Henry Leroy Transtrom
Encyclopedia
Henry Leroy Transtrom was an American
inventor and showman who worked with high voltage
electricity
. His book, Electricity at high pressures and Frequencies, (1913) is still used as a guide for constructing homemade Tesla coil
s.
Transtrom was best known for his dramatic performances which made use of electricity. For his "Lightning Man" demonstrations, he stood on a large Tesla coil which made sparks (electrical discharges) come out from his outstretched fingertips.
There is a long standing rumour that says "Transtrom was electrocuted
during one of his demonstrations when one of these long sparks reached the primary coil of the device, thus coupling and drawing enough current to kill him. He became one of only three people to have been killed by a Tesla coil."
There is no direct reference for where this rumour originated and it was just assumed to be true for a long time. Recently an email surfaced from a Timara Zizzo claiming to be Mr. Transtroms Great Grandchild which said that the above story is nothing but an urban legend. The email said that Mr. Transtrom died from leukemia in the presence of his daughter (Timara Zizzo's Grand Mother)at his bedside.
(Both links aboving citing the new information on his death worked as at 19 April 2010)
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
inventor and showman who worked with high voltage
High voltage
The term high voltage characterizes electrical circuits in which the voltage used is the cause of particular safety concerns and insulation requirements...
electricity
Electricity
Electricity is a general term encompassing a variety of phenomena resulting from the presence and flow of electric charge. These include many easily recognizable phenomena, such as lightning, static electricity, and the flow of electrical current in an electrical wire...
. His book, Electricity at high pressures and Frequencies, (1913) is still used as a guide for constructing homemade Tesla coil
Tesla coil
A Tesla coil is a type of resonant transformer circuit invented by Nikola Tesla around 1891. It is used to produce high voltage, low current, high frequency alternating current electricity. Tesla coils produce higher current than the other source of high voltage discharges, electrostatic machines...
s.
Transtrom was best known for his dramatic performances which made use of electricity. For his "Lightning Man" demonstrations, he stood on a large Tesla coil which made sparks (electrical discharges) come out from his outstretched fingertips.
There is a long standing rumour that says "Transtrom was electrocuted
Electric shock
Electric Shock of a body with any source of electricity that causes a sufficient current through the skin, muscles or hair. Typically, the expression is used to denote an unwanted exposure to electricity, hence the effects are considered undesirable....
during one of his demonstrations when one of these long sparks reached the primary coil of the device, thus coupling and drawing enough current to kill him. He became one of only three people to have been killed by a Tesla coil."
There is no direct reference for where this rumour originated and it was just assumed to be true for a long time. Recently an email surfaced from a Timara Zizzo claiming to be Mr. Transtroms Great Grandchild which said that the above story is nothing but an urban legend. The email said that Mr. Transtrom died from leukemia in the presence of his daughter (Timara Zizzo's Grand Mother)at his bedside.
External links
- http://www.teslauniverse.com/blogs/tesla-universe-news-entry_17
- http://www.voltini.com/id23.htm
(Both links aboving citing the new information on his death worked as at 19 April 2010)