On January 27, 1880, Thomas Edison received the historic patent embodying the principles of the incandescent light bulb, paving the way for the universal household use of electric light.
However, although he is credited with inventing the incandescent light bulb, he actually only perfected it. The patent that the Patent Office granted to Edison, after all, was not for the invention of the electric light bulb, but for its improvement. More specifically, because of the design changes Edison made and the materials he used – a carbon filament – his patent allowed him to create an electric light bulb that was reliable, safe and practical.
In 1878, the creation of a practical, long-burning electric light had eluded scientists for decades. With a dream to light up entire cities, Edison managed to gather a group of brilliant scientists and technicians to create an electric lamp that was efficient and accessible to the general public. According to notes from Edison’s laboratory, it appears that the American inventor, in October 1879, had conducted significant experiments with several different filament materials. As he noted in his patent, he had carbonized and used cotton and linen thread, wooden splints, papers as well as lamp black and carbon in various forms, mixed with tar and wound into wires of various lengths and diameters. After many attempts, he managed to make a filament that was not metal but carbonized bamboo, reach incandescence without melting. On October 21, 1879, he managed to make his first light bulb emit light for 40 hours continuously.
At a time when many were trying to make a lamp that would be practical, he wanted the protection that a patent would give him. He filed the relevant application with the Patent Office on November 4, 1879. In its opening paragraph, Edison’s application stated: “To all whom it may concern: Know that I, Thomas Alva Edison, of Menlow Park, in the State of New Jersey, United States of America, I have invented an improvement in electric lamps and in the method of making them (Case No. 186), of which the following is a specification. The object of this invention is the production of electric lamps giving incandescent light, which shall have a high resistance, so as to permit the practical subdivision of electric light.’
His invention had a great impact on the industry. After all, during the development of the light bulb, one of Edison’s assistants discovered the flow of energy from one electrode to another – what later became known as the “Edison Effect” and formed the fundamental principle of the electronic tube, which in turn, it was the basis of the electronics industry.
The same year he received patent number 223,898 for the incandescent light bulb, he would work with J. P. Morgan to found the General Electric Company.
In this way the age of electricity opened in the United States. From his New Jersey labs came 1,093 patented inventions and innovations that made him one of the most prolific inventors of all time.
Column Editor: Myrto Katsigera, Vassilis Minakakis, Antigone-Despina Poimenidou, Athanasios Syroplakis
