George Westinghouse’s Biography

Most people hit the sack the name Westinghouse as the name of an appliance, barely where did the name come from? Many people may non sleep with that George Westinghouse was non only an inventor, but a visionary. George Westinghouses galore(postnominal) inventions fed the industrial Revolution that brush through America in the latter part of the nineteenth century. The Industrial Revolution brought many changes to the fall in States. Even though America was progressing, many ill effects were brought on by this expansion. Westinghouse was mavenness of the Industrialist that in truth cared ab knocked out(p) the many problems he saw in urban America.Westinghouse, at the age of forty-two, could no bimestrial ignore the evils of social upheaval created by too rapid industrial development(Levine, 2). George Westinghouse wanted something done, but it looked as if he was the only one that would do it. George Westinghouse had influenced many areas of his era and ours. His many inven tions, his good-willed policy toward his scarper ers and his business practices have affected all of us but nothing will compare to the influences that he left on our countrys fastness- sieve the concept that they had a responsibility toward the lodge that had made them who they were.George Westinghouse was born 8 of ten children into a middle class family on October 6, 1846. Westinghouses father ran a small machine tell on in Schendectady, NY, that manufactured close toly farm implements as a result, Westinghouse was introduced to the world of machines at a very early age. Due to curiosities he found during the Civil War, in which he served in both the Union Army and the Navy, Westinghouse invented a rotary steam engine. At age nineteen, this was his first patented invention however, the excogitate proved to be impractical.Despite his troubles, Westinghouse went on to invent a device for placing derailed railroad cars back on their tracks. The beside year, Westinghouse wa s riding on a train that was suddenly brought to a stop to avoid a wrecked train on the tracks ahead. The brakes that were in use on trains around the world at this time were operated manually. Westinghouse k mod that on that point must be a safer and quicker way to stop a train. later on observing rock drills, that use compressed business to drill tunnels through mountains, Westinghouse wondered if the use of compressed air could be applied to brakes.This led to one of Westinghouses most famous and most influential inventions ever. Westinghouse did not know it, but he was on his way to changing the course of the nation. However, at age twenty two, his new air brake and he got little attention. If I understand you, young man, you propose to stop a railroad train with wind. I have no time to listen to such nonsense, said Commodore Cornelius Vanderbilt, one of the most powerful railroad owners of the time (Comptons,4). Finally, on a small railroad outside of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvani a, Westinghouse was competent to try out his new air brake.On the trial run, the train came to a crossing where a farmers wagon had broken down. Upon assembleing this, the locomotives engineer applied the new braking system. Too everyones surprise, the train was jolted to a halt further more(prenominal), the train was stopped yards in front of the farmers wagon. Even though almost everyone did fall out of their seat, this was the beginning of Westinghouses influence on the world. Eventually, the Railroad Safety Act of 1893 would make air brakes domineering on all U. S. trains(Britannica, 6). At this point, Westinghouse established the Westinghouse Air Brake Company.By 1869, already, Westinghouses success was almost guaranteed. George Westinghouses next frontier was railroad signaling. With the ever increasing use and expansion of railroads, signaling became a major problem. He created a signaling system using compressed air and electricity thus, the Union Switch and augury Compan y was founded in 1882. Indeed, Westinghouse dish uped the railroads greatly. With his railroad inventions, railroads became safer accordingly, direct to the instillation of railroad passengers with confidence.He also created a more profitable operation for the railroads. The bigger profits that were made by the railroad barons, the more they invested and the faster the Industrial Revolution took place. In this fast growing economy, Westinghouse, who was now financially stable, started to tinker with electricity and internal gunman. With a well drilled in his yard, Westinghouse developed and marketed a system for the control and distribution of natural gas in Pittsburgh.Todays natural gas industry owes its existence to Mr. Westinghouse(Shumaker, 4). Using the knowledge gained from his work in natural gas, Westinghouse developed a theory for the distribution of electricity. He imported both a motor and its inventor, Nikola Tesla, from Europe. With the help of Tesla and three Ameri can engineers, Westinghouse developed a new electrical transformer that allowed electricity to be carried over tenacious distances however, Westinghouses design used alternating current, while such people as Thomas Edison used and were promoting air current electricity.This started the Battle of the Currents, as it was called (Corporate, 1). The advocates and financiers, led by Edison, of the DC system immediately tried to reduce Westinghouses use of the AC system as soon as his Alternating Current components were made usable on the market. These people charged that AC power was a menace to society. As if they did not do enough already to deface Westinghouse, they successfully had the state of New York install a Westinghouse AC rootage as the official means of executing death sentences.These charges were untrue therefore, they were insufficient in the suppressment of the use of AC power. AC power was given credibility when Westinghouse won the contract to light the Columbian Ex position held in Chicago in 1893. It was said to be a dazzling spectacle of a quarter of a cardinal lights that stole the show. Reflecting the Battle of the currents, Nikola Tesla later wrote, George Westinghouse was, in my opinion, the only man on this globe who could state my alternating-current system under the circum stances then existing and win the battle against prejudice and bullion power.He was one of the worlds true noblemen, of whom America may well be proud and to whom humanity owes an immense debt of gratitude (Corporate, 1) . On January 8, 1886, with a stroke of the Governor of Pennsylvanias pen, the Westinghouse Electric Company was granted a charter. This company, which would turn out to be the most important of George Westinghouses many companies, had two-hundred employees and was located in a rented building in Pittsburghs Garrison Alley Section. By this point in his life, Westinghouse had founded a few other companies.His air brake company had been expanded to France, England and Germany. This bringing close together of a company going world-wide was relatively new. This led a surge of American companies to expand beyond the United States American influence was cosmos spread around the world. Westinghouse had also founded a machine store in Pittsburgh in 1881. Westinghouse was very different from most of the other American Industrialist. From the start, Westinghouse was not motivated by money or power. He was motivated by knowing that his inventions and other work would be used to help mankind.Within two years after the Westinghouse Electric Company was founded, the company had grown from the reliable two-hundred employees to more than three thousand employees by 1888. By 1890, the Westinghouse Electric Company sales totaled foursome million dollars Westinghouse had also installed more than three-hundred electrical generators including Niagara Falls, by this time. Westinghouses business practices were very different than the business practices of they day. Westinghouse understandably was not a businessman, yet because of his dreams, he successfully ran his businesses in a way that baffled many businessmen.From the start, Westinghouse was concerned with the welfare of his employees. His employees were his prime consideration in any business decision. Westinghouses workers had a six day, cardinal hour work week. This work week included five ten hour days, Monday through Friday, and a five hour day on Saturday. It seemed strange to other employers of the time to give employees a half-day on Saturday, but this was part of Westinghouses philosophy. Another benefit of working for Westinghouse was the pension off plan.One of the earliest known, Westinghouse provided a pension for each of his workers. The employees of Westinghouses businesses also received medical coverage. If an employee fell sick or was injured, he and his family would receive money from the compensation fund to live, and the finest medical services available would be given to the worker. A Veteran Employees connection was formed. Any employee with twenty years or more of service could join. This evolv ed into the formation of a injury commissioning made up of three shop men and three management personnel.The Grievance Committee would form to resolve such issues as the following working conditions, working methods, and limits of the workers. Westinghouses Grievance Committee chastise the path for labor reform in America. Westinghouse revolutionized the way the American employee worked hence, Westinghouse was received as the best imprint in Pittsburgh. Consequently, he won the resentment of the other employers in Pittsburgh and eventually the country. Westinghouse became famous to every citizen by a means different than his inventions. Westinghouse actually created his own town.Westinghouse became perplexed with the problems that he saw in Pittsburgh The town had grew from a small city to a booming industrial mecca-center fill with smoky factories and pollution filled avenues. He watched the people work long hours, many were immigrants and others were Native Americans in search of a powerful living furthermore, they came home at night to horrible run down homes where sickly children played in piles of rubbish and rarely attended school. Crime, disease and alcoholism were becoming the image of the industrial world. Westinghouse knew that it could be better than this.He knew that all this progress was not for the working class to become illiterate, diseased and flea-bitten and for the rich to become isolated and forgetful of what they see. George Westinghouse wondered why nobody did anything about it. Politicians would not address it, the upper class would not mention it, and the workers were too busy in their rat race to care. Westinghouse decided he must take action. Westinghouse began reading up on the problem. He read of experiments in Denmark and Sweden where model communities where being made by business and government officials.Westinghouse knew what he would have to do, but it was a very raving mad move nevertheless, George had learned not to be frightened off by bold ideas. George Westinghouse contacted a leading architectural firm and told them I want you to design a factory and surround it with a town,(Levine, 2). He visioned a town of state-of-the-art factories, a research laboratory, good schools, community centers, a hospital and chintzy houses for the employees. Running water and electricity would be standard. In 1890, the Westinghouse Air Brake Company was completely go to the new site, called Wilmerding, Pennsylvania.The workshops had the most modern lighting, heating, ventilation and safety facilities,(Levine, 2). Each house in the town had a complete indoor bathroom, electric lighting, and natural gas out lets for cooking and heating. The houses had a lawn with grass, shrubbery, and trees. The houses were rented to the workers with an option to buy. For the children, there were the following schools that were brightly decorated to attract them to stay, a community center with gymnasiums, a library and clash rooms.Westinghouse had really out done himself this time thought the whole country nevertheless, George Westinghouse felt that he had effected his greatest achievement, and indeed he had. Westinghouses model community sent a silent shock-wave to the upper class society of America. Westinghouse was telling these people that they had a responsibility to society. The age of a two class society was over. The American worker now had rights and had power. It took a decade or two, but Westinghouses vision of America as an Industrial power eventually took shape with the help of the labor movement.Unfortunately, Westinghouse lost control of most of his companies in the financial panic of 1907 this was mostly due to the negative attitude toward him by other employers, his financial backers and his stockholders. Westinghouse died on Marc h 12, 1914 it was a sad day at the Westinghouse companies. A man who cared, a man who listened, a great man was gone forever.George Westinghouse and his wife Marguerite, to whom he credits his success, are buried in Arlington discipline Cemetery outside Washington, D. C. Overall, millions, if not billions of people have benefi ted from his companies, inventions, and his visions. Would you have safe, odorless, and efficient lights in your house would you see an illuminated advertisement on the highway or would you have a paid vacation if it was not for George Westinghouse? He invented all those things. How about your pension? The hundred largest pensions in the U. S. have assets exceeding two meg dollars,(Muhlenkamp, 3). That is something George Westinghouse would have enjoyed to see.