The History of Electricity
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This site archives the life of James F Metcalf, a key player that helped form the induction heating industry.
This is the cut-throat story of the world's businesses developing modern metallurgy, from lodestone's humble beginnings to the latest space-age materials.
The work on chapters 4 and 5 on electricity are possibly the most accurate and complete history that has been recorded. All in all, the pages are a very good history for the last century. It is very good for superalloys and jet-engine history.
James Farol Metcalf, 77, of Weaverville, NC, died Monday, April 27, 2009.
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Website Sorted By Location
Filename |
Author |
When |
What |
000-Introduction.htm | Jim Metcalf | Introduction to Memoir | |
001-Photos.htm | Jim Metcalf | List of Photos | |
003-TableofContents.htm | Jim Metcalf | List of Links | |
421-Pelton.html | Jim Metcalf | Metcalf buys the control division of the Pelton Water Wheel Company | |
430-SovietHistory.html | Jim Metcalf | Early Soviet Union History | |
431-WoodingFired.html | Jim Metcalf | Rowan's account of firing Consarc President | |
432-Vera.html | Jim Metcalf | Vera | |
433-Designers.html | Jim Metcalf | Russian Designers | |
203-Renaissance.htm | Jim Metcalf | 1500 - 1700 | From the Renaissance to the battery |
004-Battery.htm | Jim Metcalf | 1745 - 1862 | Battery discoveries, Volta, Tesla |
340-Page1838.htm | Dr. Charles Page | 1839 | Dr. Charles Page's apparatus |
005-Electricity.htm | Jim Metcalf | 1855 - 1920 | Continuing history including motors and generators |
350-Rowland1868.htm | Jim Metcalf | 1868 | Rowland motor patent 1868 |
341-HelmhotzononFaraday.htm | Hermann von Helmholtz | 1881-04-05 | The Faraday Lecture, London |
353-Rowland.htm | Henry Rowland | 1892-09-16 | Rowland reviews the bids for Niagara Falls power station |
006-Progress.htm | Jim Metcalf | 1900 - 1931 | The father of induction melting and heating, Edwin Finch Norhtrup |
360-Northrup.htm | EF Northrup | 1910 | Father of induction heating, Edwin Finch Northrup |
374-HistoryAjax.html | Jim Metcalf | 1912 - 1953 | History of Ajax Magnethermic |
434b-Amtorg.html | Jim Metcalf | 1913 - 1928 | Soviet Amtorg Trading Corp |
419a-Houghton.html | Jim Metcalf | 1914 - 1960 | George Houghton, Aerojet Inspector gives Metcalf Rocket history |
362-RussianTreaty.htm | Jim Metcalf | 1918-03-03 | The Peace Treaty of Brest-Litovsk |
370-Trotsky.html | Trotsky | 1926-03-25 | Problems of Russia's Policy With Respect to China and Japan |
363-Charlie.htm | Jim Metcalf | 1929 | Charlie Metcalf was charged with kidnapping |
371-MyYouth.html | Jim Metcalf | 1930 - 1954 | Jim's early life as a hillbilly |
351-TeslaCoil.htm | Nikola Tesla | 1931 | Tesla claims radio invention |
007-EarlyYears.htm | Jim Metcalf | 1932 - 1953 | Early Years until 1954 |
380b-Beryllium.html | EF Northrup | 1937 | Beryllium in space travel |
383a-NukeEngine.html | Jim Metcalf | 1946 - 1961 | Nuclear Engine |
375-Hunterdon.html | Jim Metcalf | 1950 | The most important event for Inductotherm |
008-EarlyWork.html | Jim Metcalf | 1950 - 1960 | Early work to Salesman |
380c-Fright.html | Jim Metcalf | 1951 | Fright Flight |
380-Allvac.html | Jim Metcalf | 1953 - 1963 | James D. Nisbet, Allvac |
389b-GM.html | Jim Metcalf | 1955 | Metcalf at General Motors Research from April 1955 to Oct 1955 |
389a-GE.html | Jim Metcalf | 1955 - 1956 | Metcalf pouring superalloy at GE from Oct 1955 to June 1956 |
434f-Chrome.html | Jim Metcalf | 1955 - 1958 | Role of chromium in vacuum melters |
382-Polaris.html | Jim Metcalf | 1955 - 1961 | Polaris Missile |
413-Polaris.html | Jim Metcalf | 1955 - 1961 | Development of Polaris missle |
410-Aerojet.html | Jim Metcalf | 1955 - 1973 | NERVA (Nuclear Engine for Rocket Vehicle Application) and all I know about carbon |
389c-Waimet.html | Jim Metcalf | 1956 - 1957 | Metcalf at Waimet (later Howmet) from June 1956 to July 1957 |
389-Cannon.html | Jim Metcalf | 1957 | Cannon Muskegon Corporation |
440-Raufer.html | Jim Metcalf | 1957 - 1987 | Long lasting friendship with a Catholic friend |
384-Crucible.html | Jim Metcalf | 1957-02-04 | Molten metal eats through and explodes |
392-AjaxNASA.html | Jim Metcalf | 1959 - 1964 | Project to test NASA hot hydrogen engine |
381-Jessie.html | Jim Metcalf | 1959 - 1993 | Jess Cartlidge |
383-Nuke.html | Jim Metcalf | 1960 | Nuclear Airplane |
411-ControlRod.html | Jim Metcalf | 1960 | NERVA Engine Control Rods |
412-Nuke.html | Jim Metcalf | 1960 | same as 383-Nuke.html |
415-AjaxNASA.html | Jim Metcalf | 1960 ca | Ajax NASA |
418-PinkPussycat.html | Jim Metcalf | 1960 ca | California strip club is home of war protest song |
419-CarbonArt.html | Jim Metcalf | 1960 ca | Production of carbon fabrics and threads made from rayon |
009-Salesman.html | Jim Metcalf | 1961 - 1966 | Salesman to entrepreneur |
419b-Fostoria.html | Jim Metcalf | 1963 | Rayon to carbon to graphite |
446-Hoover.html | Jim Metcalf | 1963 | Hoover-Ugine Company |
394-SpecialMetals2.html | Jim Metcalf | 1966 | Special Metals Number 9 |
010-Cragmet.html | Jim Metcalf | 1966 - 1968 | Vacuum furnaces |
402-Charger.html | Jim Metcalf | 1967 | Device to load materials into a furnace for melting |
400-Agreement.html | Jim Metcalf | 1967-06-14 | Metcalf joins Inductotherm group |
011-MarsRocket.html | Jim Metcalf | 1968 | Henry Rowan, Mars Rocket |
012-Cheston.html | Jim Metcalf | 1971 - 1972 | Cheston, Cragmet, IRS |
434-Kama.html | Jim Metcalf | 1971 - 1978 | Kama Purchasing Commission, Ukraine |
013-SovietUnion.html | Jim Metcalf | 1972 | Visit Russia, Meet Vera |
447-Nixon.html | Jim Metcalf | 1972 - 1976 | |
442-ASEA.html | Jim Metcalf | 1973 | ASEA wins contract for isopress |
014-Watergate.html | Jim Metcalf | 1973 - 1975 | Around the world, Meet the president |
445-Cannons.html | Jim Metcalf | 1974 | Induction heating to re-refile tank cannon |
015-Kramatorsk.html | Jim Metcalf | 1975 | Kramatorsk |
016-Consarc.html | Jim Metcalf | 1975 | Consarc |
461-Mortimer.html | Jim Metcalf | 1976 | John Mortimer in Rancocas |
460-LetterHank.html | Jim Metcalf | 1978-05-10 | Letter to Henry Rowan at Inductotherm |
017-ConsarcUK.html | Jim Metcalf | 1979 - 1982 | Consarc UK |
018-CarbonContract.html | Jim Metcalf | 1982 - 1983 | Carbon contract |
105-Communications.htm | Jim Metcalf | 1982-05-10 | New business in the Soviet Union |
480-ConsarcBoard3Feb83.html | Jim Metcalf | 1983-02-03 | Consarc Board of Directors Meeting |
107-ConsarcBoard8Feb83.htm | Jim Metcalf | 1983-02-08 | Consarc Board of Directors Meeting |
106-ConsarcBoard15Apr83.htm | Jim Metcalf | 1983-04-15 | Consarc Board of Directors Meeting |
481-ConsarcBoard15Apr83.html | Jim Metcalf | 1983-04-15 | Consarc Board of Directors Meeting |
019-Russians-in-Scotland.html | Jim Metcalf | 1984 | Russians in Scotland |
020-EmbargoisComing.html | Jim Metcalf | 1984 - 1985 | The Embargo is Coming |
490-NewsReports.html | Steve Twomey | 1984-05-13 | Philadelphia Inquirer: Inside Moves |
501-Amendment.html | Jim Metcalf | 1984-12-20 | Amendment #5 |
516-BritishPress1985.html | Jim Metcalf | 1985 | British Telegraph 1985 |
520-LetterRowan1985.html | Jim Metcalf | 1985 | Letter to Hank Rowan |
023-AfterBEPA.html | Jim Metcalf | 1985 - 1987 | After BEPA |
021-EmbargoAftermath.html | Jim Metcalf | 1985-01 | Embargo and Aftermath |
526-RowanWrote.html | Jim Metcalf | 1985-02 | Rowan wrote in his book |
510-EmbargoRegulations.html | Jim Metcalf | 1985-02-08 | Embargo Regulations |
511-Seizure.html | Jim Metcalf | 1985-02-13 | Seizure of Goods |
512-DTI-15Feb85.html | Jim Metcalf | 1985-02-15 | Minutes of Dept of Trade, London |
513-ECGD-8Mar85.html | Jim Metcalf | 1985-03-08 | Minutes of ECGD Meeting |
514-RowanInterview.html | Jim Metcalf | 1985-03-25 | Rowan Interview |
515-Bombshell.html | Jim Metcalf | 1985-03-30 | Bombshell looks like dud |
022-BEPA.html | Jim Metcalf | 1985-07 | BEPA |
530-Tax.html | Jim Metcalf | 1985-08-19 | Rule #1 British Tax for Expatriates |
521-ConsarcBoard20Aug85.html | Jim Metcalf | 1985-08-20 | Consarc Board Meeting |
522-DTI-6Sep85.html | Jim Metcalf | 1985-09-06 | Minutes of DTI Meeting, London |
523-Stansted.html | Jim Metcalf | 1985-09-20 | Stansted Fluid Power |
525-RowanStops.html | Jim Metcalf | 1985-10-04 | Rowan Halts Work |
524-DTI-3Oct85.html | Jim Metcalf | 1985-10-30 | Minutes of DTI Meeting, 3 Oct 85 |
531-DickLetter.html | Jim Metcalf | 1985-10-30 | Memo to Tom Dick, Vacutherm |
532-Korea.html | Jim Metcalf | 1985-12-07 | Superalloy Furnace, Korea |
533-FarEast.html | Jim Metcalf | 1987-05 | Far East |
502-RussianContract.html | Jim Metcalf | 1987-11 | Newsday, late 1987 |
542-Newsday.html | Jim Metcalf | 1987-11-08 | Newsday 1987 |
543-Aftermath.html | Jim Metcalf | 1987-11-09 | A follow-up story in Newsday |
544-Time.html | Jim Metcalf | 1987-11-23 | Time International on Consarc |
111-ABC.htm | Peter Jennings | 1987-12-09 | ABC television report on Metcalf |
102-Blame.htm | Knut Royce | 1987-12-10 | Blame |
108-LocalNewspaper.htm | Tim Kelly | 1987-12-11 | Consarc Officials Deny Wrongdoing in Sales to Soviets |
547-BurlingtonTimes.html | Jim Metcalf | 1987-12-11 | Local news coverage in Consarc's home town |
100-AppealFMI.htm | Jim Metcalf | 1988 | Fiber Materials Appeal |
024-Press.html | Jim Metcalf | 1988 - 1989 | Story of Knut Royce and resulting arms limitation news coverage and corrections |
548-MysteryMan.html | Jim Metcalf | 1988-01-06 | Local news coverage of the Russian contract |
549-ManyLetters.html | Jim Metcalf | 1988-05-10 | Exchanges with Rowan about misunderstanding |
380b-BurnedBridges.html | Jim Metcalf | 1988-05-11 | Rowan-Metcalf Memos |
025-Deported.html | Jim Metcalf | 1988-08-05 | Britain attempts to deport Metcalfs |
551-NewsdayDeported.html | Jim Metcalf | 1988-08-06 | Newsday prints Metcalf is deported |
552-LetterRowan.html | Jim Metcalf | 1988-08-30 | Letter from Rowan about deportation |
555-Commerce25Jan89.html | Jim Metcalf | 1989-01-25 | Exchange of letters with US Department of Commerce |
556-HomeOffice5Mar89.html | Jim Metcalf | 1989-03-05 | Information about Vera's visa after Metcalf was deported |
567-Rowan26Jun89.html | Jim Metcalf | 1989-06-26 | Letter to Rowan about IMM |
568-IMM.html | Jim Metcalf | 1989-06-28 | Letter to IHI Master Metals |
569-Letter-to-Roberts.html | Jim Metcalf | 1989-07-11 | Letter to Roberts (Consarc President) about IMM |
026-Boston.html | Jim Metcalf | 1990 | Jim Metcalf moves to Boston |
569a-Guardian.html | Jim Metcalf | 1990-01-01 | Fight with British Press |
571-Arrowood.html | Jim Metcalf | 1990-01-15 | Metcalf purchases home on Arrowood Road |
572-VeraLetter.html | Jim Metcalf | 1990-03-06 | Vera's letter to Allcarb |
572a-NC.html | Jim Metcalf | 1990-05-15 | Letter to Allcarb about office in Moscow |
574-Telex.html | Jim Metcalf | 1990-09-08 | Telex to Allcarb |
027-StartingOver.html | Jim Metcalf | 1991 | Starting over in 1991 |
575-Rowan11Mar92.html | Jim Metcalf | 1992-03-11 | Exchange of letters with Rowan about IMM |
110-NotesfromRowan.htm | Henry Rowan | 1996-04-15 | Memos from Henry Rowan to Metcalf |
405-Fleet.html | Jim Metcalf | 2000 | Inductotherm private airport |
112-Gemzar.htm | Jim Metcalf | 2000-01 | When surgery is not an option |
113-Talcumpowder.htm | Jim Metcalf | 2000-01 | Lung tumor growth stunted by talcum powder |
002-CancerDetails.htm | Jim Metcalf | 2004 - 2008 | Cancer details for James Metcalf |
103a-Cancer.htm | Jim Metcalf | 2005-04-06 | Cancer |
103b-CNN.htm | Jim Metcalf | 2005-04-06 | ABC anchor Peter Jennings announces lung cancer |
114-Tarceva.htm | Jim Metcalf | 2009-01 | Alternative to standard chemotherapy |
index.html | 2024-12-09 | Directory listing for ~microns | |
index.html | 2024-12-09 | Directory listing for ~zero | |
index.html | 2024-12-09 | Directory listing for ~eighty | |
index.html@D=A.html | 2024-12-09 | ~eighty sorted by description ascending | |
index.html@D=A.html | 2024-12-09 | ~microns sorted by description ascending | |
index.html@D=A.html | 2024-12-09 | ~zero sorted by description ascending | |
index.html@D=D.html | 2024-12-09 | ~zero sorted by description descending | |
index.html@D=D.html | 2024-12-09 | ~eighty sorted by description descending | |
index.html@D=D.html | 2024-12-09 | ~microns sorted by description descending | |
index.html@M=A.html | 2024-12-09 | ~eighty sorted by modified date ascending | |
index.html@M=A.html | 2024-12-09 | ~microns sorted by modified date ascending | |
index.html@M=A.html | 2024-12-09 | ~zero sorted by modified date ascending | |
index.html@M=D.html | 2024-12-09 | ~eighty sorted by modified date descending | |
index.html@M=D.html | 2024-12-09 | ~zero sorted by modified date descending | |
index.html@M=D.html | 2024-12-09 | ~microns sorted by modified date descending | |
index.html@N=A.html | 2024-12-09 | ~zero sorted by name ascending | |
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index.html@N=A.html | 2024-12-09 | ~microns sorted by name ascending | |
index.html@N=D.html | 2024-12-09 | ~microns sorted by name descending | |
index.html@N=D.html | 2024-12-09 | ~zero sorted by name descending | |
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index.html@S=A.html | 2024-12-09 | ~zero sorted by size ascending | |
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index.html@S=D.html | 2024-12-09 | ~zero sorted by size descending | |
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index.html@S=D.html | 2024-12-09 | ~microns sorted by size descending | |
202-DarkAges.htm | Jim Metcalf | 378 - 1492 | Dark Ages to Columbus |
201-Beginning.htm | Jim Metcalf | 384 BC - 313 AD | In the Beginning to Christmas |
361-Wilderness-Road.htm | Jim Metcalf | ? | Metcalf's father's poem, and Metcalf genealogy |
380d-CarbonCloth.html | Jim Metcalf | ? | Black art of carbon production |
389d-CarbonCloth.html | Jim Metcalf | ? | Black art of carbon production |
434d-DeathBeam.htm | Jim Metcalf | ? | Tesla about his death beam. A folly. |
448-Inspectors.html | Jim Metcalf | ? | Inspectors |
450-BurlingtonTimes.html | Jim Metcalf | ? | Burlington County Times |
451-Tamara.html | Jim Metcalf | ? | Dancing in Russia |
482-Hillbilly.html | Jim Metcalf | ? | Hillbilly |
500-HowtoProduce.html | Jim Metcalf | ? | How to produce Calcarb |
534-Brazil.html | Jim Metcalf | ? | Brazil |
540-KnutRoyce.html | Knut Royce | ? | Story about Knut Royce, Newsday reporter |
577-SpeechforIMM.html | Jim Metcalf | ? | Metcalf speech to IMM about their superalloy furnace |
354-Tesla.htm | Nikola Tesla | 1919 | Excerpt from "The Autobiography of Nikola Tesla" |
401-Moontrip.html | Jim Metcalf | 1937 | Northrup’s trip to the moon |
ZerotoEighty.htm | EF Northrup | 1937 | Science-based fiction of reaching the moon |
352-Steinmetz.htm | Floyd Miller | 1965 | Charles Steinmetz "The Man Who Tamed Lightning" |
104-Chapter33.htm | Henry Rowan | 1995 | From Henry Rowan's book with Metcalf comments |
109-NorthrupRowan.htm | Jim Metcalf | 1995 | Rowan's and Metcalf's lives compared |
386-RunOut.html | Jim Metcalf | 1995 | Part of Chapter 11 from The Fire Within |
403-Provident.html | Jim Metcalf | 1995 | Bank reneged on a commitment to finance a job in Russia |
TheFireWithin.htm | Henry M. Rowan | 1995 | The story of Inductotherm Industries |
342-HallEffect.htm | E. H. Hall | 1879-11 | The Hall Effect |
541-CookeRoyce.html | Cooke Royce | 1987-09-14 | Cooke at Consarc Scotland |
550-Deported.html | Jim Metcalf | 1988-08-05 | Memo from British Home Office that Metcalf is deported |
553-LetterHomeOffice.html | Jim Metcalf | 1988-09-15 | Letter to British Home Office |
554-HomeOffice.html | Jim Metcalf | 1988-09-28 | Letter from British Home Office |
570-UkraineCarbon.html | Jim Metcalf | 1989-09-14 | Details of the new Carbon business in the USSR |