closer when I drive over the bridge and think if maybe she wrote a memo about its construction.

[@indridcold8433]

"You can be sure... If it's Westinghouse."

[@randyhavard6084]

The Manhattan project was so large I'm sure there were many, many people that knew someone connected with some research facility that had something to do with the Manhattan project

[@1978garfield]

"What once was a beautiful mansion has been turned in to basket ball courts" . That's a metaphor if I ever saw one.

[@jonnda]

Bummer that Westinghouse made them demolish the property. I would have wanted to visit it as a house museum.

[@lbochtler]

same

[@androidemulator6952]

Absolute shame such a historical significant device is left derelict .. ;(

[@lbochtler]

the accelerator is completely destroyed. the bulb is bend and the beam pipe in which the particle beam traveled is smashed to pieces within. The rubble pile outside is about the same as it is inside the pressure Versal. If it where to be rebuilt, it would need to constructed anew, as likely even the pullies where destroyed by the ceramic shards from the beam pipe. Also, without the building and the infrastructure inside it, the van de graf in the bulb is useless and incomplete.

[@bobpitt1261]

That should be "voltage multiplier", not "voltage manipulator" at 08:10.

[@rockerbuttons25]

I'm watching this on my lunch break at Elliott company and at the 2:00 minute mark I see an Elliott compressor in one of the pictures.

[@Hiddensecret9]

His inventions, like air brakes and the railway frog, transformed the safety and efficiency of rail transport. On top of that, Westinghouse’s progressive introduction of the two-day weekend set a new precedent for workers’ rights

[@marcbrasse747]

“Mom, somebody left an atom smasher in our back yard!” 😁

[@olsonspeed]

Sad to see these historical sites being lost to neglect and the elements.

[@horacioguillermobrizuela4295]

Amazing. I had no idea of the existence of the Atom Smasher. A really nice video, thank you!

[@TheSilmarillian]

Amazing indeed thank you for this deep dive into history.

[@eddiepires3998]

I enjoyed this very interesting video. Well researched and presented.

[@ntsst3]

Love when you do pittsburgh videos. My uncle lives in forest hills and I've personally trespassed here many times in my youth!

[@bockhouse]

All in all that was a great recap You should mention though I don't know amendment something along those lines that the monument to George Westinghouse is not in Westinghouse Park It's in schenley Park in panther hollow across from the Phipps conservatory. Westinghouse Park is it 7501 Thomas boulevard. I drive past it everyday on my way from our apartment building in the 6700 block to construction junction to drop off recycling... All in all though well done sir

[@FernandoTRA]

You aren't allowed to say "Manhattan Project"?

[@gordtron]

it triggers Japanese from the 1940s.

[@ilionreactor1079]

He says it at 6:41

[@ronniewatkins]

​@ilionreactor1079 and several other times

[@FernandoTRA]

@@ilionreactor1079 yes, I noticed. Jumped the gun on that one.

[@Soundbrigade]

Manhattan project! Manhattan project! Manhattan project! Manhattan project! Manhattan project! Manhattan project! Manhattan project! Manhattan project! 🙃

[@ButterBallTheOpossum]

My nextdoor neighbor is part of a team cleaning up the bettis site. Beryllium is all through the soil in that area and its a superfund site

[@the_mississippian_railfan]

I grew up in Pittsburgh and always saw pictures of this never really knew where it was tho even tho I spent plenty of time in the area near the Edgar Thompson Works

[@rogerpenske2411]

They began by smashing 2 of the 57 Varieties together.

[@Tgspartnership]

varieties of what? beans?

[@rogerpenske2411]

@@Tgspartnership Hines baked beans, baby! Crashed into pickle spears. It turns out to be as popular as chocolate and peanut butter.

[@jamesbrunk9817]

Heinz!

[@brendakrieger7000]

Thanks for sharing!

[@joshualamp2438]

I drove by this every day when I worked for Amazon.

[@amandapatrick827]

Wait.. is this THAT Westinghouse? The one Amazon took? My world just got so much smaller lol

[@joshualamp2438]

@@amandapatrick827 no, my route was in Turtle Creek.

[@fredytexis1]

The little DIY skatepark in there was always fun🤘🏽

[@jacksprat9972]

Nice job....

[@danielcote5841]

I was already a big fan but this was my favourite episode 🎉

[@PatrickJernigan]

Thank you for sharing

[@ethanspaziani1070]

We have a very serious lack of give a fuck about our history and its importance here in America

[@scarletevans4474]

Hulk : "SMASH!" Hulk in Ant-Man's suit: "Atom Smasher"

[@joshuabessire9169]

"We should've listen to that man, instead of walling him up in the abandoned coke oven," George Westinghouse, probably.

[@rogerpenske2411]

There’s one that’s still in use in West Chicano, Ill Noise. Fermi Lab

[@laserbeam1620]

I miss the old intro tune every time.

[@Tgspartnership]

gobsmacked to learn that Westinghouse then became CBS. would never have guessed

[@Milosz_Ostrow]

That device is actually Brick Bradford's Time Top.

[@jacksin3323]

I used to live right by that thing!!

[@arlenbell4376]

Westinghouse - another great company that is no more!

[@Nudnik1]

Westinghouse became famous for inventing Air brakes on trains . WABCO. Later got into electrical stuff..

[@torianemoia]

always wondered what that thing was

[@pburgvenom]

Let’s not forget the famous “Orgasmatron” in the Woody Allen movie “Sleeper”

[@tobleroni]

General Electric didn’t become CBS in 1995. CBS has been around since 1927. I remember the three TV stations in the 1970’s : ABC, CBS, NBC. Westinghouse, another large electrical engineering company, merged with CBS in 1995.

[@deivis_101]

Adam Smasher looks rough these days, huh.

[@Aaron-zu3xn]

they were exploring how to use the natural state of deuterium as a gas what they learned is you need a solid which is why we used lithium deuteride which is a soft metal like sodium

[@WatzEtzFace]

I thought this was gonna be about a theme park ride . . . . I thought the atom smasher was a mythical name for a theme park right. . . . .Not a particle accelerator.

[@history_leisure]

How many cities have a Forrest Hills section/suburb? Boston and New York I knew off the top of my head. Now Pittsburgh, maybe the Bay Area does?

[@indridcold8433]

Maybe if it was not associated with crimes against humanity, it would still be standing today.

[@Tgspartnership]

all war is a crime

[@deniskhafizov6827]

Those who gave Adam Smasher his name were certainly men of culture.

[@FernandoTRA]

Why did they want the house demolished?

[@lbochtler]

its probably a real-estate development firm, their main goal is to destroy industry and cultural sites, so this is par for the course. Same happened to Battersea Power Station which was for all intents and purposes destroyed.

[@FernandoTRA]

@@lbochtler a park was built at the home's site.

[@diGritz1]

Of all the things people buy and turn into a home, you'd think this would be a prime candidate. Plus, during a flood your good to go. Also I think the reason most people dismiss it is that it looks more like and advertisement for Westinghouse light bulbs then anything else.

[@frantisekjanecek1641]

The Manhattan Project is one of the best and most humane projects, it has saved hundreds of thousands of lives and helped destroy a evil empire.

[@UnitSe7en]

4:55 Don't worry, buddy, I know how you feel.

[@dad_jokes_4ever226]

Atom Smasher .... a great superhero hame

[@davealmighty9638]

Scrap metal thieves could disassemble that thing in about 20 minutes.

[@Tgspartnership]

theyll regret it, if its ☢ radioactive

[@adagioleopard6415]

Hearing you say "Tesla designed an ac system that works with westinghouses motors" is just heartbreaking. Nicola Tesla invented the motor. Westinghouse swindled it from.

[@kimlground206]

Looks like a lightbulb advertisement.

[@chincemagnet]

Who is Adam Smasher? He’s the guy that can see you through the wall in Cyberpunk 2077

[@solanaceae2069]

Smashing Young Man

[@after_mold]

Wait, Adam Smasher?

[@Soundbrigade]

Oh, we get to learn how it works. Else I though that maybe an atom was placed on the floor and an anvil was dropped from the top aimed at the atom which of course was crushed into smaller pieces.

[@BobConnor-n2g]

What is the brand of the sweat shirt you are wearing? I can't see the logo.

[@scubasteve7858]

The smasher is still there to this day. Still laying on its side...and the property is for sale yet again.

[@lbochtler]

i must correct you, the hallow corpse of the pressure vessel and the shattered remains of the accelerator its self remain. The actual accelerator was made of ceramic, so was the van de graf around it. Its now a large pile of ceramic shards in that bulb.

[@Momo_Kawashima]

"Atom smasher" is what I call a guy that dates dwarf chicks

[@bigfutus]

Adam Smasher

[@philippkemptner4604]

Westinghouse doesn't get the love he deserves. He electrified America, not Edison.

[@Zephyrus88PL]

Adam Smasher?

[@Knwnas_Nando]

Can you do a video on Thurmond wv?

[@thedeadbatterydepot]

I made a atom smasher with no wires, the next step in technology.

[@Soundbrigade]

I am making some progress with an anvil and a sledgehammer …. However how to FUZE smaller atoms into bigger ones are beyond my comprehension.

[@seabeeusn76]

And dont forget that Dr Hasbro who invented Megatron....

[@jero37]

Do we know why it was insisted the house be demolished?

[@BB-gr9hq]

Do you have any information on where the machine seen at ~ 4:12 is/was located? I think I have seen either it or it's twin in person.

[@hanssaykiewicz4319]

@@BB-gr9hq 500 feet directly east of Vinnie‘s Pizza on Ardmore. You can’t see it through the trees, you have to get into the neighborhood.

[@idrathernot_2]

He wasnt built to endure.

[@majfauxpas]

I’m taking all this as 100% fact and it makes my conspiracy bone TINGLE

[@babbathehat2919]

[@JamesCloonan-gd6lv]

That is a few blocks from my house

[@SpyrosAdventures]

I will not consider hitting that subscribe and bell, not even a little bit. Not even if there's a fire

[@pazsion]

westinghouse is still known as westinghouse? not cbs?

[@osgeld]

most people call IEEE I(tripple)e

[@Matthew-j3b]

My uncle worked there

[@everlanCA]

Say it with me now, Lee. "NOOK-LEE-UR"

[@derwinhodder5696]

Also Nuk-lee-us, not Nuk-ul-us..

[@hadleymanmusic]

Put that in your guitar amp and jam

[@MerrimanDevonshire]

So... not a super fund site?

[@gfr2023]

Mmmh what about a german mistery ? "The bell"

[@UQRXD]

Big money.big power.

[@donkimble]

All of the mediocre buildings on the “historic” registry and an actually historic building gets trashed.

[@chefp0l065]

Carnegie Science Center (not space center)

[@bender7565]

Worked for the circle bar dubya in the 80's, 70-80's no one in the free world made more radars. George liked $$ and he played Tesla like a $3 banjo. Tesla helped him whip Edison, George passed one of the richest men in the world, Tesla passed penniless in a NY hotel.

[@pazsion]

ot wasnt westinghouse that anandoned him, it was jp morgan, tesla would invest in his own ideas in hopes of gaining investments from jp morgan... as the letters back and forth from these two can confirm. sadly jp morgan turned his back when tesla was most successful? because jp morgan didnt think it would make money... and now we have cellphones and wireless power being more profitable than oil amd jpmorgan / wellsl fargo going broke...

[@Tgspartnership]

sort of thing that would happen today

[@bender7565]

@@Tgspartnership Greeds been around for a bit.