Chapter 104: Standards Dispute
"It's just normal business competition. It's not quite reasonable to use words like enemies and friends!" Westinghouse laughed. He neither agreed nor disagreed with the two people's words. He didn't seem to think that Morgan's pressure was anything big.
Sheffield secretly complained that he actually didn't like this type of businessman, too hypocritical. A businessman can either focus on technology and push everything, or keep a low profile. A businessman like Westinghouse looks generous on the surface, but he does a lot of things in private. He always reminds him of Jack Ma, who always gives inspirational speeches.
"It seems that Westinghouse Electric thinks it is very powerful! So when building the electrical network, I think it would be better for the southern states to cooperate with General Electric!" Sheffield said arrogantly, "If it doesn't work, I can also inject capital into General Electric. I believe Morgan is not a person who would monopolize all the profits."
"Master William speaks in a very traditional Texan way, as if your grandfather was like that according to the rumors." Westinghouse raised his eyebrows and said sarcastically, he was dissatisfied with the dissatisfaction expressed by Sheffield.
"That's not what William meant. You two are friends of Standard Oil. Negotiations should be conducted through consultation. You both have the desire to cooperate, so why hide it?" Rockefeller Jr. spoke up at the right time to smooth things over. "From the fact that Morgan named the acquired company General Motors, we can tell that this emperor of the financial world has a big appetite. Don't you think so?"
Westinghouse and Sheffield were silent after hearing this. The word "universal" meant a lot of other things. It showed Morgan's ambition to set standards in the electrical field. All electrical engineering in the United States used the standards set by universal.
Another typical example of a company that can embody ambitions from its name is the Standard Oil Company of the Rockefeller family. The name Standard Oil is even more straightforward than the word General Oil. Standard Oil was used as the standard to control everything in the oil industry.
If General Electric becomes General Standard, then isn't a company like Westinghouse Electric doomed to be crushed? Although Westinghouse was touched, he still said, "Aren't you talking too serious?"
"If it were someone else, it wouldn't be that serious. But if it were Morgan, it would be very reasonable to say it was serious." Rockefeller Jr. said with a smile, "Morgan's capital flow is too strong. Mr. Westinghouse should know this. Even if they promote electrical development at the same time, Morgan will catch up. Westinghouse Electric needs an ally, even if the original intention is just to protect itself."
"The Sheffield family is committed to contributing to the United States Electric Company, and there are not many friends with such strength. Due to the long-standing friendly relationship between Westinghouse Electric and Standard Oil, with my father's approval, I am willing to act as an intermediary to facilitate this cooperation." Rockefeller Jr. stated his purpose politely.
This was definitely not for discounts on the Sheffield family's ocean-going fleet, nor was it for the Sheffield family to escort their exploration work on Mexican territory. It was purely a matter of mutual benefit.
"As for my family's purpose, it's actually very simple. It's to meet the needs of more than 20 million citizens in the thirteen southern states!" Sheffield said something that made Rockefeller Jr. feel extremely arrogant. "The electrical field is extremely important to the South, because the vast farms in the South need to introduce the latest electrical achievements."
"After all this talk, it seems like it won't do Westinghouse any good!" Westinghouse rubbed his chin with his hand and shrugged. "It sounds more like introducing a competitor than helping Westinghouse fight against GE. Once I stand on Master William's side, two competitors become three. What's the logic?"
"Triangles have strong stability. This is basic geometric knowledge. That's why the Egyptian pyramids stand tall." Sheffield said slowly, "I also have Siemens' patent license. Mr. Westinghouse must be familiar with Siemens because Westinghouse Electric has also received help from Siemens. The entire Tesla research team also holds shares in the name of the research team and becomes the chief engineer of the new electrical company. The new electrical company will inevitably appear in Houston. For Westinghouse Electric, cross-patent licensing will jointly promote the electrical development of the United States."
Whether Westinghouse agrees or not, the new electric company will emerge. Given Westinghouse's current embarrassing position as the second largest company in the industry, whether Westinghouse is showing goodwill or not, it is within the scope of General Electric's suppression. Just like the relationship between the United States and the Soviet Union later, no matter what system the Soviet Union has, as long as the Soviet Union exists, it must be suppressed if its national strength approaches that of the United States.
"Entering the electrical field for Tesla's research team? I have to say that young people have the courage. If I were thirty years younger, I might do the same! All right, the two companies will license their patents and jointly deal with General Electric." Westinghouse sighed. He knew that the two young men in front of him were right. No matter what Westinghouse Electric did, it would be General Electric's biggest competitor. All goodwill was useless.
"That's great. I believe that with this, the Sheffield family will have a powerful ally in the electrical industry!" After leaving Westinghouse Electric, Rockefeller Jr. breathed a sigh of relief and said with a smile, "I helped you this time, you must appreciate it, and you must give me a discount. In fact, this is beneficial to both of us. No matter from which aspect, Standard Oil is a big customer, and after the discount, my family can also reduce costs a little. This is a win-win situation."
"This alliance is not reliable. In the end, we still have to rely on our family's strength to promote electrification as soon as possible." Sheffield laughed and said nonchalantly, "It's not like there is no solution."
"It seems that you are not entering the electrical field rashly. What methods do you have?" Rockefeller Jr. asked curiously.
"You will know when the time comes! Mr. Tesla will definitely be very grateful for my help. It can be regarded as helping him realize his dream!" Sheffield raised his eyebrows and said, "I will implement his standards."
The voltage standard in the United States is now 110V. This number was obtained by Edison after countless experiments. He believed that the voltage was the most stable and safest at 110V. The first power supply system he built in New York also provided 110V electricity, so it has not changed until now. Even Tesla thought that 220V was also safe, and they had a fierce argument over this.
Sheffield thinks this voltage standard is a false proposition, and has been packaged as a soft article about cherishing life in the United States by brainwashing articles in later generations. In his eyes, the difference between the two voltage standards is that Tesla's standard is equivalent to locking you and a Siberian tiger in a cage at the same time, while Edison's standard replaces the Siberian tiger with a Sumatran tiger. In fact, there is no difference between the two standards in terms of safety or insecurity.
The status of the chapter I wrote at midnight yesterday was after I drank ten bottles of beer, so there are a lot of typos. I checked it several times before uploading it, and I just woke up at noon today. This is the first time I have the urge to stop drinking.
(End of this chapter)
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