Table of Contents
Thomas Edison
Inventor Extraordinaire
Thomas Edison held over 1,000 patents in his name.1)
Early Life
He was born on February 11, 1847, in Milan, Ohio, USA.2)
Limited Formal Education
Edison had only three months of formal education.3)
Childhood Experiments
His curiosity led to his early experiments, including once starting a fire in his family's barn while conducting an experiment.4)
Deafness
Edison became partially deaf at a young age, possibly due to scarlet fever or a genetic condition.5)
First Patent
At age 21, he received his first patent for an electric vote recorder.6)
Phonograph Creation
He invented the phonograph in 1877, allowing sound to be recorded and reproduced.7)
Electric Light Bulb
Edison didn’t invent the first electric light bulb, but he created a practical, long-lasting bulb.8)
Menlo Park
He established a research lab in Menlo Park, New Jersey, which became the world's first industrial research laboratory.9)
Electric Power Systems
Edison developed the first electric power system, lighting up parts of Manhattan in 1882.10)
Direct Current (DC) vs. Alternating Current (AC)
Edison was a proponent of DC, while his rival Nikola Tesla championed AC.11)
War Of Currents
Edison and Tesla were involved in the “War of Currents,” a battle to dominate the electrical distribution market.12)
X-Rays
Edison worked on X-rays and improved the fluoroscope, a device used in early X-ray examinations.13)
Movie Camera
He invented the Kinetoscope, an early motion picture camera.14)
Motion Pictures
Edison's lab created the first motion picture studio called the Black Maria in West Orange, New Jersey.15)
Marriage
Edison married twice and had six children.16)
Alkaline Battery
He invented the alkaline storage battery in 1901.17)
Cement Production
Edison developed a process for producing cement, a venture that led to the formation of Edison Portland Cement.18)
Phonograph Records
His invention of phonograph records led to the music industry's development.19)
Electricity and Rubber
Edison worked on creating a more efficient way to produce rubber, leading to the creation of a laboratory dedicated to this purpose.20)
Fruit Preservation
He experimented with methods of preserving fruits and vegetables using heat.21)
Famous Quotes
One of his most well-known quotes is, “Genius is one percent inspiration and ninety-nine percent perspiration.”22)
Phonograph
Edison created an early form of a hearing aid called the Phonograph.23)
Famed Work Ethic
Edison was known for working tirelessly, often sleeping only a few hours a night.24)
Love For Reading
He had a voracious appetite for reading, believing it contributed to his inventiveness.25)
Minimal Sleep
Edison reportedly slept for only three to four hours a night.26)
Friendship With Henry Ford
Edison and Henry Ford, the founder of Ford Motor Company, were close friends.27)
Carbon Telephone Transmitter
He developed an improved carbon transmitter for Alexander Graham Bell's telephone.28)
Honors and Recognition
Edison received numerous honors during his lifetime, including the Congressional Gold Medal.29)
Chemical Experiments
Edison conducted extensive experiments in chemistry, including trying to mine iron ore magnetically.30)
Love for Experimentation
He encouraged his employees to experiment and innovate freely.31)
Family Influence
Edison’s family played a significant role in his life, especially his mother, who home-schooled him.32)
Health Food Advocate
He believed in the health benefits of certain foods and was interested in dietary fads.33)
Electric Vote Recorder
Although commercially unsuccessful, Edison's electric vote recorder was his first invention patented at age 21.34)
Work-Life Balance
Edison was so dedicated to his work that he often neglected his personal life.35)
Laboratory Incidents
Edison experienced numerous accidents in his lab, including one that injured his assistant, resulting in the loss of an eye.36)
Financial Ventures
He invested in various business ventures, some of which were unsuccessful.37)
Inventions beyond Technology
Edison also worked on innovations in industry and infrastructure, including ore separation processes.38)
Interest in Mining
He had a keen interest in mining and tried to improve mining technology.39)
Chemical Batteries
Edison experimented with various chemical solutions for batteries.40)
Foresight in Industry
He foresaw the potential for rubber to become an industry of great importance.41)
World’s Fair
Edison’s inventions were prominently displayed at various world fairs, showcasing his technological advancements.42)
Inspiration from Failures
Edison believed in learning from failures and famously said, “I have not failed. I've just found 10,000 ways that won't work.”43)
Legacy
His work laid the groundwork for many modern technological advancements.44)
Death
Thomas Edison died on October 18, 1931, at the age of 84, leaving behind an enduring legacy in innovation and invention.45)