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At 15 years of age, Edison learned [[Morse 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.

At 15 years of age, Edison learned [[Morse 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 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 ([[Massachusetts Institute of Technology|MIT]]); in 1869 he relocated to New York City.

Due to his exceptional mechanical ability and knowledge he was able to find work as a repairman of automated devices for a financial firm. After hours, he continued to thinker and experiment with mechanical devices. He had some success and was able to sell some of his inventions. The most important and profitable was a stock ticker he named the "Universal Stock Printer", which he sold for $40,000.  

Due to his exceptional mechanical ability and knowledge he was able to find work as a repairman of automated devices for a financial firm. After hours, he continued to thinker and experiment with mechanical devices. He had some success and was able to sell some of his inventions. The most important and profitable was a stock ticker he named the "Universal Stock Printer", which he sold for $40,000.