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I personally believe it is even less technical than as described by Lamme. Europe was all but settled on 50hz (German AEG), General Electric settled on 40hz. Westinghouse decided to go with 60hz. Why not all be the same? Why does a Ford Mustang look different than a Chevy Corrvette? Why are Mcdonald's hamburgers not quite the same as Burger King's?
Its about establishing a "brand" or an identity separate from your competitiors. However, if one particular company gets so big and so powerful that it begins to influence everything about their market, you have to either change to survive or die continuing with the old.
Once Westinghouse won the Niagra Falls Hydro-Power and Buffalo Transmission Project AND at the same time started taking HUGE chunks out of the lighting and appliance market from Edison / GE, all eventually had to go with 60hz here in the US. The same applies to all the individual companies in Europe.
Bryan P. Holland, ICC Electrical Code Official
CBO, Plans Examiner, Inspector, Instructor
Secretary - IAEI Florida Gulf Coast Division
Secretary - BOAF Gulf Coast Chapter