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Line 48: + + + + + + − ===1880s=== + + + + − In the early 1880s Edison made the transition from entrepreneurial inventor to mass manufacturer and business entrepreneur. Leaving the laboratory of Menlo Park to demonstrate his electric lighting system in a “real world” context, Edison establish his system in Britain and in Europe. He delegated much of the work to his most trusted assistants and hired talented new associates. Edison steadily improved his business acumen, the court system (where many patent suits were decided), the media, and his judgment of people's character. As always he relied on his intuitive ability to solve technological problems one step at a time. − − ==Inventions== − [[Image:Edison and phonograph.jpg|right]] − In 1876 Edison left his Newark lab and established a laboratory in Menlo Park, New Jersey, where he earned the nickname ''"The Wizard of Menlo Park"''. The following year, in 1877, he invented the first [[phonograph]]. The tin foil phonograph was the first machine that could record and reproduce sound. This invention brought him worldwide recognition and acclaim and he was invited to meet U.S. President [[Rutherford B. Hayes]] in the [[White House]]. − − 2 years later, in 1879, he developed the first working incandescent electric light bulb. The original idea for the light bulb had already been proposed, and different versions attempted, but no one had yet been able to develop an electric lighting system that was practical and economical enough for common use. − − By 1882 Edison had established the first commercial power station, and began providing light and power to customers. In 1887, he established an electrical research and development center in West Orange, New Jersey, where he continued to work on electrical inventions and to developing technology that led to the first (silent) motion pictures. He concurrently worked on developing, then improving the phonograph, and recording equipment. − + − In 1890 Thomas Edison established the Edison General Electric Company, and in 1892 Edison's company and the Thomson-Houston Company combined to form the [[General Electric]] Company, GE, which soon became (and still is) of the world's largest industrial companies. − Line 77:
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'''Thomas Alva Edison''' is considered one of the greatest inventors in [[history]]. Some of his best known inventions are the light bulb, the mimeograph and phonograph. He patented over 1,000 inventions in his lifetime.
'''Thomas Alva Edison''' was one of the greatest inventors in [[history]]. Some of his best known inventions are the light bulb, the mimeograph and phonograph. He patented over 1,000 inventions in his lifetime.
==Childhood==
==Childhood==
He worked in several telegraph offices, then decided to accept a job offer from the [[Western Union]] Company in Boston. He chose to move far from home as he felt Boston had a strong scientific community. He was known as a hard worker and routinely worked 12 hour days, 6 days a week. In the evenings after work, he developed his own inventions.
He worked in several telegraph offices, then decided to accept a job offer from the [[Western Union]] Company in Boston. He chose to move far from home as he felt Boston had a strong scientific community. He was known as a hard worker and routinely worked 12 hour days, 6 days a week. In the evenings after work, he developed his own inventions.
He obtained his first patent on his first "real" invention, an automatic vote-recording machine. However, as with many inventors first attempts, it was not well received and turned out to be unmarketable. This was not because it did not work; it worked well, it was because the market was not receptive to the invention. While in Boston, Edison attended several lectures at Boston Tech (MIT); in 1869 he relocated to New York City.
He obtained his first patent on his first "real" invention, an automatic vote-recording machine. However, as with many inventors first attempts, it was not well received and turned out to be unmarketable. This was not because it did not work; it worked well, it was because the market was not receptive to the invention. While in Boston, Edison attended several lectures at Boston Tech (MIT); in 1869 he relocated to New York City.
His first daughter was nicknamed "Dot", and his first son "Dash" (see [[Morse Code]]). <ref> [http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/edhtml/edtime.html Edison: Timeline for Inventing Entertainment], Library of Congress </ref>
His first daughter was nicknamed "Dot", and his first son "Dash" (see [[Morse Code]]). <ref> [http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/edhtml/edtime.html Edison: Timeline for Inventing Entertainment], Library of Congress </ref>
===Menlo Park===
In 1876 Edison left his Newark lab and established a laboratory in Menlo Park, New Jersey, where he earned the nickname ''"The Wizard of Menlo Park"''. The following year, in 1877, he invented the first [[phonograph]]. The tin foil phonograph was the first machine that could record and reproduce sound. This invention brought him worldwide recognition and acclaim and he was invited to meet U.S. President [[Rutherford B. Hayes]] in the [[White House]].
In 1879, Edison developed the first working incandescent electric light bulb. The original idea for the light bulb had already been proposed, and different versions attempted, but no one had yet been able to develop an electric lighting system that was practical and economical enough for common use.
By 1882 Edison had established the first commercial power station, and began providing light and power to customers. In 1887, he established an electrical research and development center in West Orange, New Jersey, where he continued to work on electrical inventions and to developing technology that led to the first (silent) motion pictures. He concurrently worked on developing, then improving the phonograph, and recording equipment.
In 1878-81 Edison was at the peak of his intellectual powers. He sought solutions to technological problems through scientific investigations, experimented with multiple ways of technical problem solving, calculated costs and pricing, established methods of production, evaluated the character of potential business partners, negotiated contracts and business partnerships one day and raved back to the lab to scrutinize technical details the next. His development of central-station lighting systems for cities was focused the energy of Edison and his closest associates for months on end.
In 1878-81 Edison was at the peak of his intellectual powers. He sought solutions to technological problems through scientific investigations, experimented with multiple ways of technical problem solving, calculated costs and pricing, established methods of production, evaluated the character of potential business partners, negotiated contracts and business partnerships one day and raved back to the lab to scrutinize technical details the next. His development of central-station lighting systems for cities was focused the energy of Edison and his closest associates for months on end.
==Busineeman==
In the early 1880s Edison made the transition from entrepreneurial inventor to mass manufacturer and business entrepreneur. Leaving the laboratory of Menlo Park to demonstrate his electric lighting system in a “real world” context, Edison establish his system in Britain and in Europe. He delegated much of the work to his most trusted assistants and hired talented new associates. Edison steadily improved his business acumen, the court system (where many patent suits were decided), the media, and his judgment of people's character. As always he relied on his intuitive ability to solve technological problems one step at a time.
[[Image:Edison and phonograph.jpg|right]]
In 1890 Thomas Edison established the Edison General Electric Company, and in 1892 Edison's company and the Thomson-Houston Company combined to form the [[General Electric]] Company, GE, which soon became (and still is) of the world's largest industrial companies.
===Team members===
===Team members===
Key members of Edison's team included Charles Batchelor, who supervised the construction of a highly visible exhibit at the Paris Exposition as well as several commercial installations on the Continent. Francis Upton, a university trained mathematician, managed the lamp production factory, where continuous improvement was required, first in Menlo Park and then the larger operation in Harrison, New Jersey. Francis Jehl, who began as a young lab assistant, first worked on the development of the electric meter and then oversaw the installation of Edison’s lighting system in Brunn, Austria, and started a lamp factory in the same town, all by the age of twenty-three. [[Samuel Insull]] was just twenty when he joined Edison in 1881 as private secretary and within the two years became Edison’s personal financial manager, a trusted advisor, and an officer of various Edison companies.
Key members of Edison's team included Charles Batchelor, who supervised the construction of a highly visible exhibit at the Paris Exposition as well as several commercial installations on the Continent. Francis Upton, a university trained mathematician, managed the lamp production factory, where continuous improvement was required, first in Menlo Park and then the larger operation in Harrison, New Jersey. Francis Jehl, who began as a young lab assistant, first worked on the development of the electric meter and then oversaw the installation of Edison’s lighting system in Brunn, Austria, and started a lamp factory in the same town, all by the age of twenty-three. [[Samuel Insull]] was just twenty when he joined Edison in 1881 as private secretary and within the two years became Edison’s personal financial manager, a trusted advisor, and an officer of various Edison companies.
[[Image:Edison1925.jpg|thumb|320px|left]]
[[Image:Edison1925.jpg|thumb|320px|left]]
==Later years==
Edison gained worldwide acclaim for his inventions. He continued working even with advancing age and in frail health, amassing a total of 1093 patents, more than any other inventor at that time. His last patent was obtained at age 83. He died at age 84, Oct 18th, 1931 in New Jersey. His inventions live on in everyday use by millions of people worldwide.
Edison gained worldwide acclaim for his inventions. He continued working even with advancing age and in frail health, amassing a total of 1093 patents, more than any other inventor at that time. His last patent was obtained at age 83. He died at age 84, Oct 18th, 1931 in New Jersey. His inventions live on in everyday use by millions of people worldwide.
Remarks made by Edison in advocacy of Deism;
Remarks made by Edison in advocacy of Deism;
"Nature is what we know. We do not know the gods of religions. And nature is not kind, or merciful, or loving. If God made me -- the fabled God of the three qualities of which I spoke: mercy, kindness, love -- He also made the fish I catch and eat. And where do His mercy, kindness, and love for that fish come in? No; nature made us -- nature did it all -- not the gods of the religions"
"Nature is what we know. We do not know the gods of religions. And nature is not kind, or merciful, or loving. If God made me -- the fabled God of the three qualities of which I spoke: mercy, kindness, love -- He also made the fish I catch and eat. And where do His mercy, kindness, and love for that fish come in? No; nature made us -- nature did it all -- not the gods of the religions"
== See also ==
== See also ==
*[[Gallery of American Heroes]]
*[[Gallery of American Heroes]]
==Bibliography==
==Bibliography==
* Israel, Paul. ''Edison: A Life of Invention'' (2000), 552pp; the standard scholarly biography [http://www.amazon.com/Edison-Life-Invention-Paul-Israel/dp/0471362700/ref=sr_1_7?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1229892178&sr=8-7 excerpt and text search]
* Israel, Paul. ''Edison: A Life of Invention'' (2000), 552pp; the standard scholarly biography [http://www.amazon.com/Edison-Life-Invention-Paul-Israel/dp/0471362700/ref=sr_1_7?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1229892178&sr=8-7 excerpt and text search]
<References/>
<References/>
==External links==
http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/edhtml/edbiohm.html
*[http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/edhtml/edbiohm.html Library of Congress]
* [http://edison.rutgers.edu/biogrphy.htm Rutgers University]
http://edison.rutgers.edu/biogrphy.htm
* [http://www.projectshum.org/Edison/ Edison Project]
* [http://www.gelighting.com/na/home_lighting/gela/students/history_bio_edison.htm GE]
http://www.projectshum.org/Edison/
* [http://www.famous-inventors.com/thomas-edison-biography.html Famous Inventors]
* [http://www.nps.gov/archive/edis/edisonia.htm National Park Service]
http://www.gelighting.com/na/home_lighting/gela/students/history_bio_edison.htm
http://www.famous-inventors.com/thomas-edison-biography.html
http://www.nps.gov/archive/edis/edisonia.htm
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[[Category:Inventors]]
[[Category:Inventors]]
[[Category:People who were Educated at Home]]
[[Category:People who were Educated at Home]]
[[Category:Business history]]
[[Category:United States History]]