Changes

Thomas was used to taking the initiative to learn on his own, and had a very inquisitive nature, a strong desire to learn, an excellent memory, and the ability to understand complex concepts. He considered his hearing loss to work in his favor, as he was not distracted by outside noises and able to concentrate on his own thoughts. His hearing loss increased over time, and in later years he lost all hearing in his left ear and about 80% of the hearing in his right ear.  

Thomas was used to taking the initiative to learn on his own, and had a very inquisitive nature, a strong desire to learn, an excellent memory, and the ability to understand complex concepts. He considered his hearing loss to work in his favor, as he was not distracted by outside noises and able to concentrate on his own thoughts. His hearing loss increased over time, and in later years he lost all hearing in his left ear and about 80% of the hearing in his right ear.  

At 15 years of age, Edison learned [[Morse Code|Morse code]] and was hired as a telegraph operator. There were jobs available for workers of all ages, including youngsters, as many adult men were now engaged in fighting in the [[Civil War]].

At 15 years of age, Edison learned [[Morse Code|M7orse code]] and was hired as a telegraph operator. in several telegraph offices, then took a job with 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===

===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 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 1887 Edison moved his vast organization to West Orange, N.J., and thereafter devoted most of his time to its management. Along with a team of engineers he personally helped invent the first motion pictures. He concurrently worked on developing, then improving the phonograph, and recording equipment.  In 1891 Edison patented the kinetoscope and the vitascope; having purchased the patent for a projector invented by Thomas Armat, he made the first commercial showing of motion pictures, at in New York City, on April 23, 1896. In 1913 he demonstrated the synchronization of moving pictures and sound, laying the foundation for the talking motion picture

In 1887 Edison moved his vast organization to West Orange, N.J., and thereafter devoted most of his time to its management. Along with a team of engineers he personally helped invent the first motion pictures. He concurrently worked on developing, then improving the phonograph, and recording equipment.  In 1891 Edison patented the kinetoscope and the vitascope; having purchased the patent for a projector invented by Thomas Armat, he made the first commercial showing of motion pictures, at in New York City, on April 23, 1896. In 1913 he demonstrated the synchronization of moving pictures and sound, laying the foundation for the talking motion picture

 

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.

==Entrepreneur==

==Entrepreneur==

Leaving the laboratory 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.  

Leaving the laboratory 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.  

He moved various Edison factories to Schenectady, New York, and consolidated as the Edison General Electric Company; the new corporation manufactured many kinds of electrical equipment from lamps to electric streetcars and locomotives, making a leading industrial center. 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.  

He moved various Edison factories to Schenectady, New York, and consolidated as the Edison General Electric Company; the new corporation manufactured many kinds of electrical equipment from lamps to electric streetcars and locomotives, making a leading industrial center. 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.

== External links ==

== External links ==

*[http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/edhtml/edbiohm.html Library of Congress]

*[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 Rutgers University]

* [http://www.famous-inventors.com/thomas-edison-biography.html Famous Inventors]

* [http://www.famous-inventors.com/thomas-edison-biography.html Famous Inventors]

* [http://www.nps.gov/archive/edis/edisonia.htm National Park Service]

* [http://www.nps.gov/archive/edis/edisonia.htm National Park Service]

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