From:Dave Hennessey e-mail:dave@toyhouse.org
Subject:Did DC kill Henderson? Date:Thu Dec 6 18:52:58 2007
While on a long (is there any other kind?) phone call with Dick Winger the other night, he mentioned that Schwinn had a problem with obsolete machinery at his Excelsior factory - all the big machinery was powered by DC electric motors.

The first DC electric power plant was opened in New York city in 1882. The first AC power plant was in Niagra Falls - in 1896.

Schwinn's factory opened in 1895, and though I have no way to verify, DC was probably available in Chicago around that time.

New York City did not start converting from DC to AC until 1928 - I wonder what happened in Chicago? Perhaps the cost of "upgrading" the Schwinn factory was one of the factors contributing to the demise of the Excelsior Motor Mfg and Supply Co.

When did NYC finish converting from DC to AC? You'd be surprised - read this article from the New York Times:

http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/11/14/off-goes-the-power-current-started-by-thomas-edison

More info on the "War of the Currents":
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/War_of_Currents

And while you're over at Wikipedia, check out:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henderson_Motorcycle

Dave