Changes

==Childhood==

==Childhood==

Thomas Alva Edison was born on Feb 11, 1847 in Milan, [[Ohio]]. His parents, Samuel Ogden Edison, Jr. and Nancy Matthews Elliott, had seven children, Thomas was the youngest.  Three of his siblings died in childhood.<ref>http://www.nps.gov/archive/edis/home_family/fam_album.htm#sammy</ref>

Thomas Alva Edison was born on Feb 11, 1847 in Milan, [[Ohio]]. His parents, Samuel Ogden Edison, Jr. and Nancy Matthews Elliott, had seven children, Thomas was the youngest.  Three of his siblings died in childhood.<ref>http://www.nps.gov/archive/edis/home_family/fam_album.htm#sammy</ref>

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.  

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. from his revolutionary plant on Pearl Street in New York City; it was the first central electric light and power plant in the world. He also built and operated an experimental electric railroad and produced a superior storage battery of iron and nickel with an alkaline electrolyte.

By 1882 Edison had established the first commercial power station, and began providing light and power to customers. from his revolutionary plant on Pearl Street in New York City; it was the first central electric light and power plant in the world. He also built and operated an experimental electric railroad and produced a superior storage battery of iron and nickel with an alkaline electrolyte.

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

[[Image:Phonograph-edison.jpg|thumb|300px|1889 phonograph; battery is on left]]

[[Image:Phonograph-edison.jpg|thumb|280px|1889 phonograph; battery is on left]]

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.  

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.  

===Generating electricity===

===Generating electricity===

** vol 6: '' Electrifying New York and Abroad, April 1881--March 1883'' (2007)  940pp

** vol 6: '' Electrifying New York and Abroad, April 1881--March 1883'' (2007)  940pp

== External links ==

== External links ==

[[Image:Movie-edison.jpg|thumb|320px|Sound movies: 1913 Edison's Kinetophone. The viewer looks at film through the peep-hole while listening to the accompanying phonograph through two rubber ear tubes. The 1895 version worked poorly; this one was dropped because labor contracts required a union operator to be present.<ref> See [http://inventors.about.com/library/inventors/bledison_kinetoscope.htm Kinetophones]</ref>]]  

[[Image:Movie-edison.jpg|thumb|320px|Sound movies: 1913 Edison's Kinetophone. The viewer looks at film through the peep-hole while listening to the accompanying phonograph through two rubber ear tubes. The 1895 version worked poorly; this one was dropped because labor contracts required a union operator to be present.<ref> See [http://inventors.about.com/library/inventors/bledison_kinetoscope.htm Kinetophones]</ref>]]