What are Nikola Tesla's best inventions?

https://www.quora.com/What-are-Nikola-Teslas-best-inventions/answer/Tom-Peracchio

People on Quora are obsessed with the who invented what questions. The answers are seldom clear cut. I originally answered this question on 19 Dec 2015. It was a quick off the top of my head answer. I was a Quora rookie back then, not realizing all the mythology that permeatues the answers here.

My time here at Quora has lead me to dig deeper, and continuously search for the answers. Some of the other answers here are so full of Tesla mythology, I've decided to totally delete my answer from 2015, and start over on this question. Now if you ask me “What are Nikola Tesla's best inventions?” I have to qualify my answer.

For example, a few years ago I would have said the polyphase AC motor was one of Nikola Tesla's best inventions. Well according to the always trust worthy Wikipedia, Nikola Tesla is best known for his contributions to the design of the modern alternating current (AC) electricity supply system, so let's take a look at that.

I was doing some research looking for references on AC power inventions in Europe when I can accross the book “Polyphase electric currents and alternate-current motors” (1) Publication date 1902. I knew that Galileo Ferraris is often given credit, as well as Tesla, for the invention of the polyphase AC motor. What I was surprised to find was that there were many inventions similar to Tesla's that predate his “discovery” of the polyphase AC motor.

If anything, the research that I have done in exploring the Tesla mythology has taught me that Nikola Tesla was not the lone wolf genius that some people claim, he was actually one of a handfull of inventors working on polyphase AC motors in the late 18th century.

The following quote by Mark Twain that really nails it when it comes to inventions and inventors. “It takes a thousand men to invent a telegraph, or a steam engine, or a phonograph, or a photograph, or a telephone or any other important thing—and the last man gets the credit and we forget the others. He added his little mite — that is all he did. These object lessons should teach us that ninety-nine parts of all things that proceed from the intellect are plagiarisms, pure and simple; and the lesson ought to make us modest. But nothing can do that.”

Would you like to learn more about Nikola Tesla?

One of my first blog posts about Tesla, posted Nov 15, 2016, was based on many questions regarding Wardenclyffe Tower and free electricity. If you are interested check out… https://guru42.quora.com/Nikola-Tesla-FAQs-Wardenclyffe-Tower-and-free-electricity

This blog entry, posted Jun 12, 2017, addressed many questions regarding things Tesla said, or did he… https://guru42.quora.com/Dont-believe-anything-they-say-about-me-on-the-internet-Nikola-Tesla

I love all the claims that Tesla had an IQ of 200, this entry from Sep 4, 2017 addresses that… https://guru42.quora.com/Nikola-Tesla-does-not-have-an-IQ-of-200-and-neither-does-Quora-Moderation.

I learned about Nikola Tesla many years ago as I studied George Westinghouse, this blog post from Feb 3, 2018 addresses their relationship… https://guru42.quora.com/I-hate-it-when-people-disgrace-George-Westinghouse-in-the-name-of-Nikola-Tesla

The orginal answer I had hear I mentioned that “Tesla invented radio.” I was a bit too casual in that statement, as I did not mean he was the sole inventor of radio. One myth often stated here on Quora is a 1943 U.S. Supreme Court decision proclaiming Tesla invented radio. Ah, no, it doesn't, as I explain here… https://guru42.quora.com/Supreme-Court-ruling-that-DOES-NOT-claim-Nikola-Tesla-invented-radio

Disappointing fans everywhere stating that Nikola Tesla was not the lone wolf genius that some people claim.

Nikola Tesla was not the lone wolf genius that some people claim. A question I originally answered on 19 Dec 2015. I decided to totally delete my answer and start over on this question.