When Telsa was forced out of the Tesla Electric Light Company in 1886 with nothing but worthless stock, he had to work as a ditch digger and even then, determined to develop his concept of generating electricity through rotating magnetic fields he persevered. But knew he had to find a way to help potential investors understand the potential of his invention.

He devised this machine to illustrate the concept: an electromagnetic motor that generates the force needed to spin a brass egg and stand it upright. He named it “Egg of Columbus” after the famous story in which Christopher Columbus challenged the Spanish court to stand an egg upright.

When they failed, he took the egg flatted the bottom, so it stayed upright. They accused Columbus of playing a cheap trick, but he overcame their objections by explaining that “ideas seem impossible until a clever solution in found, at which point, it suddenly becomes easy.”

This stroke of genius from Tesla, resulted in funding from investors Alfred S. Brown, director of Western Union, and Charles F. Peck, an attorney from New York City. And in 1887, he opened a new laboratory at 89 Liberty Street, where he developed his designs for the A/C induction motor, exactly as he had imagined them.”

Nikola Tesla died on the night of January 7. On the morning of January 8, he was found by a cleaning lady at the hotel. When she saw him, the first person to be called was Sava Kosanovic, Nikola Tesla’s nephew and successor. Sava immediately came to the hotel with a locksmith to open Tesla’s safe.  
 
This bill, dated January 8, is proof of that occurrence and because of it, Sava Kosanovic was under the surveillance of the FBI for several years that followed.

Nikola Tesla once designed a fountain for the famous Tiffany’s Department Store, one that would achieve remarkable results with very little water. He hoped that collaborating with Louis Tiffany on an indoor fountain would be profitable, and there was some correspondence between them. Unfortunately, the project materialized. 
 
Tesla secured a patent for the fountain in 1914, during a period where he was deeply involved in mechanical engineering research while also struggling financially. It was a radical departure from traditional fountain design, offering far greater efficiency, something one might expect from the distinguished engineer. Interestingly, despite never being built, extensive research and numerous drawings exist, demonstrating once again Tesla’s unwavering dedication to his ideas.