And anecdotally Tesla had devised a laser as well, so it remains contemporary!

I do not think that means what you think it means. Although maybe.

Perhaps you meant "allegedly" or "apocryphally"?

Contemporaneous anecdotes from visitors to his lab reported a beautiful pure red spot of light, redder than any possible in nature, coming from a machine. Since it happened in the past, does that make it alleged? I don't think apocryphal works - its not an urban legend, its from documented letters etc.