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ThomasEdisonWikipedia

ThomasEdison
FromWikipedia,thefreeencyclopedia

ThomasAlvaEdison(February11,1847October18,1931)
wasanAmericaninventorandbusinessman.Hedeveloped
manydevicesthatgreatlyinfluencedlifearoundtheworld,
includingthephonograph,themotionpicturecamera,andthe
longlasting,practicalelectriclightbulb.Dubbed"TheWizard
ofMenloPark",[1]hewasoneofthefirstinventorstoapplythe
principlesofmassproductionandlargescaleteamworktothe
processofinvention,andbecauseofthat,heisoftencredited
withthecreationofthefirstindustrialresearchlaboratory.[2]
Edisonwasaprolificinventor,holding1,093USpatentsinhis
name,aswellasmanypatentsintheUnitedKingdom,France,
andGermany.MoresignificantthanthenumberofEdison's
patentswasthewidespreadimpactofhisinventions:electric
lightandpowerutilities,soundrecording,andmotionpictures
allestablishedmajornewindustriesworldwide.Edison's
inventionscontributedtomasscommunicationand,inparticular,
telecommunications.Theseincludedastockticker,amechanical
voterecorder,abatteryforanelectriccar,electricalpower,
recordedmusicandmotionpictures.
Hisadvancedworkinthesefieldswasanoutgrowthofhisearly
careerasatelegraphoperator.Edisondevelopedasystemof
electricpowergenerationanddistribution[3]tohomes,
businesses,andfactoriesacrucialdevelopmentinthemodern
industrializedworld.HisfirstpowerstationwasonPearlStreet
inManhattan,NewYork.[3]HehasbeendescribedasAmericas
greatestinventor.[4]

Contents
Earlylife
Telegrapher
Marriagesandchildren
Beginninghiscareer
MenloPark
5.1 Researchanddevelopmentfacility
5.2 Carbontelephonetransmitter
5.3 Electriclight
6 Electricpowerdistribution
6.1 Warofcurrents
7 Otherinventionsandprojects
7.1 Fluoroscopy
7.2 Telegraphimprovements

ThomasEdison

PhotographofEdison(c.1922)
Born

ThomasAlvaEdison
February11,1847
Milan,Ohio,U.S.

Died

October18,1931(aged84)
WestOrange,NewJersey,U.S.

Nationality American
Education Selfeducated
Occupation Inventor,businessman
Spouse(s)

MaryStilwell(m.187184)
MinaMiller(m.18861931)

Children

MarionEstelleEdison(1873
1965)
ThomasAlvaEdisonJr.
(18761935)
WilliamLeslieEdison(1878
1937)
MadeleineEdison(18881979)
CharlesEdison(18901969)
TheodoreMillerEdison
(18981992)

Parent(s)

SamuelOgdenEdison,Jr.
(18041896)

1
2
3
4
5

7.3 Motionpictures
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7.3 Motionpictures
7.4 Mining
7.5 Rubber
8 WestOrangeandFortMyers(18861931)
9 Finalyears
10 Death
11 Viewsonpolitics,religionandmetaphysics
12 Viewsonmoney
13 Awards
14 Tributes
14.1 PlacesandpeoplenamedforEdison
14.2 Museumsandmemorials
14.3 CompaniesbearingEdison'sname
14.4 AwardsnamedinhonorofEdison
14.5 OtheritemsnamedafterEdison
14.6 Inpopularculture
15 ListofpeoplewhoworkedforEdison
16 Seealso
17 References
18 Bibliography
19 Externallinks

NancyMatthewsElliott(1810
1871)
Relatives

LewisMiller(fatherinlaw)
Signature

Earlylife
ThomasEdisonwasborninMilan,Ohio,andgrewupinPortHuron,
Michigan.HewastheseventhandlastchildofSamuelOgdenEdison,Jr.
(18041896,borninMarshalltown,NovaScotia)andNancyMatthewsElliott
(18101871,borninChenangoCounty,NewYork).[5]Hisfather,thesonofa
Loyalistrefugee,hadmovedasaboywiththefamilyfromNovaScotia,
settlinginsouthwesternOntario(thencalledUpperCanada),inavillage
knownasShewsbury,laterVienna,by1811.SamuelJr.eventuallyfled
OntariobecausehetookpartintheunsuccessfulMackenzieRebellionof
1837.[6]Hisfather,SamuelSr.,hadearlierfoughtintheWarof1812as
captainoftheFirstMiddlesexRegiment.Bycontrast,SamuelJr.'sstruggle
foundhimonthelosingside,andhecrossedintotheUnitedStatesatSarnia
PortHuron.Onceacrosstheborder,hefoundhiswaytoMilan,Ohio.His
patrilinealfamilylinewasDutchbywayofNewJerseythesurnamehad
originallybeen"Edeson."[7]

Edisonasaboy

Hismothertaughthimathome.[8]Muchofhiseducationcamefromreading
R.G.Parker'sSchoolofNaturalPhilosophyandTheCooperUnionfortheAdvancementofScienceandArt.[9]
Edisondevelopedhearingproblemsatanearlyage.Thecauseofhisdeafnesshasbeenattributedtoaboutof
scarletfeverduringchildhoodandrecurringuntreatedmiddleearinfections.Aroundthemiddleofhiscareer,
Edisonattributedthehearingimpairmenttobeingstruckontheearsbyatrainconductorwhenhischemical
laboratoryinaboxcarcaughtfireandhewasthrownoffthetraininSmithsCreek,Michigan,alongwithhis
apparatusandchemicals.Inhislateryears,hemodifiedthestorytosaytheinjuryoccurredwhentheconductor,in
helpinghimontoamovingtrain,liftedhimbytheears.[10][11]

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Edison'sfamilymovedtoPortHuron,Michigan,aftertherailroadbypassedMilanin1854andbusiness
declined.[12]EdisonsoldcandyandnewspapersontrainsrunningfromPortHurontoDetroit,andsoldvegetables
tosupplementhisincome.Healsostudiedqualitativeanalysis,andconductedchemicalexperimentsonthetrain
untilanaccidentprohibitedfurtherworkofthekind.[13]
Edisonobtainedtheexclusiverighttosellnewspapersontheroad,and,withtheaidoffourassistants,hesetin
typeandprintedtheGrandTrunkHerald,whichhesoldwithhisotherpapers.[13]ThisbeganEdison'slongstreak
ofentrepreneurialventures,ashediscoveredhistalentsasabusinessman.Thesetalentseventuallyledhimto
found14companies,includingGeneralElectric,whichisstilloneofthelargestpubliclytradedcompaniesinthe
world.[14][15]

Telegrapher
EdisonbecameatelegraphoperatorafterhesavedthreeyearoldJimmieMacKenziefrombeingstruckbya
runawaytrain.Jimmie'sfather,stationagentJ.U.MacKenzieofMountClemens,Michigan,wassogratefulthathe
trainedEdisonasatelegraphoperator.Edison'sfirsttelegraphyjobawayfromPortHuronwasatStratford
Junction,Ontario,ontheGrandTrunkRailway.[16]
In1866,attheageof19,EdisonmovedtoLouisville,Kentucky,where,asanemployeeofWesternUnion,he
workedtheAssociatedPressbureaunewswire.Edisonrequestedthenightshift,whichallowedhimplentyoftime
tospendathistwofavoritepastimesreadingandexperimenting.Eventually,thelatterpreoccupationcosthim
hisjob.Onenightin1867,hewasworkingwithaleadacidbatterywhenhespilledsulfuricacidontothefloor.It
ranbetweenthefloorboardsandontohisboss'sdeskbelow.ThenextmorningEdisonwasfired.[17]
OneofhismentorsduringthoseearlyyearswasafellowtelegrapherandinventornamedFranklinLeonardPope,
whoallowedtheimpoverishedyouthtoliveandworkinthebasementofhisElizabeth,NewJersey,home.Some
ofEdison'searliestinventionswererelatedtotelegraphy,includingastockticker.Hisfirstpatentwasforthe
electricvoterecorder,(U.S.Patent90,646),[18]whichwasgrantedonJune1,1869.[19]

Marriagesandchildren
OnDecember25,1871,Edisonmarried16yearoldMaryStilwell(18551884),whomhehadmettwomonths
earliershewasanemployeeatoneofhisshops.Theyhadthreechildren:
MarionEstelleEdison(18731965),nicknamed"Dot"[20]
ThomasAlvaEdison,Jr.(18761935),nicknamed"Dash"[21]
WilliamLeslieEdison(18781937)Inventor,graduateoftheSheffieldScientificSchoolatYale,1900.[22]
MaryEdisondiedatage29onAugust9,1884,ofunknowncauses:possiblyfromabraintumor[23]oramorphine
overdose.Doctorsfrequentlyprescribedmorphinetowomeninthoseyearstotreatavarietyofcauses,and
researchersbelievethatsomeofhersymptomssoundedasiftheywereassociatedwithmorphinepoisoning.[24]
Edisongenerallypreferredspendingtimeinthelaboratoryratherthanbeingwithhisfamily.[25]
OnFebruary24,1886,attheageofthirtynine,Edisonmarriedthe20yearoldMinaMiller(18651947)in
Akron,Ohio.[26]ShewasthedaughteroftheinventorLewisMiller,cofounderoftheChautauquaInstitutionanda
benefactorofMethodistcharities.Theyalsohadthreechildrentogether:

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MadeleineEdison(18881979),whomarriedJohnEyre
Sloane.[27][28]
CharlesEdison(18901969),GovernorofNewJersey(1941
1944),whotookoverhisfather'scompanyandexperimental
laboratoriesuponhisfather'sdeath.[29]
TheodoreMillerEdison(18981992),(MITPhysics1923),credited
withmorethan80patents.
MinaoutlivedThomasEdison,dyingonAugust24,1947.[30][31]

Beginninghiscareer
EdisonbeganhiscareerasaninventorinNewark,NewJersey,withthe
automaticrepeaterandhisotherimprovedtelegraphicdevices,butthe
inventionthatfirstgainedhimnoticewasthephonographin1877.[32]This
accomplishmentwassounexpectedbythepublicatlargeastoappear
almostmagical.Edisonbecameknownas"TheWizardofMenloPark,"
NewJersey.[1]

MinaMillerEdisonin1906

Hisfirstphonographrecordedon
tinfoilaroundagrooved
0:00
cylinder.Despiteitslimited
soundqualityandthatthe
ThomasEdisonreciting"MaryHada
recordingscouldbeplayedonly
LittleLamb"
afewtimes,thephonograph
madeEdisonacelebrity.Joseph
Problemsplayingthisfile?Seemediahelp.
Henry,presidentoftheNational
AcademyofSciencesandoneofthemostrenownedelectricalscientistsintheUS,
describedEdisonas"themostingeniousinventorinthiscountry...orinany
other".[33]InApril1878,EdisontravelledtoWashingtontodemonstratethe
phonographbeforetheNationalAcademyofSciences,Congressmen,Senatorsand
USPresidentHayes.[34]TheWashingtonPostdescribedEdisonasa"genius"and
hispresentationas"ascene...thatwillliveinhistory".[35]AlthoughEdison
obtainedapatentforthephonographin1878,[36]hedidlittletodevelopituntil
AlexanderGrahamBell,ChichesterBell,andCharlesTainterproduceda
phonographlikedeviceinthe1880sthatusedwaxcoatedcardboardcylinders.
MaryHadaLittleLamb

PhotographofEdisonwith
hisphonograph(2ndmodel),
takeninMathewBrady's
Washington,DCstudioin
April1878.

MenloPark
Researchanddevelopmentfacility
Edison'smajorinnovationwasthefirstindustrialresearchlab,whichwasbuiltinMenloPark,apartofRaritan
Township,MiddlesexCounty,NewJersey(todaynamedEdisoninhishonor).Itwasbuiltwiththefundsfromthe
saleofEdison'squadruplextelegraph.Afterhisdemonstrationofthetelegraph,Edisonwasnotsurethathis
originalplantosellitfor$4,000to$5,000wasright,soheaskedWesternUniontomakeabid.Hewassurprised
tohearthemoffer$10,000($209,500intoday'sdollars.[37]),whichhegratefullyaccepted.[38]Thequadruplex
telegraphwasEdison'sfirstbigfinancialsuccess,andMenloParkbecamethefirstinstitutionsetupwiththe
specificpurposeofproducingconstanttechnologicalinnovationandimprovement.Edisonwaslegallyattributed
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withmostoftheinventionsproducedthere,thoughmanyemployees
carriedoutresearchanddevelopmentunderhisdirection.Hisstaffwas
generallytoldtocarryouthisdirectionsinconductingresearch,andhe
drovethemhardtoproduceresults.
WilliamJosephHammer,aconsultingelectricalengineer,started
workingforEdisonandbeganhisdutiesasalaboratoryassistantin
December1879.Heassistedinexperimentsonthetelephone,
phonograph,electricrailway,ironoreseparator,electriclighting,and
otherdevelopinginventions.However,Hammerworkedprimarilyon
theincandescentelectriclampandwasputinchargeoftestsand
recordsonthatdevice(seeHammerHistoricalCollectionof
Edison'sMenloParkLaboratory,
IncandescentElectricLamps).In1880,hewasappointedchief
reconstructedatGreenfieldVillageat
engineeroftheEdisonLampWorks.Inhisfirstyear,theplantunder
HenryFordMuseuminDearborn,
GeneralManagerFrancisRobbinsUptonturnedout50,000lamps.
Michigan.Note:thepipeorganagainstthe
AccordingtoEdison,Hammerwas"apioneerofincandescentelectric
backwall.
lighting".[39]FrankJ.Sprague,acompetentmathematicianandformer
navalofficer,wasrecruitedbyEdwardH.Johnsonandjoinedthe
Edisonorganizationin1883.OneofSprague'scontributionstotheEdisonLaboratoryatMenloParkwasto
expandEdison'smathematicalmethods.DespitethecommonbeliefthatEdisondidnotusemathematics,analysis
ofhisnotebooksrevealthathewasanastuteuserofmathematicalanalysisconductedbyhisassistantssuchas
FrancisRobbinsUpton,forexample,determiningthecriticalparametersofhiselectriclightingsystemincluding
lampresistancebyananalysisofOhm'sLaw,Joule'sLawandeconomics.[40]
NearlyallofEdison'spatentswereutilitypatents,whichwereprotectedfora17yearperiodandincluded
inventionsorprocessesthatareelectrical,mechanical,orchemicalinnature.Aboutadozenweredesignpatents,
whichprotectanornamentaldesignforuptoa14yearperiod.Asinmostpatents,theinventionshedescribed
wereimprovementsoverpriorart.Thephonographpatent,incontrast,wasunprecedentedasdescribingthefirst
devicetorecordandreproducesounds.[41]
Injustoveradecade,Edison'sMenloParklaboratoryhadexpandedtooccupytwocityblocks.Edisonsaidhe
wantedthelabtohave"astockofalmosteveryconceivablematerial".[42]Anewspaperarticleprintedin1887
revealstheseriousnessofhisclaim,statingthelabcontained"eightthousandkindsofchemicals,everykindof
screwmade,everysizeofneedle,everykindofcordorwire,hairofhumans,horses,hogs,cows,rabbits,goats,
minx,camels...silkineverytexture,cocoons,variouskindsofhoofs,shark'steeth,deerhorns,tortoiseshell...
cork,resin,varnishandoil,ostrichfeathers,apeacock'stail,jet,amber,rubber,allores..."andthelistgoeson.[43]
Overhisdesk,EdisondisplayedaplacardwithSirJoshuaReynolds'famousquotation:"Thereisnoexpedientto
whichamanwillnotresorttoavoidthereallaborofthinking."[44]Thissloganwasreputedlypostedatseveral
otherlocationsthroughoutthefacility.
WithMenloPark,Edisonhadcreatedthefirstindustriallaboratoryconcernedwithcreatingknowledgeandthen
controllingitsapplication.[45]Edison'snameisregisteredon1,093patents.[25]

Carbontelephonetransmitter
In187778,EdisoninventedanddevelopedthecarbonmicrophoneusedinalltelephonesalongwiththeBell
receiveruntilthe1980s.Afterprotractedpatentlitigation,in1892afederalcourtruledthatEdisonandnotEmile
Berlinerwastheinventorofthecarbonmicrophone.[46][47]Thecarbonmicrophonewasalsousedinradio
broadcastingandpublicaddressworkthroughthe1920s.[48]
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Electriclight
In1878Edisonbeganworkingonasystemofelectricalillumination,
somethinghehopedcouldcompetewithgasandoilbasedlighting.[49]He
beganbytacklingtheproblemofcreatingalonglastingincandescentlamp,
somethingthatwouldbeneededforindooruse.Manyearlierinventorshad
previouslydevisedincandescentlamps,includingAlessandroVolta's
demonstrationofaglowingwirein1800andinventionsbyHenry
WoodwardandMathewEvans.Otherswhodevelopedearlyand
commerciallyimpracticalincandescentelectriclampsincludedHumphry
Davy,JamesBowmanLindsay,MosesG.Farmer,[50]WilliamE.Sawyer,
JosephSwanandHeinrichGbel.Someoftheseearlybulbshadsuchflaws
asanextremelyshortlife,highexpensetoproduce,andhighelectric
currentdrawn,makingthemdifficulttoapplyonalargescale
commercially.[51]:217218Edisonrealizedthatinordertokeepthethickness
ofthecopperwireneededtoconnectaseriesofelectriclightstoan
economicallymanageablesizehewouldhavetocomeupwithalampthat
woulddrawalowamountofcurrent.Thismeantthelampwouldhaveto
haveahighresistanceandrunatarelativelylowvoltage(around110
volts).[52]
ThomasEdison'sfirstsuccessfullight

Aftermanyexperiments,firstwithcarbonfilamentsandthenwithplatinum
bulbmodel,usedinpublic
andothermetals,intheendEdisonreturnedtoacarbonfilament.[53]The
demonstrationatMenloPark,
[51]:186[54][55][25]
December1879
firstsuccessfultestwasonOctober22,1879
itlasted13.5
[56]
hours. EdisoncontinuedtoimprovethisdesignandbyNovember4,
1879,filedforU.S.patent223,898(grantedonJanuary27,1880)foranelectriclampusing"acarbonfilamentor
stripcoiledandconnectedtoplatinacontactwires".[57]Thiswasthefirstcommerciallypracticalincandescent
light.[58]
Althoughthepatentdescribedseveralwaysofcreatingthecarbonfilamentincluding"cottonandlinenthread,
woodsplints,paperscoiledinvariousways",[57]itwasnotuntilseveralmonthsafterthepatentwasgrantedthat
Edisonandhisteamdiscoveredacarbonizedbamboofilamentthatcouldlastover1,200hours.Theideaofusing
thisparticularrawmaterialoriginatedfromEdison'srecallinghisexaminationofafewthreadsfromabamboo
fishingpolewhilerelaxingontheshoreofBattleLakeinthepresentdaystateofWyoming,whereheandother
membersofascientificteamhadtraveledsothattheycouldclearlyobserveatotaleclipseofthesunonJuly29,
1878,fromtheContinentalDivide.[59]

In1878,EdisonformedtheEdisonElectricLightCompanyinNewYorkCitywithseveralfinanciers,includingJ.
P.Morgan,SpencerTrask,[60]andthemembersoftheVanderbiltfamily.Edisonmadethefirstpublic
demonstrationofhisincandescentlightbulbonDecember31,1879,inMenloPark.Itwasduringthistimethathe
said:"Wewillmakeelectricitysocheapthatonlytherichwillburncandles."[61]
HenryVillard,presidentoftheOregonRailroadandNavigationCompany,hadattendedEdison's1879
demonstration.VillardquicklybecameimpressedandrequestedEdisoninstallhiselectriclightingsystemaboard
hiscompany'snewsteamer,theColumbia.Althoughhesitantatfirst,EdisonrelentedandagreedtoVillard's
request.FollowingmostofitscompletioninMay1880,theColumbiawassenttoNewYorkCity,whereEdison
andhispersonnelinstalledColumbia'snewlightingsystem.Duetothis,theColumbiabecameEdison'sfirst
commercialapplicationforhisincandescentlightbulb.TheEdisonequipmentwaseventuallyremovedfrom
Columbiain1895.[62][63][64][65]
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TheOregonRailroadandNavigation
Company'snewsteamship,the
Columbia,wasthefirstcommercial
applicationforEdison'sincandescent
lightbulbin1880.

ThomasEdisonWikipedia

LewisLatimerjoinedtheEdison
ElectricLightCompanyin1884.
Latimerhadreceivedapatentin
January1881forthe"Processof
ManufacturingCarbons",an
improvedmethodfortheproduction
ofcarbonfilamentsforlightbulbs.
Latimerworkedasanengineer,a
draftsmanandanexpertwitnessin
patentlitigationonelectric
lights.[66]

GeorgeWestinghouse'scompany
boughtPhilipDiehl'scompeting
inductionlamppatentrights(1882)
for$25,000,forcingtheholdersoftheEdisonpatenttochargeamore
reasonableratefortheuseoftheEdisonpatentrightsandloweringthe
priceoftheelectriclamp.[67]

U.S.Patent#223898:ElectricLamp.
IssuedJanuary27,1880.

OnOctober8,1883,theUSpatentofficeruledthatEdison'spatentwas
basedontheworkofWilliamE.Sawyerandwasthereforeinvalid.
Litigationcontinuedfornearlysixyears,untilOctober6,1889,whenajudgeruledthatEdison'selectriclight
improvementclaimfor"afilamentofcarbonofhighresistance"wasvalid.[68]Toavoidapossiblecourtbattlewith
JosephSwan,whoseBritishpatenthadbeenawardedayearbeforeEdison's,heandSwanformedajointcompany
calledEdiswantomanufactureandmarkettheinventioninBritain.
MahenTheatreinBrno(inwhatisnowtheCzechRepublic),whichopenedin1882,wasthefirstpublicbuilding
intheworldtouseEdison'selectriclamps,withtheinstallationsupervisedbyEdison'sassistantintheinventionof
thelamp,FrancisJehl.[69]InSeptember2010,asculptureofthreegiantlightbulbswaserectedinBrno,infrontof
thetheatre.[70]

Electricpowerdistribution
AfterdevisingacommerciallyviableelectriclightbulbonOctober21,1879,Edisonwentontodevelopan
electric"utility"designedtocompetewiththethenexistentgaslightingutilities.[71]OnDecember17,1880,he
foundedtheEdisonIlluminatingCompanyandduringthe1880shepatentedasystemforelectricitydistribution.
Thecompanyestablishedthefirstinvestorownedelectricutilityin1882onPearlStreetStation,NewYorkCity.It
wasonSeptember4,1882,thatEdisonswitchedonhisPearlStreetgeneratingstation'selectricalpower
distributionsystem,whichprovided110voltsdirectcurrent(DC)to59customersinlowerManhattan.[72]
Earlierintheyear,inJanuary1882,hehadswitchedonthefirststeamgeneratingpowerstationatHolborn
ViaductinLondon.TheDCsupplysystemprovidedelectricitysuppliestostreetlampsandseveralprivate
dwellingswithinashortdistanceofthestation.OnJanuary19,1883,thefirststandardizedincandescentelectric
lightingsystememployingoverheadwiresbeganserviceinRoselle,NewJersey.

Warofcurrents

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AsEdisonwasexpandinghisdirectcurrent(DC)powerdelivery
systemhebeganreceivingstiffcompetitionfromcompaniesinstalling
alternatingcurrent(AC)systems.Fromtheearly1880sonACarc
lightingsystemsforstreetsandlargespaceshadbeenanexpanding
businessintheUS.WiththedevelopmentoftransformersinEurope
andbyWestinghouseElectricintheUSin18851886itbecame
possibletotransmitACverylongdistancesoverthinnerandcheaper
wires,and"stepdown"thevoltageatthedestinationfordistributionto
users.ThisallowedACtobeusednotonlyinstreetlightingbutalsoin
lightingforsmallbusinessanddomesticcustomers,themarket
Extravagantdisplaysofelectriclights
Edison'spatentedlowvoltageDCincandescentlampsystemhadbeen
quicklybecameafeatureofpublicevents,
designedtosupply.[73]Edison'sDCempirebegansufferingfromone
asinthispicturefromthe1897Tennessee
ofitschiefdrawbacks:itwassuitableonlyforthehighdensityof
CentennialExposition.
customersfoundinlargecities.Edison'sDCplantscouldnotdeliver
electricitytocustomerswhoweremorethanonemilefromtheplant
andtheshortrangeleftapatchworkofunsuppliedcustomersinbetweenplants.Smallcitiesandruralareascould
notaffordanEdisonstylesystematall.ThisleftalargepartofthemarketwithoutelectricalserviceandAC
companieswereexpandingintothisgap.
EdisonexpressedviewsthatACwasunworkableandthehighvoltagesusedweredangerous.AsGeorge
WestinghousewasinstallinghisfirstACsystemsin1886,ThomasEdisonbeganapatternofstrikingout
personallyagainsthischiefrivalstating,"Justascertainasdeath,Westinghousewillkillacustomerwithinsix
monthsafterheputsinasystemofanysize.Hehasgotanewthinganditwillrequireagreatdealof
experimentingtogetitworkingpractically."[74]ManyreasonshavebeenputforwardforEdison'santiACstance.
OnenotionisthattheinventormaynothavebeenabletograspthemoreabstracttheoriesbehindACandwas
tryingtoavoiddevelopingasystemhedidnotunderstand.Edisonalsoappearedtohavebeenworriedaboutthe
highvoltagefromsomecompetitor'smisinstalledACsystemkillingcustomersandhurtingthesalesofelectric
powersystemsingeneral.[75]OntopofallthatwasthesimplefactthatEdisonElectrichadbasedtheirentire
designonlowvoltageDCandswitchingastandardaftertheyhadinstalledover100systemswas,inEdison's
mind,outofthequestion.Bytheendof1887EdisonElectricwasbeginningtolosemarketsharewith
Westinghouse,whohadbuilt68ACbasedpowerstationstoEdison's121DCbasedstations.Tomakematters
worseforEdison,theThomsonHoustonElectricCompanyofLynn,Massachusetts(anotherACbased
competitor)hadbuilt22powerstations.[76]
ParalleltotheexpandingcompetitionbetweenEdisonandtheACcompanieswasarisingpublicfurorovera
seriesofdeathsinthespringof1888causedbypolemountedhighvoltagealternatingcurrentlinesthatturnedinto
amediafrenzyagainstthecurrentandtheseeminglygreedyandcallouslightingcompaniesthatusedit.[77][78]
EdisontookadvantageofthepublicperceptionthatACwasdangerousandteamedupwiththeselfstyledNew
YorkantiACcrusaderHaroldP.Browninapropagandacampaign,aidingBrowninthepublicelectrocutionof
animalswithACaswellassupportedlegislationtocontrolandseverelylimitACinstallationsandvoltages(tothe
pointofmakingitanineffectivepowerdeliverysystem)inwhatwasnowbeingreferredtoasa"battleof
currents".ThedevelopmentoftheelectricchairwasusedinanattempttoportrayACashavingagreaterlethal
potentialthanDCandsmearWestinghouseatthesametimeviaEdisoncolludingwithBrownandWestinghouse's
chiefACrival,theThomsonHoustonElectricCompany,tomakesurethefirstelectricchairwaspoweredbya
WestinghouseACgenerator.
ThomasEdison'sstaunchantiACtacticswerenotsittingwellwithhisownstockholders.Bytheearly1890s
Edison'scompanywasgeneratingmuchsmallerprofitsthanitsACrivals,andtheWarofCurrentswouldcometo
anendin1892withEdisonbeingforcedoutofcontrollinghisowncompany.ThatyearthefinancierJPMorgan
engineeredamergerofEdisonGeneralElectricwithThomsonHoustonthatbasicallyputtheboardofThomson
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HoustoninchargeofthenewcompanycalledGeneralElectric(dropping"Edison"fromitsname).General
ElectricnowcontrolledthreequartersoftheUSelectricalbusinessandwouldgoontocompetewith
WestinghousefortheACmarket.[79][80]

Otherinventionsandprojects
Fluoroscopy
Edisoniscreditedwithdesigningandproducingthefirstcommerciallyavailablefluoroscope,amachinethatuses
Xraystotakeradiographs.UntilEdisondiscoveredthatcalciumtungstatefluoroscopyscreensproducedbrighter
imagesthanthebariumplatinocyanidescreensoriginallyusedbyWilhelmRntgen,thetechnologywascapableof
producingonlyveryfaintimages.
ThefundamentaldesignofEdison'sfluoroscopeisstillinusetoday,althoughEdisonhimselfabandonedthe
projectafternearlylosinghisowneyesightandseriouslyinjuringhisassistant,ClarenceDally.Dallyhadmade
himselfanenthusiastichumanguineapigforthefluoroscopyprojectandintheprocessbeenexposedtoa
poisonousdoseofradiation.Helaterdiedofinjuriesrelatedtotheexposure.In1903,ashakenEdisonsaid"Don't
talktomeaboutXrays,Iamafraidofthem."[81]

Telegraphimprovements
ThekeytoEdison'sfortuneswastelegraphy.Withknowledgegainedfromyearsofworkingasatelegraph
operator,helearnedthebasicsofelectricity.Thisallowedhimtomakehisearlyfortunewiththestockticker,the
firstelectricitybasedbroadcastsystem.OnAugust9,1892,Edisonreceivedapatentforatwowaytelegraph.

Motionpictures
Edisonwasalsograntedapatentforthemotionpicturecameraor
"Kinetograph".Hedidtheelectromechanicaldesign,whilehisemployee
W.K.L.Dickson,aphotographer,workedonthephotographicandoptical
development.MuchofthecreditfortheinventionbelongstoDickson.[51]
In1891,ThomasEdisonbuiltaKinetoscope,orpeepholeviewer.This
devicewasinstalledinpennyarcades,wherepeoplecouldwatchshort,
simplefilms.Thekinetographandkinetoscopewerebothfirstpublicly
exhibitedMay20,1891.[83]
InApril1896,ThomasArmat'sVitascope,manufacturedbytheEdison
factoryandmarketedinEdison'sname,wasusedtoprojectmotionpictures
inpublicscreeningsinNewYorkCity.Laterheexhibitedmotionpictures
withvoicesoundtrackoncylinderrecordings,mechanicallysynchronized
withthefilm.

TheJune1894LeonardCushing
bout.Eachofthesixoneminute
roundsrecordedbytheKinetoscope
wasmadeavailabletoexhibitorsfor
$22.50. [82]Customerswhowatched
thefinalroundsawLeonardscorea
knockdown.

OfficiallythekinetoscopeenteredEuropewhentherichAmerican
BusinessmanIrvingT.Bush(18691948)boughtfromtheContinental
CommerceCompanyofFrankZ.MaguireandJosephD.Baucusadozen
machines.BushplacedfromOctober17,1894,thefirstkinetoscopesinLondon.AtthesametimetheFrench
companyKintoscopeEdisonMicheletAlexisWernerboughtthesemachinesforthemarketinFrance.Inthelast
threemonthsof1894,TheContinentalCommerceCompanysoldhundredsofkinetoscopesinEurope(i.e.the

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NetherlandsandItaly).InGermanyandinAustriaHungarythekinetoscopewasintroducedbytheDeutsche
sterreichischeEdisonKinetoscopGesellschaft,foundedbytheLudwigStollwerck[84]oftheSchokoladen
SsswarenfabrikStollwerck&CoofCologne.
ThefirstkinetoscopesarrivedinBelgiumattheFairsinearly1895.TheEdison'sKintoscopeFranais,aBelgian
company,wasfoundedinBrusselsonJanuary15,1895,withtherightstosellthekinetoscopesinMonaco,France
andtheFrenchcolonies.ThemaininvestorsinthiscompanywereBelgianindustrialists.[85]
OnMay14,1895,theEdison'sKintoscopeBelgewasfoundedinBrussels.ThebusinessmanLadislasVictor
Lewitzki,livinginLondonbutactiveinBelgiumandFrance,tooktheinitiativeinstartingthisbusiness.Hehad
contactswithLeonGaumontandtheAmericanMutoscopeandBiographCo.In1898healsobecamea
shareholderoftheBiographandMutoscopeCompanyforFrance.[85]
Edison'sfilmstudiomadecloseto1,200films.Themajorityoftheproductionswereshortfilmsshowing
everythingfromacrobatstoparadestofirecallsincludingtitlessuchasFredOtt'sSneeze(1894),TheKiss(1896),
TheGreatTrainRobbery(1903),Alice'sAdventuresinWonderland(1910),andthefirstFrankensteinfilmin1910.
In1903,whentheownersofLunaPark,ConeyIslandannouncedtheywouldexecuteTopsytheelephantby
strangulation,poisoning,andelectrocution(withtheelectrocutionpartultimatelykillingtheelephant),Edison
Manufacturingsentacrewtofilmit,releasingitthatsameyearwiththetitleElectrocutinganElephant.
Asthefilmbusinessexpandedcompetingexhibitorsroutinelycopied
andexhibitedeachother'sfilms.[86]Tobetterprotectthecopyrightson
hisfilms,Edisondepositedprintsofthemonlongstripsofphotographic
paperwiththeU.S.copyrightoffice.Manyofthesepaperprints
survivedlongerandinbetterconditionthantheactualfilmsofthat
era.[87]
In1908,EdisonstartedtheMotionPicturePatentsCompany,whichwas
aconglomerateofninemajorfilmstudios(commonlyknownasthe
EdisonTrust).ThomasEdisonwasthefirsthonoraryfellowofthe
AcousticalSocietyofAmerica,whichwasfoundedin1929.
ADaywithThomasEdison(1922)

EdisonsaidhisfavoritemoviewasTheBirthofaNation.Hethoughtthattalkieshad"spoiledeverything"forhim.
"Thereisn'tanygoodactingonthescreen.Theyconcentrateonthevoicenowandhaveforgottenhowtoact.Ican
senseitmorethanyoubecauseIamdeaf."[88]HisfavoritestarswereMaryPickfordandClaraBow.[89]

Mining
Startinginthelate1870s,ThomasEdisonbecameinterestedandinvolvedwithmining.Therewasascarcityof
highgradeironoreontheeastcoastoftheUnitedStatesandsoEdisoninsteadtriedtominelowgradeore.Edison
wouldgoontodevelopanumberofrollersandcrushersthatcouldpulverizerocksupto10tons.Thedustwould
thenbesentbetweenthreegiantmagnetsthatwouldpulltheironorefromthedust.Despitethefailureofhis
miningcompany,theEdisonOreMillingCompany,Edisonwouldgoontousesomeofthematerialsand
equipmenttobeginproducingcement.[90]
In1901,EdisonvisitedanindustrialexhibitionintheSudburyareainOntario,Canadaandthoughtnickeland
cobaltdepositstherecouldbeusedinhisproductionofelectricalequipment.Hereturnedasaminingprospector,
andiscreditedwiththeoriginaldiscoveryoftheFalconbridgeorebody.Hisattemptstominetheorebodywere
notsuccessful,however,andheabandonedhisminingclaimin1903.[91]AstreetinFalconbridge,aswellasthe
EdisonBuilding,whichservedastheheadofficeofFalconbridgeMines,arenamedforhim.
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Rubber
EdisonbecameconcernedwithAmerica'srelianceonforeignsupplyof
rubberandwasdeterminedtofindanativesupplyofrubber.Hepartnered
withHarveyFirestoneandHenryFord(allthreecontributing$25,000each)
tocreatetheEdisonBotanicResearchCorp.in1927andconstructeda
laboratoryinFortMyers,Floridathefollowingyear.Edisondidthe
majorityoftheresearchandplanting,sendingresultsandsamplerubber
residuestohisWestOrangeLab.EdisonemployedatwopartAcidbase
extraction,toderivelatexfromtheplantmaterialafteritwasdriedand
crushedtoapowder.[92]Aftertesting17,000plantsamples,heeventually
foundanadequatesourceintheGoldenrodplant.

WestOrangeandFortMyers(18861931)
EdisonmovedfromMenloParkafterthedeathofhisfirstwife,Mary,in
1884,andpurchasedahomeknownas"Glenmont"in1886asawedding
giftforhissecondwife,Mina,inLlewellynParkinWestOrange,New
Jersey.In1885,ThomasEdisonhadboughtpropertyinFortMyers,
Florida,andbuiltwhatwaslatercalledSeminoleLodgeasawinterretreat.
EdisonandMinaspentmanywintersattheirhomeinFortMyers,and
Edisontriedtofindadomesticsourceofnaturalrubber.
DuetothesecurityconcernsaroundWorldWarI,Edisonsuggested
formingascienceandindustrycommitteetoprovideadviceandresearchto
theUSmilitary,andheheadedtheNavalConsultingBoardin1915.[93]

FromLefttoRight:HenryFord,
ThomasEdison,andHarvey
Firestone,thethreepartnersofthe
EdisonBotanicResearchCorporation.

Edison'sworkonrubbertookplacelargelyathisbotanicresearch
laboratoryinFortMyers,whichhasnowbeendesignatedasaNational
HistoricChemicalLandmark.[94]ThelaboratorywasbuiltafterThomas
Edison,HenryFord,andHarveyFirestonepulledtogether$75,000toform
theEdisonBotanicalResearchCorporation.Initially,onlyFordand
FirestoneweretocontributedmonetaryfundstotheprojectwhileEdison
didalltheresearch.Edison,however,wishedtocontribute$25,000aswell.
ThomasA.EdisonIndustriesExhibit,
Aftertestingover17,000plantspecies,EdisondecidedonSolidago
PrimaryBatterysection,1915
leavenworthii,alsoknownasLeavenworth'sGoldenrod.Theplant,which
normallygrowsroughly34feettallwitha5%latexyieldwasadaptedby
Edisonthroughcrossbreedingtoproduceplantstwicethesizeandwithalatexyieldof12%.[95]InOctober1931,
Edisonreportedthathewasclosetofindingadomesticsourceofrubberbutdiedinthesamemonth.Hisbrother
inlaw,JohnMiller,wouldtakeovermanagementoftheprojectuntilitwasshutteredin1936.

Finalyears
HenryFord,theautomobilemagnate,laterlivedafewhundredfeetawayfromEdisonathiswinterretreatinFort
Myers.FordonceworkedasanengineerfortheEdisonIlluminatingCompanyofDetroitandmetEdisonata
conventionofaffiliatedEdisonilluminatingcompaniesinBrooklyn,NYin1896.Edisonwasimpressedwith
Fordsinternalcombustionengineautomobileandencourageditsdevelopments.TheywerefriendsuntilEdison's
death.EdisonandFordundertookannualmotorcampingtripsfrom1914to1924.HarveyFirestoneandJohn
Burroughsalsoparticipated.
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In1928,EdisonjoinedtheFortMyersCivitanClub.Hebelievedstrongly
intheorganization,writingthat"TheCivitanClubisdoingthingsbig
thingsforthecommunity,state,andnation,andIcertainlyconsideritan
honortobenumberedinitsranks."[96]Hewasanactivememberintheclub
untilhisdeath,sometimesbringingHenryFordtotheclub'smeetings.

HenryFord,ThomasEdison,and
HarveyFirestone,respectively.Ft.
Myers,Florida,February11,1929

Edisonwasactiveinbusinessrightuptotheend.Justmonthsbeforehis
death,theLackawannaRailroadinauguratedsuburbanelectrictrainservice
fromHobokentoMontclair,Dover,andGladstone,NewJersey.Electrical
transmissionforthisservicewasbymeansofanoverheadcatenarysystem
usingdirectcurrent,whichEdisonhadchampioned.Despitehisfrail
condition,EdisonwasatthethrottleofthefirstelectricMU(MultipleUnit)
traintodepartLackawannaTerminalinHobokeninSeptember1930,
drivingthetrainthefirstmilethroughHobokenyardonitswaytoSouth
Orange.[97]

ThisfleetofcarswouldservecommutersinnorthernNewJerseyforthe
next54yearsuntiltheirretirementin1984.Aplaquecommemorating
Edison'sinauguralridecanbeseentodayinthewaitingroomofLackawannaTerminalinHoboken,whichis
presentlyoperatedbyNewJerseyTransit.[97]
Edisonwassaidtohavebeeninfluencedbyapopularfaddietinhislastfewyears"theonlyliquidheconsumed
wasapintofmilkeverythreehours".[51]Heisreportedtohavebelievedthisdietwouldrestorehishealth.
However,thistaleisdoubtful.In1930,theyearbeforeEdisondied,Minasaidinaninterviewabouthim,"correct
eatingisoneofhisgreatesthobbies."Shealsosaidthatduringoneofhisperiodic"greatscientificadventures",
Edisonwouldbeupat7:00,havebreakfastat8:00,andberarelyhomeforlunchordinner,implyingthathe
continuedtohaveallthree.[88]
EdisonbecametheownerofhisMilan,Ohio,birthplacein1906.Onhislastvisit,in1923,hewasreportedly
shockedtofindhisoldhomestilllitbylampsandcandles.

Death
EdisondiedofcomplicationsofdiabetesonOctober18,1931,inhishome,"Glenmont"inLlewellynParkinWest
Orange,NewJersey,whichhehadpurchasedin1886asaweddinggiftforMina.Heisburiedbehindthe
home.[98][99]
Edison'slastbreathisreportedlycontainedinatesttubeattheHenryFordMuseum.Fordreportedlyconvinced
CharlesEdisontosealatesttubeofairintheinventor'sroomshortlyafterhisdeath,asamemento.Aplasterdeath
maskwasalsomade.[100]Minadiedin1947.

Viewsonpolitics,religionandmetaphysics
HistorianPaulIsraelhascharacterizedEdisonasa"freethinker".[51]EdisonwasheavilyinfluencedbyThomas
Paine'sTheAgeofReason.[51]EdisondefendedPaine's"scientificdeism",saying,"Hehasbeencalledanatheist,
butatheisthewasnot.Painebelievedinasupremeintelligence,asrepresentingtheideawhichothermenoften
expressbythenameofdeity."[51]InanOctober2,1910,interviewintheNewYorkTimesMagazine,Edisonstated:

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Natureiswhatweknow.Wedonotknowthegodsofreligions.Andnatureisnotkind,ormerciful,or
loving.IfGodmademethefabledGodofthethreequalitiesofwhichIspoke:mercy,kindness,
loveHealsomadethefishIcatchandeat.AndwheredoHismercy,kindness,andloveforthat
fishcomein?Nonaturemadeusnaturediditallnotthegodsofthereligions.[101]
Edisonwasaccusedofbeinganatheistforthoseremarks,andalthoughhedidnotallowhimselftobedrawninto
thecontroversypublicly,heclarifiedhimselfinaprivateletter:
Youhavemisunderstoodthewholearticle,becauseyoujumpedtotheconclusionthatitdeniesthe
existenceofGod.Thereisnosuchdenial,whatyoucallGodIcallNature,theSupremeintelligence
thatrulesmatter.Allthearticlestatesisthatitisdoubtfulinmyopinionifourintelligenceorsoulor
whateveronemaycallitliveshereafterasanentityordispersesbackagainfromwhenceitcame,
scatteredamongstthecellsofwhichwearemade.[51]
Healsostated,"IdonotbelieveintheGodofthetheologiansbutthatthereisaSupremeIntelligenceIdonot
doubt."[102]
NonviolencewaskeytoEdison'smoralviews,andwhenaskedtoserveasanavalconsultantforWorldWarI,he
specifiedhewouldworkonlyondefensiveweaponsandlaternoted,"IamproudofthefactthatIneverinvented
weaponstokill."Edison'sphilosophyofnonviolenceextendedtoanimalsaswell,aboutwhichhestated:
"Nonviolenceleadstothehighestethics,whichisthegoalofallevolution.Untilwestopharmingallotherliving
beings,wearestillsavages."[103][104]Hewasavegetarian[105]butnotaveganinactualpractice,atleastnearthe
endofhislife.[51]
In1920,EdisonsetoffamediasensationwhenhetoldB.C.ForbesofAmericanMagazinethathewasworking
ona"spiritphone"toallowcommunicationwiththedead,astorywhichothernewspapersandmagazines
repeated.[106]Edisonlaterdisclaimedtheidea,tellingtheNewYorkTimesin1926that"Ireallyhadnothingtotell
him,butIhatedtodisappointhimsoIthoughtupthisstoryaboutcommunicatingwithspirits,butitwasalla
joke."[107]

Viewsonmoney
ThomasEdisonwasanadvocateformonetaryreformintheUnitedStates.Hewasardentlyopposedtothegold
standardanddebtbasedmoney.Famously,hewasquotedintheNewYorkTimesstating"GoldisarelicofJulius
Caesar,andinterestisaninventionofSatan."[108]
Inthesamearticle,heexpoundedupontheabsurdityofamonetarysysteminwhichthetaxpayeroftheUnited
States,inneedofaloan,becompelledtopayinreturnperhapsdoubletheprincipal,orevengreatersums,dueto
interest.HisbasicpointwasthatiftheGovernmentcanproducedebtbasedmoney,itcouldequallyaswell
producemoneythatwasacredittothetaxpayer.[108]
Hethoughtatlengthaboutthesubjectofmoneyover1921and1922.InMay1922,hepublishedaproposal,
entitled"AProposedAmendmenttotheFederalReserveBankingSystem".[109]Init,hedetailedanexplanationof
acommoditybackedcurrency,inwhichtheFederalReservewouldissueinterestfreecurrencytofarmers,based
onthevalueofcommoditiestheyproduced.Duringapublicitytourthathetookwithfriendandfellowinventor,
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HenryFord,hespokepubliclyabouthisdesireformonetaryreform.Forinsight,hecorrespondedwithprominent
academicandbankingprofessionals.Intheend,however,Edison'sproposalsfailedtofindsupport,andwere
eventuallyabandoned.[110][111]

Awards
ThePresidentoftheThirdFrenchRepublic,JulesGrvy,onthe
recommendationofhisMinisterofForeignAffairsJulesBarthlemySaint
HilaireandwiththepresentationsoftheMinisterofPostsandTelegraphs
LouisCochery,designatedEdisonwiththedistinctionofan'Officerofthe
LegionofHonour'(Lgiond'honneur)bydecreeonNovember10,
1881[112]HealsonamedaChevalierin1879,andaCommanderin
1889.[113]
In1887,EdisonwontheMatteucciMedal.In1890,hewaselecteda
memberoftheRoyalSwedishAcademyofSciences.
ThePhiladelphiaCityCouncilnamedEdisontherecipientoftheJohnScott
Medalin1889.[113]

PortraitofEdisonbyAbraham
ArchibaldAnderson(1890),National
PortraitGallery

In1899,EdisonwasawardedtheEdwardLongstrethMedalofThe
FranklinInstitute.[114]
HewasnamedanHonorableConsultingEngineerattheLouisianaPurchaseExpositionWorld'sfairin1904.[113]
In1908,EdisonreceivedtheAmericanAssociationofEngineeringSocietiesJohnFritzMedal.[113]
In1915,EdisonwasawardedFranklinMedalofTheFranklinInstitutefordiscoveriescontributingtothe
foundationofindustriesandthewellbeingofthehumanrace.[115]
In1920,TheUnitedStatesNavydepartmentawardedhimtheNavyDistinguishedServiceMedal.[113]
In1923,TheAmericanInstituteofElectricalEngineerscreatedtheEdisonMedalandhewasitsfirstrecipient.[113]
In1927,hewasgrantedmembershipintheNationalAcademyofSciences.[113]
OnMay29,1928,EdisonreceivedtheCongressionalGoldMedal.[113]
In1983,theUnitedStatesCongress,pursuanttoSenateJointResolution140(PublicLaw97198),designated
February11,Edison'sbirthday,asNationalInventor'sDay.[116]
Lifemagazine(USA),inaspecialdoubleissuein1997,placedEdisonfirstinthelistofthe"100MostImportant
PeopleintheLast1000Years",notingthatthelightbulbhepromoted"lituptheworld".Inthe2005television
seriesTheGreatestAmerican,hewasvotedbyviewersasthefifteenthgreatest.
In2008,EdisonwasinductedintheNewJerseyHallofFame.
In2010,EdisonwashonoredwithaTechnicalGrammyAward.

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In2011,EdisonwasinductedintotheEntrepreneurWalkofFame,andnamedaGreatFloridianbytheFlorida
GovernorandCabinet.[117]

Tributes
PlacesandpeoplenamedforEdison
SeveralplaceshavebeennamedafterEdison,mostnotablythetownof
Edison,NewJersey.ThomasEdisonStateUniversity,nationallyknownfor
adultlearners,isinTrenton,NewJersey.Twocommunitycollegesare
namedforhim:EdisonStateCollege(nowFloridaSouthWesternState
College)inFortMyers,Florida,andEdisonCommunityCollegeinPiqua,
Ohio.[118]TherearenumeroushighschoolsnamedafterEdison(seeEdison
HighSchool)andotherschoolsincludingThomasA.EdisonMiddle
School.FootballerPel'sfatheroriginallynamedhimEdson,asatributeto
theinventorofthelightbulb,butthenamewasincorrectlylistedonhis
birthcertificateas"Edison".[119]
ThesmalltownofAlvajusteastofFortMyerstookEdison'smiddlename.
In1883,theCityHotelinSunbury,Pennsylvaniawasthefirstbuildingto
belitwithEdison'sthreewiresystem.ThehotelwasrenamedTheHotel
EdisonuponEdison'sreturntothecityon1922.[120]

ThomasEdisoncommemorative
stamp,issuedonthe100th
anniversaryofhisbirthin1947

LakeThomasAEdisoninCaliforniawasnamedafterEdisontomarkthe
75thanniversaryoftheincandescentlightbulb.[121]
EdisonwasonhandtoturnonthelightsattheHotelEdisoninNewYorkCitywhenitopenedin1931.[122]
ThreebridgesaroundtheUnitedStateshavebeennamedinEdison'shonor:theEdisonBridgeinNewJersey,[123]
theEdisonBridgeinFlorida,[124]andtheEdisonBridgeinOhio.[125]
Inspace,hisnameiscommemoratedinasteroid742Edisona.

Museumsandmemorials
InWestOrange,NewJersey,the13.5acres(5.5hectares)Glenmontestateismaintainedandoperatedbythe
NationalParkServiceastheEdisonNationalHistoricSite,asishisnearbylaboratoryandworkshopsincludingthe
reconstructedBlackMariatheworld'sfirstmoviestudio.[126]TheThomasAlvaEdisonMemorialTowerand
MuseumisinthetownofEdison,NewJersey.[127]InBeaumont,Texas,thereisanEdisonMuseum,thoughEdison
nevervisitedthere.[128]ThePortHuronMuseum,inPortHuron,Michigan,restoredtheoriginaldepotthatThomas
Edisonworkedoutofasayoungnewsbutcher.ThedepothasbeennamedtheThomasEdisonDepotMuseum.[129]
ThetownhasmanyEdisonhistoricallandmarks,includingthegravesofEdison'sparents,andamonumentalong
theSt.ClairRiver.Edison'sinfluencecanbeseenthroughoutthiscityof32,000.
InDetroit,theEdisonMemorialFountaininGrandCircusParkwascreatedtohonorhisachievements.The
limestonefountainwasdedicatedOctober21,1929,thefiftiethanniversaryofthecreationofthelightbulb.[130]On
thesamenight,TheEdisonInstitutewasdedicatedinnearbyDearborn.
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HewasinductedintotheAutomotiveHallofFamein1969.

CompaniesbearingEdison'sname
EdisonGeneralElectric,mergedwithThomsonHoustonElectric
CompanytoformGeneralElectric
CommonwealthEdison,nowpartofExelon
ConsolidatedEdison
EdisonInternational
DetroitEdison,aunitofDTEEnergy
EdisonS.p.A.,aunitofItalenergia
TradeassociationtheEdisonElectricInstitute,alobbyingand
researchgroupforinvestorownedutilitiesintheUnitedStates
EdisonOreMillingCompany
EdisonPortlandCementCompany
SouthernCaliforniaEdison

AwardsnamedinhonorofEdison
TheEdisonMedalwascreatedonFebruary11,1904,byagroupof
Edison'sfriendsandassociates.FouryearslatertheAmericanInstituteof
ElectricalEngineers(AIEE),laterIEEE,enteredintoanagreementwiththe
grouptopresentthemedalasitshighestaward.Thefirstmedalwaspresented
in1909toElihuThomson.Itistheoldestawardintheareaofelectricaland
electronicsengineering,andispresentedannually"foracareerofmeritorious
achievementinelectricalscience,electricalengineeringortheelectricalarts."

StatueofyoungThomasEdisonby
therailroadtracksinPortHuron,
Michigan.

IntheNetherlands,themajormusicawardsarenamedtheEdisonAwardafter
him.TheawardisanannualDutchmusicprize,awardedforoutstanding
achievementsinthemusicindustry,andisoneoftheoldestmusicawardsin
theworld,havingbeenpresentedsince1960.
TheAmericanSocietyofMechanicalEngineersconcedestheThomasA.
EdisonPatentAwardtoindividualpatentssince2000.[131]

OtheritemsnamedafterEdison
TheUnitedStatesNavynamedtheUSSEdison(DD439),aGleavesclass
destroyer,inhishonorin1940.Theshipwasdecommissionedafewmonths
aftertheendofWorldWarII.[132]In1962,theNavycommissionedUSS
ThomasA.Edison(SSBN610),afleetballisticmissilenuclearpowered
submarine.[133]

In1915

Inpopularculture
ThomasEdisonhasappearedinpopularcultureasacharacterinnovels,films,comicsandvideogames.His
prolificinventinghelpedmakehimaniconandhehasmadeappearancesinpopularcultureduringhislifetime
downtothepresentday.EdisonisalsoportrayedinpopularcultureasanadversaryofNikolaTesla.
"CampingwithHenryandTom",afictionalplaybasedonEdison'scampingtripswithHenryFord,writtenby
MarkSt.Gemain.FirstpresentedatLucilleLortelTheatre,NewYork,February20,1995.
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OnFebruary11,2011,onThomasEdison's164thbirthday,Google'shomepagefeaturedananimatedGoogle
Doodlecommemoratinghismanyinventions.Whenthecursorwashoveredoverthedoodle,aseriesof
mechanismsseemedtomove,causingalightbulbtoglow.[134]

ListofpeoplewhoworkedforEdison
ThefollowingisalistofpeoplewhoworkedforThomasEdisoninhislaboratoriesatMenloParkorWestOrange
oratthesubsidiaryelectricalbusinessesthathesupervised.
EdwardGoodrichAchesonchemist,workedatMenloPark18801884
WilliamSymesAndrewsstartedattheMenloParkmachineshop1879
CharlesBatchelor"chiefexperimentalassistant"
JohnI.BeggsmanagerofEdisonIlluminatingCompanyinNewYork,1886
WilliamKennedyDicksonjoinedMenloParkin1823,workedonthemotionpicturecamera
JustusB.EntzjoinedEdisonMachineWorksin1887
ReginaldFessendenworkedattheEdisonMachineWorksin1886
HenryFordengineerEdisonIlluminatingCompanyDetroit,Michigan,18911899
WilliamJosephHammerstartedaslaboratoryassistantMenloParkin1879
MillerReeseHutchisoninventorofhearingaid
EdwardHibberdJohnsonstartedin1909,chiefengineeratWestOrangelaboratory19121918
SamuelInsullstartedin1881,rosetobecomeVPofGeneralElectric(1892)thenPresidentofChicago
Edison
KunihikoIwadarejoinedEdisonMachineWorksin1887
FrancisJehllaboratoryassistantMenloPark18791882
ArthurE.Kennellyengineer,experimentalistatWestOrangelaboratory18871894
JohnKruesistarted1872,washeadmachinist,atNewark,MenloPark,EdisonMachineWorks
LewisHowardLatimerhired1884asadraftsman,continuedworkingforGeneralElectric
JohnW.LiebworkedattheEdisonMachineWorksin1881
ThomasCommerfordMartinelectricalengineer,workedatMenloPark18771879
GeorgeF.MorrisonstartedatEdisonLampWorks1882
EdwinStantonPorterjoinedtheEdisonManufacturingCompany1899
FrankJ.SpragueJoinedMenloPark1883,becameknownasthe"FatherofElectricTraction".
NikolaTeslaelectricalengineerandinventor,workedattheEdisonMachineWorksin1884
FrancisRobbinsUptonmathematician/physicist,joinedMenloPark1878

Seealso
ListofEdisonpatents
ThomasAlvaEdisonBirthplace
ThomasEdisonNationalHistoricalPark
EdisonPioneersagroupformedin1918byemployeesandotherassociatesofThomasEdison

References
1."TheWizardofMenloPark".TheFranklinInstitute.RetrievedFebruary24,2013.
2.Walsh,Bryan(July15,2009)."TheElectrifyingEdison".Time.com.RetrievedDecember31,2013.
3."ConEdison:ABriefHistoryofConEdisonelectricity".Coned.com.January1,1998.RetrievedOctober11,2012.
4.AdrianWooldridge(15September2016)."Thealphabetofsuccess".TheEconomist.Retrieved16September2016.
5."NationalHistoricLandmarksProgram(NHL)".Tps.cr.nps.gov.January12,1965.RetrievedDecember31,2013.
6."SamuelandNancyElliottEdison".NationalParkService.RetrievedFebruary24,2013.
7.Baldwin,Neal(1995).Edison:InventingtheCentury.Hyperion.pp.35.ISBN9780786860418.
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8.Naeger,Travis."ThomasAlvaEdison".Ste.Genevieveschool.RetrievedNovember3,2013.
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12.Josephson,p18
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December6,2010.RetrievedFebruary7,2010.
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Locations
MenloParkMuseumandEdisonMemorialTower(http://www.menl
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ThomasEdisonNationalHistoricalPark(http://www.nps.gov/edis/in
dex.htm)(NationalParkService)
EdisonexhibitandMenloParkLaboratoryatHenryFordMuseum(h
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ThomasEdisonHouse(http://www.edisonhouse.org/)

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ThomasEdison(http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00wdjr8)onInOurTimeattheBBC.(listennow(htt
p://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/console/b00wdjr8/In_Our_Time_Thomas_Edison))
InterviewwithThomasEdisonin1931(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KgwY2SdRJ_4)
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R%20subject%3A%22Edison%2C%20T%2E%20A%2E%22%20OR%20subject%3A%22Thomas%20Alv
a%20Edison%22%20OR%20subject%3A%22Thomas%20A%2E%20Edison%22%20OR%20subject%3A%
22T%2E%20A%2E%20Edison%22%20OR%20subject%3A%22Edison%2C%20Thomas%22%20OR%20s
ubject%3A%22Thomas%20Edison%22%20OR%20creator%3A%22Thomas%20Alva%20Edison%22%20
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on%2C%20Thomas%20Alva%22%20OR%20creator%3A%22Edison%2C%20Thomas%20A%2E%22%20
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on%2C%20Thomas%22%20OR%20title%3A%22Thomas%20Alva%20Edison%22%20OR%20title%3A%
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"Edison:InventingtheCentury"(http://www.booknotes.org/Watch/634491/Neil+Baldwin.aspx)Booknotes
interviewwithNeilBaldwinonMarch19,1995.
"EmpiresofLight:Edison,Tesla,WestinghouseandtheRacetoElectrifytheWorld"(http://www.booknote
s.org/Watch/1788061/Jill+Jonnes.aspx)BooknotesinterviewwithJillJonnesonOctober26,2003.
"ADaywithThomasA.Edison"Video(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IfFIeUgt_7Q)onYouTube
1922Arareandgreatdocumentarysilentfilm
"Edison'sMiracleofLight"(http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/americanexperience/films/light)PBSAmerican
Experience.PremieredJanuary2015.
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