OBITUARY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LI, Issue 15557, 14 March 1914, Page 7

OBITUARY.

MR. G. WESTINGHOUSE.

AIR BRAKE INVENTOR.

Times and Sydney Sun Services. ■ (Received March 13, 5.30 p.m.) New York, March 12. The death is announced of Mr. George Wcstinghousc, the American inventor. EMPLOYER OE. 50.000 MEN. Mr. Westinghouße was born in New York State in 1846- He was president of 30 corporations, the aggregate capital of which is £24,000,000, and which employ about 50,000 workmen. He was educated at the State public and high schools, with a year at a university. He then entered his father's mchine shops, and later served in both the United States Army and Navy. In 1865 ho invented a device for replacing derailed steam cars, and in 1868 came his famous invention of the air brake. He later applied pneumatic devices to railway signalling and switching. Turning his attention to electricity, Mr. Westinghouse succeeded, in spite of great opposition, in introducing the alternating current system of electric distribution for light and power. It was he who backed Tesla, financially and with shop facilities, in developing the induction motor, which made possible the utilisation of alternating current for power purposes. He also devised a complete system for controlling, natural gas and conveying it through pips lines for long distances, and thereby established the practicability of utilising natural gas as fuel in houses, mills, and factories, which did much to fix the supremacy of Pittsburg in the manufacture of iron, steel, and glass. He took a foremost part in developing gas engines, aid in adapting steam turbines to electric driving. Mr. Westinghouse founded works for the manufacture of his patents in five centres in America; at Manchester and London, England ; fla-jve, France; Hanover, Germany; St: Petersburg, Russia; Vienna, Austria; and Vado, Italy.