by Bill Blowers
After dinner Tesla and Robert went to the library where Robert poured brandy. “Have you ever heard of Harold Wittington?” Robert asked.
He explained that Harold had been at the bank the previous day and that they had quite a discussion. He went on to explain Wittington’s fascination with wireless communication and how he saw the tremendous commercial potential for it. But Wittington saw it as unreliable. There were too many periods at sea when the wireless operator could not communicate with anyone. If only these problems could be solved, the potential for communication, for entertainment, for military use was limitless.
Robert feared that if Tesla operated true to form, he would accept a partnership with Wittington, agree to finalize the development of the FM wireless, and after a few months, or maybe less, would be distracted by some new revolutionary idea. The wireless would be left in the eraser dust of his drafting table. The key to success was to make sure that Viko was in charge. They agreed that they would meet Wittington the following evening and that Viko would be there not just as an observer but as an integral partner in the undertaking.
Tesla, with an apprehensive Viko in tow, arrived at the Johnsons’ house at precisely eight o’clock the next evening. Viko usually enjoyed the Johnsons’ company and hospitality, but this evening an investor would be present. He was decidedly uncomfortable with that prospect, feeling a little like he was walking into a lion’s den. Katherine was radiant as always and greeted Tesla and Viko with a warm handshake. “Robert and Mr. Wittington are in the library, and Harold is most anxious to meet both of you.”
As they entered the library, Robert rose from his chair, took Tesla gently by the arm, and announced, “Nikola and Viko, I present Mr. Harold Wittington; Harold, Nikola Tesla and his nephew and adopted son, Viktor.”
Upon hearing the name Tesla, Wittington jumped up and grasped Tesla’s hand in both of his. “The great Nikola Tesla of AC power fame?”
Blushing slightly, Tesla nodded in acknowledgment. Wittington reached out and with an equally enthusiastic grasp of Viko’s hand said, “Please call me Harry; I find Harold much too formal. This is indeed a pleasure! My goodness, the great Tesla. What a jolly good pleasure this is, three thousand miles from home, invited into the home of Robert Johnson and his lovely wife Katherine, and then meeting Nikola Tesla.”
At dinner, Wittington regaled them with stories of growing up in England, of traveling by ship to America, and of his family’s involvement in coal mining in Great Britain. He went on about meeting the royal family, the theater life in London, the rain and fog; “I prefer New York weather.”
Later in the evening, as they sat in the easy comfort of the library, Wittington turned to a serious business mood. He explained that his initial intention was to contact Marconi, but Robert had suggested a better idea, and thus they were together for this discussion. He didn’t know that the “mystery” inventor was none other than Nikola Tesla. He asked Tesla to relate his work with wireless and his relationship with Marconi.
Tesla began, detailing his early work on wireless communication, begun fifteen years earlier. He became quite animated and somewhat agitated as he told of Marconi’s theft of his ideas. Then he spoke of his latest development. “Working together, Viko and I have taken the next step in wireless communication, and we desperately need financing to complete our work. I assume that is why we are here this evening.”
Robert and Harold nodded agreement.
Tesla then wisely added, “Before we proceed I must have your understanding that this is absolutely confidential and will not leave this room.”
Harold replied, “Nikola, I am a man of my word, and anything you say to me is kept in strictest confidence. You have my assurance that whatever is discussed in this room stays in this room.”
Tesla went on. “While conducting experiments in Colorado, my nephew made a most interesting discovery. Viko, since you are deeply involved in this, go ahead and tell Harry what you found.”
Viko was flabbergasted that Tesla would ask him to do this. “Me—you want me to explain this?”
“Of course, you understand it completely and your enthusiasm for it is contagious.”
Viko took a sip of his drink for a little liquid confidence and launched into the meat of the concept. “We have created wireless voice communication. Think of the telephone that Bell has invented without wires! We think that this can easily communicate across the Atlantic. It will revolutionize wireless communication and will kick Marconi right in the backside and out of the picture.”
Wittington said, “My goodness, this is so much better than I could have dreamed. When I was traveling at sea, there were a number of times that I thought of Margie, my dear wife at home, and how I missed her smile and how lovely it would have been to hear her voice. How much better than a telegram sent by wireless. And the potential for this, why this is amazing! Mr. Tesla, will you consider letting me provide financing for this improved wireless of yours?”
Tesla looked to Viko for approval and then replied, “Assuming we can come to an acceptable agreement, of course. I look forward to the opportunity.”
Robert suggested they meet at ten the next morning—everyone agreed.
Viko and Tesla walked into the bank ten minutes early and were pleased to see that Wittington was already there. He took little sleep that night. He had worked straight through, completing the basic outline of a business arrangement.
Three days and little sleep later, a contract was passed around the table, signed and witnessed, and followed by handshakes all around. Nikola and Viko Tesla were in business. The New Tesla Wireless Company was a reality, and funded with an initial investment of two hundred thousand dollars. Nikola and Viko owned 60 percent of the stock.
They were back in business. Viko was president. His future looked bright, and for the first time in a long time he was optimistic about the future. Unfortunately, fate had other plans.
Two weeks later Viko accompanied Harold to the docks on the west side of Manhattan. Harold had investments in the Leyland shipping line and had arranged for Viko to travel in the future at no cost while they tested the new wireless system. He took Viko aboard to meet Captain Lord.
The name of the ship was the Californian.
CHAPTER 31
The Seagoing Experiments
Eight months later, January 1910, at two o’clock on a Sunday morning, Viko, Nikola, and foreman Henry Abbott stood at a workbench at the New Tesla Wireless Company. Before them were two transceivers that had just been through several weeks of testing. It was time to take one to sea.
Viko and Henry had tested them in and around New York by building one into a steamer trunk and carrying it around in a carriage. As Viko was driven around the city and beyond, he and Tesla enjoyed an ongoing dialogue as Tesla relaxed in the comfort of the laboratory. The system worked flawlessly, even producing excellent clarity in the confines of a subway tunnel under the streets of New York. Viko traveled eighty miles north to the small city of Poughkeepsie, surrounded by huge granite hills, and could find no location where he lost communication. The system was exceeding all of their expectations.
The Californian would be sailing in a week. Viko would be on board under the guise that he was the new wireless operator. Captain Lord knew his true identity but was only told he was going to be testing new code for the Marconi wireless. The true nature of the mysterious transceivers remained a closely held secret.
The trip from New York to Great Britain went smoothly. Viko wandered the Californian without restriction, spending time on the bridge fascinated by the workings of the ship.
At night he would power up the transceiver in the steamer trunk and communicate with Tesla back in New York. Viko would send Tesla the location of the ship, latitude and longitude, the time, and weather information. When Tesla replied, Viko would note the quality of reception, noise and static, and strength of the signal he received. Tesla would do the same for Viko’s signal, and then after just a few minutes of talki
ng, they would sign off.
The communication from Tesla to Viko never failed. While docked in London, they could communicate across the entire North Atlantic. This was an unheard of distance for wireless at the time. They were in voice contact across the entire span of ocean with relatively small wireless sets, clearly and consistently. Tesla had done it again. He established transatlantic two-way wireless voice communication far superior to anything Marconi or anyone else could or would claim for several more years.
The return trip eight days later went just as well, except for a few days of a full-blown North Atlantic storm. The ship was buffeted by heavy rain, high seas, and a spectacular thunderstorm. The Californian showed herself to be a solid steamship, constantly steaming west despite the heavy seas. Viko and Tesla were able to maintain clear voice communication at all times, with only slight interference from the lightning that forked through the skies for hours on end. During one particularly rough day, as the ship rolled and dipped through heavy waves, Captain Lord assured a nervous Viko, “Not to worry, Viko, storms at sea are part of the business, and the Californian can handle anything. I hope your stomach can take it.”
Viko, for his part, was impressed with the crew and the captain and even more so with the ship as it pitched into the waves and rolled from side to side. Despite the rough sea, everyone on the bridge remained calm and in control, as they continued westward at a steady twelve knots.
The Marconi wireless was so overloaded with static during the storm as to be completely out of commission. But the FM system that Viko had stumbled onto that providential afternoon in Colorado was proving to be a perfect medium for communication, regardless of weather conditions.
Back in New York, Viko bid farewell to Captain Lord and was met by Tesla. The two of them talked into the night about the trip, the results, and the outstanding performance of their new wireless. It appeared that nothing could stop them now. Armed with positive solid results, they held the future of wireless communication within their grasp.
Before going to bed, Viko sent a short cablegram to Harold Wittington saying simply, “Outstanding success, we are in business.”
CHAPTER 32
Titanic and the New Wireless
Two months later, March 1910, Viko made his second trip to Great Britain aboard the Californian. Wittington had cabled Viko that an opportunity had come up, and he requested that he come to England as soon as possible.
Harold had seen to it that Viko had the grandest time possible during his first visit. They went to the finest restaurants, saw a musical in London’s theater district, and had a private tour of Buckingham Palace. Viko had a wonderful time. This was a life he could get used to, and one that he fully expected to enjoy with the promising success that the new wireless would provide for him.
As he disembarked the Californian, he was greeted by Wittington, who was smiling like a schoolboy greeting his parents after a long absence.
No sooner had they arrived at Wittington’s London home than Wittington rushed him into his study and began to explain.
He had recently learned of a new venture being put together by J.P. Morgan. International Mercantile Marine (IMM) was making headlines. Morgan was stepping into the world of international shipping, and his reputation as a ruthless competitor was shaking the foundations of the European-dominated control of the seas. Viko stiffened at the mention of Morgan’s name. His dislike for the man could not be hidden.
Harold went on to explain that the White Star Line was in trouble due to competition from German shipping companies. Morgan had proposed the creation of an international trust, a business form he had used to quash competition in mining, railroads, and steel production in the States. Due to the weakened state of White Star, J. Bruce Ismay, its chairman, had been forced to sell controlling interest to Morgan.
White Star was in the process of building three huge ships, rumored to be more advanced than any commercial steamship yet put to sea: the Titanic, Olympic, and Britannic. Once completed by Harland and Wolff, these ships would set a standard that few shipyards could equal. And since White Star had an exclusive arrangement with Harland and Wolff, they were ensured that no one else would have such ships in the foreseeable future. Many thought that this time Morgan bit off a little too much, that his past success further inflated his opinion of himself, and that IMM would be his undoing. Wittington knew better; Morgan was many things, but he was no fool. If he said that he could do it, Wittington would take it to the bank.
Always looking for opportunity, Wittington outlined a plan. “Viko, these ships are going to make worldwide headlines. What do you say we take advantage of that?”
Viko’s revulsion to the name Morgan made him shocked to hear this. “That bloodsucker, how can he or anything he touches be of help to us? I want to see that bastard on the street, penniless.”
“Now Viko, there is a business opportunity here, and to exploit it might just be the best revenge.” Viko reconsidered; perhaps he should listen and learn. Now was the time to watch a master at work.
The sailing date for the ships was to be in the spring of 1912. It seemed to Wittington that properly planned and presented, these ships could be outfitted with Tesla’s new wireless. With all the publicity, the use of Tesla’s new wireless would be included in headlines worldwide. It was exactly what was needed to elevate Tesla to the status he richly deserved.
Wittington explained to Viko that he could deal with White Star and convince them to use the new wireless. He was acquainted with J. Bruce Ismay through the Maritime Commission, was aware of his massive ego, and knew that if the new wireless would make Ismay look better, Ismay would insist on it.
Titanic was to be the showcase vessel—the jewel of the White Star Line—and the ship would set a new standard of seagoing luxury. That would be the ideal place to showcase their new wireless.
CHAPTER 33
May 1910, New York
Viko rushed to Nikola with the cablegram in his shaking hands. Wittington had actually pulled it off! Harland and Wolff wanted a demonstration of the new Tesla wireless. At Wittington’s request, Edward Harland had arranged for Viko to visit the shipyard in Belfast to show the engineering group, headed by Thomas Andrews, this new wireless marvel.
As with most successful business relationships in Great Britain at the time, the meeting had been arranged more because of who Wittington was, rather than what he had to offer. Wittington and Harland attended the same prep school and graduated from the same university, although at different times. They were also members of the same clubs. Such social connections meant everything in Great Britain.
Wittington had been careful not to reveal too much about the new wireless, including its originator. No need to give Marconi another chance to steal Tesla blind.
It was the chance of a lifetime. What better endorsement could they have than to be able to say the Titanic builders chose a Tesla design over a Marconi design? When the passengers on Titanic, the topmost of the upper crust of society, used the wireless to send messages, told their influential friends about it, and expected it when they traveled, the demand for it would spread like wildfire. There would be no stopping Tesla this time.
Using the remainder of the initial investment that Wittington provided, Viko and his crew worked through the hot summer months and into the fall building two additional wireless sets. His plan was to first demonstrate a short-distance wireless link between the shipyards in Belfast and Wittington’s London office and then demonstrate a transatlantic link back to New York to Tesla’s laboratory. To prove that the link was actually going all the way to New York from Ireland, Viko would ask Harland to compose a secret message that would be sent to Tesla by transatlantic cable just minutes before the demonstration. When Tesla read back the message, there would be ironclad proof of transatlantic voice communication.
Viko arrived in Belfast for the providential meeting with Harland and Wolff on October 16, 1910, eighteen months prior to the completion of Titanic.
> As prearranged at Wittington’s request, a private room with appropriate electrical power and easy access to the roof had been provided by Harland and Wolff. Viko set up the antenna, verified that the equipment had made the trip without damage, and announced that he was ready for the demonstration. He was careful not to use his adopted name Tesla; rather he was using his family name, Gracac.
The demonstration was scheduled for the following morning. Before he left for the evening, Viko installed heavy-duty padlocks on the three access doors to the demonstration room, explaining as he did so, “I trust that you understand this is a necessary precaution. Sometimes the walls have eyes and ears.”
Viko had gone to extremes, but he had reason to be overly cautious. Patent applications had yet to be filed for the new technology, and he was taking no chances. Nothing would be disclosed until they were on the verge of their initial sale. Nikola Tesla was certain that the US Patent Office had leaks. He had lost all faith in the secrecy aspects of patents during the application process. Why trust anyone else?
Prior to turning in for the night, Viko sent a cablegram to Tesla, informing him to expect a telegram from Harland and Wolff with a secret message. Viko explained that the demonstration was to be conducted in the morning, and that it would be shortly after five a.m. in New York when Tesla would be contacted.
Viko arrived at nine-thirty the next morning and found the two mechanics and a rather disturbed Thomas Andrews waiting for him. “I am insulted that you felt it necessary to lock the door. We have twenty-four-hour security here and you were assured of complete confidentiality.”