Hardcover

Published: 25th November 2009

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Frank Julian Sprague invented a system for distributing electricity to streetcars from overhead wires. Within a year, electric streetcars had begun to replace horsecars, sparking a revolution in urban transportation. Sprague (1857--1934) was an American naval officer turned inventor who worked briefly for Thomas Edison before striking out on his own. Sprague contributed to the development of the electric motor, electric railways, and electric elevators. His innovations would help transform the urban space of the 20th century, enabling cities to grow larger and skyscrapers taller. The Middletons' generously illustrated biography is an engrossing study of the life and times of a maverick innovator.

"[By documenting] the life of the person generally considered one of the most significant leaders in the development of public transit ... [this] is a welcome addition to the literature." James H. Graebner, author of From Small Town to Downtown: A History of the Jewett Car Company

ISBN: 9780253353832
ISBN-10: 0253353831
Series: Railroads Past & Present
Audience: General
Format: Hardcover
Language: English
Number Of Pages: 296
Published: 25th November 2009
Dimensions (cm): 25.7 x 18.0  x 3.0
Weight (kg): 0.862