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The Start of the Spark

Tesla followed his electrical science dream to America, where he came to work in Edison's laboratory, earn a healthy salary. But their partnership quickly came to an end later on, when Tesla's idea for an Alternate Current conflicted with Edison's key element in his inventions, the Direct Current. The rivalry continued in the lab, reaching its peak when Edison prompted Tesla to "improve" his direct current dynamo design with a $50,000 reward. Tesla worked hard and presented a solution and asked for the money. Edison rejected his request, saying Tesla didn't understand American Humor. Tesla and Edison seperated after a few months with each other. 

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“Tesla, You don’t understand American humor.”

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Tesla tried to get backers and investors to fund the Tesla Electric Light Company to develop an improved arc lighting. He then was broke and forced to survives by digging ditches for $2 each day. He then was granted 30+ patents for electric arc lamps and dynamo electric motors. Tesla was invited to talk at the American Institute of Electrical Engineers, and his lecture sparked the interest of George Westinghouse. Westinghouse hired Tesla and licensed the patents for the AC motor. Tesla also got his own little lab.

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No Edison to mess around with. How nice.

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All during this time, Edison and Tesla rivaled and performed acts against each other's current. (see "AC/DC" for more). 

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Tesla and Westinghouse went back and forth on royalty rights, but eventually, Tesla and Westinghouse came back together and worked together. 

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Seems that Edison ruins everything

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                                                              Tesla with Westinghouse

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