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Thomas Edison Will Always be Linked with Electric Light. But the Prolific Inventor's Impact Was Far, Far Wider.
Quick. What did Thomas Edison invent?
Easy, right? If you said "the light bulb," you belong to the vast majority of people. After all, many of us pay our monthly electric bills to the local "Edison" Company. So linking Thomas Edison with electricity is sort of a "no brainer."
Unfortunately, Edison's legacy is often restricted to that particular invention. And while there's no denying that incandescent light has had a most profound impact on daily life, it's a shame that most people remain unaware of Edison's other contributions to the modern world.
In invention publications like this one, February is often considered to be "Edison Month" (the inventor's birthday is Feb. 11). And the sheer number of patents Edison was awarded in his lifetime continues to be an inspiration to new product developers worldwide. With more than 1,300 patents to his credit, Edison still remained a dissatisfied seeker for most of his life.
"Discontent is the first necessity of progress," he once said. "I find my greatest pleasure and reward in the work that precedes what the world calls success."
That work ethic spawned a remarkable list of patents, many of which were the first steps toward the technology we enjoy today. In addition to the incandescent light bulb, a few of Edison's most important inventions include:
* Vote Recorder--An Electrical Vote Recorder was Edison's first patented invention in 1868. Most politicians, however, scoffed at the device, which was too far ahead of its time.* Stock Ticker--In New York City, Edison began work for a telegraph company in 1869. The company's stock ticker eventually failed. Although many workers attempted to fix it, Edison was the only one able to get it working. This experience led to several inventions, including the Universal Stock Ticker. For the first time, Edison received money for an invention--$40,000.
* Paraffin Paper--This early wax paper, which Edison patented around 1874, was used to wrap candy.
* Phonograph--Invented in 1877, Edison once called the phonograph his "favorite" invention. He often returned to this product, improving and refining it for most of his life.
* Electric Motor--In 1879, he made the first electric motor, specifically focused for a 110-120 volt line.
* Carbon Telephone Transmitter--This particular invention, patented in 1877, led to the commercial success of the telephone, and played a major part in the development of the microphone. Several years later, Edison would use similar technology to invent and patent a talking doll.
* Motion Picture Camera--Edison's early patent on this device (1891) broke new ground in the way film was produced and later projected onto a screen. More than 10 years later (1912), he went on to develop the Kinetophone--which enabled the talking motion picture.
* Telescribe--This invention (1914) combined the telephone and phonograph, which allowed for processing both sides of a telephone conversation.
* Military Applications--Edison also worked on projects for the U.S. Government in World War I, experimenting with the detection of submarines, methods for guiding ships through mined areas, the blocking of torpedoes, the use of underwater searchlights.
This is obviously just a partial list of the products and technology that Thomas Edison worked with over the course of a focused and productive lifetime. For inventors and creative people everywhere, he remains an inspiration, a wonderful example of the human spirit.
Once, when his entire laboratory was lost in a fire, Edison quipped, "The nice thing about fire is that it burns up a man's mistakes."
Edison's positive focus on struggle and failure has even become the stuff of legend. And his words still ring true in our time, as we work ourselves through a particularly tough economic period.
"Be courageous," he once said. "I have seen many depressions in business. Always America has emerged from these stronger and more prosperous. Be brave as your fathers before you. Have faith. Go forward."
Mike Foley has been the editor of The Dream Merchant since 1990. For more information about his services for aspiring writers, visit his website: http://www.writers-review.com
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