From Passion to Science: Insight into the History and Present State of Pigeon-Related Artifacts Preserved in the Nikola Tesla Museum

Abstract

Among the numerous artifacts, i.e., archival documents, monographs, serial publications, newspaper clippings, and personal and technical items, preserved in the Nikola Tesla Museum in Belgrade, there are two letters and three samples of pigeon supplements, sent to the famous scientist, engineer, and inventor, at his request, by the Philadelphia Seed Co. (Philadelphia, U.S.A.) in late 1937 and early 1938. The principal aim of the research was to (1) analyse the written sources and published literature that bring us closer to an understanding of his relationship with pigeons, among which are the previously mentioned documents of the correspondence; (2) investigate the physicochemical properties of the artifacts; and (3) perform microbiological analysis in order to determine the degree of contamination and to issue recommendations for their further housing in the museum if needed. Research has yielded new and interesting facts, almost unknown to date, from the famous scientist’s life. Furthermore, it showed the nature of the investigated supplements: mineral hematite (T:27.35) and charcoal of various granulations (Т:27.39; and Т:27.40) and demonstrated the good condition of the preserved artifacts, with the degree of microbial contamination ranging from 1.5 to 4.0, and CFU g-1 from 3.85 to 214.29. The only documented contaminants are beneficial bacteria of the genus Bacillus, while moulds and pathogenic microorganisms in general were absent.