George Westinghouse Jr. Autographs, Memorabilia & Collectibles
GEORGE WESTINGHOUSE JR.
Born: October 6, 1846 in Schoharie, New York
Died: March 12, 1914 in New York City, New York
Died: March 12, 1914 in New York City, New York
By the age of 25, GEORGE WESTINGHOUSE, JR. (1846-1914) was a Civil War veteran who had already introduced his first major invention, air brakes that allowed an entire train to stop at once (1868); previously, the brakes on each car had to be applied before the train would slow down. After patenting this invention, he began his career as an industrialist by establishing the first of his 60 companies, the Westinghouse Air Brake Company (1869). Although direct current was the standard form of power in the U.S., Westinghouse learned that Europeans were experimenting with alternating current. Implementing their original plans, he and three engineers improved the transformer and united this device with Nikola Tesla's AC motor. In 1886, he organized the Westinghouse Electric Company to manufacture and market his new high-voltage alternating-current single-phase system for the transmission of electricity, the primary form of electricity now used in the U.S. Westinghouse, who served as President of the Westinghouse Electric Company from 1886-1911, also patented a number of devices for practicable and economical transmission of natural gas. In 1905, an internal review found sloppy management and financial irregularities in the books of the Equitable Life Assurance Company, the largest insurance firm in the US. Thomas Ryan, the firm's principal shareholder, persuaded George Westinghouse, former President Grover Cleveland, and New York Supreme Court judge Morgan J. O'Brien, to join the company's Board of Directors and oversee a housecleaning which restored the firm to a sound financial footing. Grover Cleveland (1837-1908), the only Democrat to serve as President between 1861 and 1913, was also the only President to serve non-consecutive terms (1885-1889, 1893-1897). Westinghouse's wish for a long life was fulfilled for Mrs. Cleveland, who remarried and lived until 1947; but not for the ex-President, long in failing health, who died on June 24, 1908.
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GEORGE WESTINGHOUSE JR. - CONTRACT SIGNED 02/03/1876 - HFSID 266566GEORGE WESTINGHOUSE, JR. 1876 contract for the Saint Paul and Sioux City Railroad to buy railroad brakes from the Westinghouse Air Brake Company, signed by Westinghouse Contract signed: "Geo. Westinghouse Jr", 2 pages, 11x15¾. 1876February 3.
Sale Price $1,700.00
$2,000.00
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GEORGE WESTINGHOUSE JR. - TYPED LETTER SIGNED 03/16/1907 - HFSID 287146GEORGE WESTINGHOUSE, JR. Flattering birthday letter to former President Cleveland, alluding by inference to their recent collaboration to rescue Equitable, the nation's largest insurance company. Autograph Letter signed: "Geo. Westinghouse". 1 page, 8¼x10. 111 Broadway, New York, 1907 March 16. To Hon.
Sale Price $2,762.50
$3,250.00
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GEORGE WESTINGHOUSE JR. - TYPED LETTER SIGNED 08/09/1910 - HFSID 31435GEORGE WESTINGHOUSE, JR George Westinghouse, Jr. sends a typed letter about an article and to give more information. Typed Letter Signed: "Geo. Westinghouse", 1p, 8¼x10¼. Erskine Park,Lenox, Massachusetts, 1910 August 9. To E.J. Edwards, Esq., Care National Bank, New York.
Sale Price $1,190.00
$1,400.00
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GEORGE WESTINGHOUSE JR. - TYPED LETTER SIGNED 11/27/1906 - HFSID 177627GEORGE WESTINGHOUSE, JR George Westinghouse, Jr. sends a typed letter of thanks for the copy of the Journal of the Franklin Institute. Typed Letter Signed: "Geo. Westinghouse", 1p, 7¼x7¾. Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, 1906 November 27. On his personal stationery to Mr. William J.
Sale Price $935.00
$1,100.00