In 1882 we find Ferranti busy with a motor-focussing arc lamp , using a core of fine steel wire in the carbon to centralise the arc this lamp is still in existence and should find a suitable home in the Science Museum .sx Then we have a rotary-field motor forecasting modern design , and a sort of sun lamp formed by a carbon dust packing in a hole drilled in marble .sx The young inventor is thus trying his wings and now makes an important flight in taking out his first patent for the zig-zag or ribbon armature , which ultimately became one of the marvels of mechanical construction .sx With the assistance of Mr. Ince a company was formed in 1882 to work this invention , and as Sir William Thomson ( later Lord Kelvin ) anticipated this design , they arranged to pay royalties , and the machine was known as the THOMSON and FERRANTI Alternator .sx The Times of September 22 , 1882 , contained the following reference to it :sx " The announcement of this machine has been , we are informed , greeted with incredulity ; and naturally some perturbation has been caused among those interested in existing dynamo machines .sx " More perturbation and severe shocks were soon to be felt by the electrical world , but before much progress had been made this company went into liquidation at the end of 1883 , though not before Ferranti had gained valuable mechanical experience introducing forced oil feed and high peripheral speeds .sx Ferranti bought back his patents , formed his own company , and thus laid the foundations of the enterprise which now flourishes at Hollinwood .sx During 1884 we can imagine how Ferranti was watching all developments with the keenest interest , and when the induction coil emerged as the so-called Secondary Generator claimed by M. Gaulard , with whom Gibbs was associated , as his invention , Ferranti , together with many other people , was doubtless sceptical as to its validity and utility .sx Gaulard and Gibbs succeeded in persuading the proprietors of the Grosvenor Gallery to put down a plant for the lighting of the gallery , and this attracted so much attention that demands from neighbours tempted the promoters to extend the supply , and at such a rate that the plant was soon over-loaded , and practical difficulties with the system caused such serious trouble that Ferranti was called in early in 1886 to save the enter prise from collapse .sx We know that he was acquainted with the promoters of this scheme in 1885 and was evidently aware of the cause of all these difficulties , for in this year he took out patent No .sx 15251 , which is remarkable as a prophetic vision of modern transmission .sx From the drawings accompanying this specification we see that he would like to transform up at the generator , and he reveals his conception of concentric mains , removing any doubts by showing how they can be jointed ; he also shows automatic control of a transformer sub-station with an arrangement of cut-outs .sx We now see that in undertaking the duties of Chief Engineer of the Grosvenor Gallery Co. Ferranti was armed with technical know-ledge far in advance of his time , and his wonderful genius urges him on to make the great effort of his life .sx In a short time mistakes had been rectified ; transformers formerly in series were placed in parallel ; the overhead distribution was made safe and extended at such a rate that within three years it covered loo miles of streets ; and within a year the Siemens generators were replaced by two Ferranti alternators , each of about 500 kw .sx generating at 2,500 volts .sx The phenomenal growth of this pioneering enterprise encouraged the promoters to accept a bold scheme prepared by Ferranti to place the generating works at Deptford , about eight miles away from the point of supply , and to use concentric mains for transmission at 10,000 volts .sx To carry out this scheme the London Electric Supply .sx Corporation was formed with a capital of 1,250,000 , and they purchased the Grosvenor Gallery Co. for the sum of 250,000 .sx It is interesting to note that about this time Mr. Francis Ince , who had given great assistance , now took a fatherly interest in Ferranti , for in the midst of this early success Ferranti married Mr. Ince's second daughter , and made the wisest and most happy change in his life .sx The new company hastened to acquire a site at Deptford , and commenced building early in 1888 , hoping to relieve the overloaded Grosvenor Gallery plant at an early date , but many troubles made progress difficult , and before this time Ferranti realised that the first penalty of success was the opposition of disappointed rivals .sx The National Society for the Distribution of Electricity by Secondary Generators , owners of the Gaulard and Gibbs system , sought to injunct Ferranti for infringement of their patents ; but neither their imposing name nor their threats deterred him from petitioning for revocation on July 10 , 1888 , and this was granted by the High Court and subsequently confirmed by the Court of Appeal and the House of Lords .sx This was indeed good progress for a young man of twenty-four , and he was at this date carrying out the boldest scheme which has ever been proposed , with the confidence of his supporters and with the necessary funds .sx He won every step by genius , hard work , and astounding bravery .sx He is now going on to victory :sx rivals must step aside :sx he will not reply to any criticism :sx he isprepared to overcome difficulties by inventing anything ; and is very busy for the next three years .sx In 1889 the Board of Trade held an inquiry to ascertain how , and by whom , and by what means , London was to be supplied with electricity .sx The result was the granting of Provisional Orders to a number of claimants who undertook to erect stations in the parishes at the request of the vestries , and the area given to the London Company was much less than that included in the scheme proposed by Ferranti and was also subject to competition .sx On November 15 , 1890 , the Grosvenor Station was destroyed by fire and 26,000 lamps were , in consequence , lost by transfer to competitors .sx The Deptford Works commenced a regular supply in February 1891 , after much conflict with the Post Office Telegraph Department and the Board of Trade on the question of earthing the outer conductors of the concentric mains .sx Induction troubles on telegraph lines were cured by this earthing , and the Board of Trade withdrew objections after a conclusive demonstration of the safety of this method .sx This demonstration was carried out by Mr. Harold W. Kolle , an old and loyal assistant of Dr. Ferranti , who held a chisel while it was driven through one of the concentric mains when alive with 10,000 volts .sx Happily , Mr. Kolle still lives to tell the tale .sx Knowing the risks , he cheerfully faced them , but he was courageous in trusting another man to hit the chisel .sx Mr. James Staats Forbes , the chairman of the company , in addressing the shareholders on March 13 , 1891 , said :sx " I do not know any man who , during the last year , has had a more terrible responsibility upon his back than Mr. Ferranti .sx He pledged his reputation , his fortune , his labour day and night to achieve the result he promised to the directors .sx He has achieved it greatly , and has done so much in redeeming what a year ago seemed a most difficult position , and a most uncertain one , that he is justified in his present opinion , which is expressed in this paragraph of his report :sx `I desire to call attention to the fact that from the commencement of your operations to the present time , no engineering or electrical difficulties whatever have arisen which I have not been able to over-come , and at the present moment I know of no weak point in your system and consider success to be now assured .sx ' " .sx On February 16 , 1891 , regular transmission at 10,000 volts was commenced , and although for many reasons the financial results were not satisfactory , we must admit , and with admiration , that the great inventor had created his fame and justified his wild flight of imagination .sx The scheme was generally referred to at that time as " reckless , " " foolhardy , " " the rashness and inexperience of a sanguine youth , " and similar expressions of incredulity or ridicule .sx After forty years we can appreciate the result of this work in its true perspective , but we cannot to-day realise the magnitude of the difficulties encountered in finding suitable materials , and the skill to work them , in order to make vision and creative thought a reality .sx The Annual Report of the London Electric Supply Corporation Ltd. for the year 1891 contains a brief reference of doubtful thanks as follows :sx " During the year the engagement of Mr. de Ferranti has ceased by effluxion of time .sx " The facts are even more cruel , for we know that Mr. Forbes , the chairman of the company , had rather a stormy interview and remarked :sx " You are a very clever man , Mr. Ferranti , but I'm thinking ye're sadly wanting in prevision .sx " It is not obvious how any man could have prevised the loss of a large remunerative district of supply , or the destruction of the first plant by fire , causing many customers to go over to a competing supply .sx Financial loss , however , demands its victims , and the greatness of Ferranti enabled him to meet this adversity with a calmness and serenity which was always one of the most charming features of his character , and to continue as contractor with the satisfaction of securing an order at the end of 1894 for a 1,000-kw .sx alternator giving too amperes at 11,000 volts with excitation of 2% at full load and 0.8% electrical loss in the armature , giving altogether an electrical efficiency of 97% .sx Tenders had been invited from the leading makers in this country , Germany , and America , and under such severe competition it must have been some solace to Ferranti to receive this order .sx The patent of 1885 , and the experience at Deptford , placed Ferranti in such a prominent position that his advice was valued throughout the world , and we are not surprised that Mr. Stetson , of the Niagara Falls Power Co. , arranged a meeting with Prof .sx Riedler , of compressed air fame , in September 1890 .sx At this time they had considered transmission of power by manilla or wire ropes , .sx by hydraulic pipes , and by compressed air , and after the interview Prof .sx Riedler was convinced that Ferranti's views were correct .sx Before dealing with the period of his life when he became one of the leading builders of steam engines in this country , let us go back to the history of electric lighting in order to obtain some idea of the resources available from 1885 to 1895 .sx The industry of electrical supply was not created without strenuous effort , mistakes , failures , and many disappointments .sx I will try to show you how modern methods of generation and distribution may be dated from 1885 , and that Ferranti was the prophet , the inventor , and the magician who " blazed the trail " and gave the world the key to success .sx I do not wish to disparage the earlier efforts before 1885 , which were of the greatest value in stimulating interest and then enthusiasm , culminating in the necessity for bolder vision and the highest flights of creative imagination .sx In order to appreciate the position as it existed at that time , let me , with the help of a few lantern slides , try to construct a picture of the means then available for electrical supply .sx I am confining these illustrations to London , where most of the pioneering work was done , and the whole story unfolded .sx The first public supply station in London was constructed at Kensington Court by Colonel Crompton and commenced supply in January 1887 .sx Here we have the work of one of our greatest pioneers , who is happily still with us .sx Willans engines and continuous current generators served a local residential district by means of three-wire distribution with storage batteries .sx To illustrate examples of alternating current supply I must refer to the Paddington Works , constructed by the Telegraphic Construction and Maintenance Co. for the Great Western Railway Co. and started in 1885 .sx In this case the generators were wound for two circuits with the field magnets fixed on the flywheel practically two-phase but at low pressure for direct supply to feeding mains divided into a number of small insulated wires .sx