40 Rare Photos Every History Buff Should See

Tesla with his “Magnifying Transmitter”

This photo from the 1900s shows a historical figure, Nikola Tesla, sitting in his laboratory surrounded by the most advanced technology of its time. He is posed in front of a complicated machine which was known as his “Magnifying Transmitter”. The machine was designed to transmit 3 million volts of electricity without losing energy or intensity and could be felt up to 40km away. Using this device, Tesla had planned to make the transmission of electricity around the world efficient and accessible with no need for wires or physical infrastructure – marking a major milestone in human history. The photo speaks to what would eventually become known as wireless communication and serves as evidence that Tesla’s contributions were far ahead of their time.