Chapter 103: Alliance
There are many powerful but unknown companies in this world, just like Edison and Tesla. Westinghouse Electric of later generations is such a company. It is a company that is equally powerful as General Electric, and its industries cover various fields from refrigerators and color TVs to nuclear energy and electronics.
Westinghouse Electric was one of Tesla's main bettors. Westinghouse Electric subsequently launched a series of innovations on alternating current, and even hired Nikola Tesla himself as a consultant. In 1891, Westinghouse Electric built the world's first industrial alternating current power supply system. In the industrial field, Westinghouse Electric is also one of the important manufacturers.
However, in Morgan's series of mergers and reorganizations, Westinghouse Electric is now also under pressure from General Electric. It is in the stage of forced dual dominance. Although it is not inferior in technology, it has a hard time developing its business, and its reputation is not comparable to that of General Electric.
Westinghouse of Westinghouse Electric was also Tesla's main sponsor. Westinghouse played a huge role in Tesla's victory in the current war with Edison. However, for some unknown reason, Westinghouse did not give Tesla enough support after that.
Pennsylvania became the second state to join the Union. Since its founding, the state has been known for its religious freedom and political democracy, and has a great influence in North America. Many important chapters in American history were written in Pennsylvania. Because the state is located in the middle of the thirteen states, there are six states in the north and six states in the south, and the state played a key role in the independence of the United States.
Pennsylvania has excellent coal quality, which, combined with iron ore transported from the Great Lakes region, developed a large-scale steel industry. Subsequently, oil was discovered, which became an important factor in the rise of Rockefeller. In Sheffield's eyes, a state with all the coal, iron and oil was simply a place chosen by heaven. In addition, it was located on the North-South dividing line politically, and its status was extraordinary.
Pennsylvania has another characteristic, that is, the largest single ethnic group is German immigrants, so there emerged a large number of wealthy German immigrants represented by Rockefeller.
Sheffield believes that essentially, Westinghouse Electric is not a match for Morgan's control of General Electric. The reason why it is now as powerful as General Electric is because Morgan made a mistake and placed his bets on Edison rather than Tesla, which led to the current predicament. He could use his stronger strength at any time and not turn back, but sooner or later he will fall into the law of true fragrance.
Westinghouse Electric is a winner in the trend. It found a new technological breakthrough and then expanded by relying on the technological victory, rather than directly relying on the weight of its financial strength. The advantage of this is that even in the fierce competition, Westinghouse Electric can still ensure that it has a high enough profit. Westinghouse Electric is now correcting and enjoying the dividends of this correct judgment.
Sheffield knew this and understood that Westinghouse was in a stage of feeling good about itself, so he couldn't take it lightly. For the sake of his own family's leverage, he agreed to the unequal treaty comparable to the panda lease, and he had to bring Rockefeller Jr. to Pennsylvania. In fact, until now, Sheffield didn't know whether the Rockefeller family, which had cheated thousands of oil workshops in the early years, would have a positive or negative effect on his trip to Pennsylvania.
In fact, Sheffield was simply overthinking and forgot that he was communicating with a powerful capitalist rather than negotiating with a group of ordinary people. In the eyes of capitalists, the Rockefeller family from Pennsylvania was undoubtedly a successful family and a role model for our generation.
Not every company is like Carnegie, who attached great importance to the conflicts between the two companies in the early years, not to mention that Westinghouse Electric and Standard Oil had no conflicts at all. On the contrary, they were very happy to have a strong friend.
The relationship between entrepreneurs in the United States is very complicated. Your enemy is not necessarily the enemy of your friend. Your ally may have a very good relationship with your enemy. This complex relationship cannot be explained in one or two sentences. For example, Westinghouse, the founder of Westinghouse Electric, was famous for inventing the air brake in the early days. When Westinghouse first talked about his invention to railroad magnate Cornelius Vanderbilt, Vanderbilt said that the whole idea of using air to stop the train was nonsense and disdained to listen. However, it was soon proved that Vanderbilt's statement was real nonsense, and Westinghouse's air brake spread like wildfire.
Although Vanderbilt offended Westinghouse, he became an important promoter in helping Rockefeller become an industry giant. Now that the Vanderbilt family has long fallen into the hands of a group of heirs who enjoy life, Westinghouse has become a competitor of Edison and Morgan behind him.
Another point is that Westinghouse has a very close relationship with Siemens of the German Empire, and is also a member of the technical exchange group with Sheffield.
It was a sunny day. Sheffield and Rockefeller Jr., forming a strong but sparse group, came to the Westinghouse Electric headquarters in Pennsylvania and visited Westinghouse, a business tycoon of the same generation as Rockefeller and Morgan.
Westinghouse was only fifty years old, which was considered young compared to many business wizards of his time. However, it was precisely because of his youth that he kept a clear mind and was quick to accept new things that he took the risk of betting on Tesla, which became a famous electrical company in the United States. If Morgan had not carried out electrical mergers and acquisitions, the current First Electric Company should have been Westinghouse Electric.
"You two young masters have misunderstood. The competition between Westinghouse Electric and General Electric is normal. In fact, the relationship is not as bad as others imagine!" Facing the most powerful partner in the history of the United States, Westinghouse naturally came forward in person. After learning the other party's intentions, he said that the relationship between his company and General Electric is very good.
"Let's be frank. Morgan has not exerted much effort. In the merger and reorganization of tin, General Electric's strength has surpassed Westinghouse Electric. Mr. Westinghouse should not refuse the help of a friend, and not even a friend." Before Sheffield could speak, Rockefeller Jr. spoke first, "Mr. Westinghouse is a pioneer. There is no need for a junior like me to teach here."
"The second one's goal is always very clear, and the first one usually only has the closest one in mind. Westinghouse Electric should not refuse help from others." Sheffield did not hide his intention to form an alliance at all, and followed Rockefeller Jr. to explain his purpose.
(End of this chapter)
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