KENNETH STRICKFADEN'S TESLA COIL

Beginning with FRANKENSTEIN in 1931, Kenneth Strickfaden was the (mostly) uncredited electrical wizard behind some of the most dazzling effects seen in monster movies. His work can be seen in films such as THE MASK OF FU MANCHU (1932), THE BRIDE OF FRANKENSTEIN (1935), THE WAR OF THE WORLDS (1953), and DRACULA VS. FRANKENSTEIN (1971). His career goes as far back as 1925, when he worked as an electrician in Lon Chaney's PHANTOM OF THE OPERA.

Many of his electrical gadgets and gizmos have been sold over the years at auction. This particular device, a Tesla Coil that he named "Meg Sr.", was his favorite. When the gavel dropped, it sold for $11,875.00.

Auction description:

Kenneth Strickfaden "Megavolt Sr." Tesla Coil Used in Son of Frankenstein and Other Films (1930s-1980s). Coined by Strickfaden as "Meg Sr.," this was his personal favorite. Built in the 1930s, this primary and secondary Tesla coil is composed of a large wooden cylinder tightly wrapped in copper wire and a copper end cap mounted on one end. The primary coil is the thicker, insulated wire wrapped at one end; the secondary coil is composed of thinner, un-insulated wire. When powered by an external transformer (not included), this device can throw out up to a million volts of electrical energy in large, powerful lightning-like bolts. Meg Sr. can be seen prominently behind Boris Karloff "The Monster" in the laboratory sequences in Son of Frankenstein (1939), and it was used for electrical effects in a number of other films, including Frankenstein Meets the Wolf Man (1943), Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein (1948), and The Terminator (1984).

Measures 48" x 16.5" diameter. Comes with the original cylindrical aluminum and wood transport case used by Strickfaden marked, "Tesla Megavolt r[eso]nator."