Customer Reviews

Westinghouse: Minutes of History

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
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I rushed to order a copy of "Westinghouse" for my father after I reviewed it for a magazine published by the director's alma mater. My dad is a real challenge when it comes to gifts or trying to entertain him. He may not have gone to the office since retiring 22 years ago, but he will always be an industrial engineer--not a sportsman, not a golfer, not a tinkerer around the house--an industrial strength engineer and if there was ever a hero for that kind of soul, it is George Westinghouse.

You need not be an octogenarian authority on warehouse palletization to enjoy this documentary that profiles America's most prolific inventor and industrialist who was gifted with good business sense and a generous heart. It is accessibly crafted to hold general interest for anyone. The producers and director have assembled extraordinary images and facts about the man whose career began during the Civil War before he was even twenty and carried America into the 20th century. The documentary looks at the larger landscapes of the railroad and rise of factories and peers into the American home as all were revolutionized by Westinghouse's vision. Those who enjoy the history of World's Fairs and expositions will be gratified by footage from several of them. Westinghouse is an American hero on many counts, not the least that he was a generous employer who inspired an unparalleled depth of worker loyalty in an era when union violence was the norm elsewhere. It is to the credit of the makers of the documentary that they let the historical facts and images show the greatness; they do not overdress it with a boastful or maudlin narrative.

This runs nearly 2 hours and never bogs down. Additionally, there are interviews and other historical perspectives available in the extra features.

Very well done and lots of information that I have never known on Westinghouse. Very little mention of Tesla. This it a good video and worth the money and time to watch. First quality production and not home brewed.

I am from Pittsburgh and I thought I knew something about George Westinghouse. After seeing this video I admit I knew very little about this man. If you want insight into the industrialization of this country, this video is a must see. And, if you are from Western PA or at least an American, you are missing an important history lesson in this documentary.I can't say enough about how George Westinghouse should have been the role model for all generations of businessmen, industrialists, and flat out human beings in general. Watch it and you will be inspired.
WP Pittsburgh

Airbrakes, AC power/with Tesla, Westinghouse took care of his workers.
The person who started the model of what would later become "the weekend".

The entire family really enjoyed learning about the unsung genius of Westinghouse.

A model for what businessmen should be, and the other characters like Edison and Morgan, what businessmen really are.