George Cove

George Cove was a Canadian inventor, known primarily for early solar electric generation equipment.

George Cove
Born
George H Cove

1863 or 1864.
Amherst, Nova Scotia
Known for'solar electric generator'
George Cove, as profiled in The Technical World Magazine, June 1909
Patent filed by George Cove, for "thermo electric battery and apparatus" filed in 1905
Canadian Patent 100247, "Tide Power System"

Biography

George Cove was born in Amherst, Nova Scotia, in 1863 or 1864.[1] In 1904–05, Cove developed his 'solar electric generator' which he displayed at the Metropole Building in Halifax, Nova Scotia.[2][3] Word of this device reached American investors, and a plant to develop more devices was planned in Somerville, Massachusetts.[4] In 1906, Cove patented a device for capturing tidal power for which he won a gold medal from the Canadian government for his model of the machine and a plan for harnessing the tides of the Bay of Fundy. In 1909–10, Cove maintained a workshop in New York at 118 Maiden Lane to manufacture solar electric generators.[5] In 1909, Cove was kidnapped[6] and offered $25,000 and a house to stop promoting his devices. He refused and was released at the Bronx Zoo. Cove accused a former investor, Frederick W. Huestis of organizing the kidnapping.[7] After the kidnapping, the business shuttered.

His father Joseph Cove patented many mechanical devices. His mother, Ann, was also born in Nova Scotia, and her parents were from Ireland.

Legacy

It has been speculated that Cove may have invented a photovoltaic panel 40 years before Bell Labs did in 1950.[8]

See also

References
  1. Bartels, Dennis (1997-06-06). "George Cove's Solar Energy Device". Material Culture Review. ISSN 1927-9264.
  2. View of George Cove's Solar Energy Device, Material Culture Review
  3. "Electricity from the sun's rays". The World's News. No. 386. New South Wales, Australia. 8 May 1909. p. 10. Retrieved 29 December 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
  4. Halifax Herald, 4 May 1909
  5. "Research Reports / Rapports de recherche - George Cove's Solar Energy Device1". journals.lib.unb.ca. Retrieved 2021-10-20.
  6. The New York Herald on 19 October 1909
  7. The World newspaper (19 October 1909)
  8. "How to Build a Low-tech Solar Panel?". Low-tech magazine. Retrieved 2021-10-20.
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