THE

THE BATTERY
How Portable Power Sparked a Technological Revolution

Henry Schlesinger

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To Elisabeth Dyssegaard, Kathryn Whitenight, jud Laghi, Charlie Scuilla, and Melissa Suzanne for their vatience. I'd also like to thank aU of the people who helped me along the way. T hey're a diverse group, and I'm certain that I've inadvertently missed some of them. However, I am grateful to the assistance given to me by . . . usan n:nunx, Larry r, 1 racey 1 m:te, uenms 1\.tem, Janett Mlrochna, Mmay Rosewitz, Wenay Rejan, Corey CreU, ana Donna Frazier Schmitt. And, of course, to Chris Costello, for his most excellent illustrations.

THE BATTERY.

Copyright 2010 by Henry Schlesinger. All rights reserved.

Printed in the United States of America. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission except

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FIRST EDITION

Alltllustratlons cnns costello, except: pages 180, 231: Eveready Battery Company, Inc. Reprinted with permission; page 204: Courtesy ofPoptronix Inc.; page 242: Courtesy of the United States Army Communications-Electronics Museum; page 257: Courtesy of Texas Instruments; page 277: Courtesy of NASA

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Library of Congress Cataloging-inPublication Data Schlesinger, Henry R. T he batterv : how oortable oower soarked a technolos;dcal revolution I
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Includes bibliographical references and index. ISBN o78-o-o6-u..t2m- lalk. nanerl

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Faith is a fine invention For gentlemen who see; Rut; ,.,.,. arP.
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-Emily Dickinson

lDNTENTS

Introduction History in Real Time

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One Two Three Four Five Six Seven

A World without Science The Death ofSuverstition The Tale of the Frog Science, Showmanship, and the Voltaic Pile Not a Gentleman of Science What Hath God Wrought? Finally, Something Useful eower ana Llgnt Genius by Design
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Eleven Twelve
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Without Wires Mass-Marketinsz Miracles

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CONTENTS

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Fifteen Sixteen Seventeen Eighteen tvtneceen Epilogue

The Endless Frontier See It! Hear It! Get It! Smaller and Smaller Always On Lao l(epons Bring on the Future

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Selected Bibliography
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