"Report of the annual dinner of the Institute" in Transactions of the American Institute of Electrical Engineers, Vol. XIX.
New York: AIEE, 1903. 4to. x, 1234 pp. FIRST EDITION. With frontispiece portrait of Ralph W. Pope and numerous text tables and diagrams. Cloth, title and date in gilt on spine; a fine copy with the stamps of the GEC Electrical Projects Library and H.N. Sporborg. Item #4531
First edition of this fascinating summary of an evening honoring Guglielmo Marconi. Prior to his speech, the president of the Institute, Charles P. Steinmetz, and past president T. Commerford Martin, provide short introductions, including a reading of letters from members and others who were unable to attend, such as Edison and Nikola Tesla. As honoree, Marconi then makes his remarks, giving a brief description of what his system "has at present accomplished, especially in reference to use on ships, and what I hope it will accomplish in the future." He then details the existing arrangements and locations of equipment, current and possible future commercial applications, and generally the practical "workings" of the system.
Marconi is followed by various speakers on behalf of the honoree, including Prof. Elihu Thomson and Dr. Michael I. Pupin, each of whom provide a more in-depth and technical explanation of Marconi's work.
Also included in the volume is the first announcement by Peter Cooper Hewitt of the discovery of the mercury gas lamp (see Bright, p. 224).
Price: $300.00