THOMAS ALVA EDISON  1874 - 1931

 

HOME | BIOLOGY | FILMS | GEOGRAPHY | HISTORY | INDEX | MUSIC | THE BOAT  | SOLAR BOATS  | SPONSORS

 

 

Thomas Alva Edison was born on February 11, 1847 in Milan, Ohio.  With only three months of formal education he became one of the greatest inventors and industrial leaders in history.  Edison obtained 1,093 United States patents, the most issued to any individual.

 

 

 

Thomas Edison - American Inventor

 

 

Edison's greatest contribution to our modern world was the first practical electric lighting.  He not only invented the first successful electric light bulb, but also set up the first electrical power distribution company.  Edison invented the phonograph, and made improvements to the telegraph, telephone and motion picture technology. He also founded the first modern research laboratory.

 

Edison was also a good businessman. He not only designed important new devices, he created companies worldwide for the manufacture and sale of his inventions. Along with other manufacturing pioneers of his era, Edison helped make the United States a world industrial power. He and Henry Ford became friends after Edison encouraged Ford to use the gasoline powered engine for the automobile.

 

"Hell, there are no rules here—we're
   trying to accomplish something.
"
                                                                              —Thomas Edison

 

Edison was also a ruthless businessman who fought viciously to defeat his competitors. One of the most notorious examples of his competitive vigor were the lengths he went to to discredit Nicola Tesla's Alternating Current system, which is the system of electrical distribution in use today.

 

Edison had great faith in progress and industry, and valued long, hard work. He used to say, "Genius was 1 percent inspiration and 99 percent perspiration."  Edison believed that inventing useful products offered everyone the opportunity for fame and fortune while benefiting society.

 

The Edison Birthplace Museum features a collection of rare Edisonia, including examples of many of Edison's early inventions, documents, and family mementos. The Birthplace is open February through November and is located at 9 Edison Drive in Milan, Ohio

 

 

 Resources - Other Inventor Links:

 

Alexander Graham Bell - Scottish Inventor

Sir Henry Bessemer - English Inventor & Engineer

Benjamin Franklin - American Statesman and Inventor

Nicola Tesla - Serbian/American Inventor

Leonardo da Vinci - Italian Artist and Inventor

Orville Wright - American Inventor

Wilbur Wright - American Inventor

 

Books About Edison

 

Edison: A Life of Invention - Author: Paul Israel

Israel, managing editor of the Rutgers edition of Edison's papers, draws this biography from workshop diaries, letters, and more than five million pages of Edison archives. It places Edison in the context of the Industrial Revolution and its aftermath, and provides background on how he developed the collaborative research methods upon which today's corporate research departments and think tanks are modeled.

Click here to purchase this hardcover edition of "Edison: A Life of Invention"


Thomas A. Edison: Young Inventor - Author: Sue Guthridge, Wallace Wook (Illustrator)

A biography focusing on the childhood of the inventor. Reading level for ages 9 through 12.

Click here to purchase this Paperback edition of "Thomas A. Edison: Young Inventor"


Uncommon Friends: Life With Thomas Edison, Henry Ford, Harvey Firestone, Alexis Carrel, & Charles Lindbergh - Author: James D. Newton

James Newton formed friendships with several men who helped shape the 20th century. This book reveals the personal side of each of these great men, what it was like to be around them on a regular basis, some of their thoughts on life, and hints of their sense of humor.

 

VIDEOS ABOUT EDISON:

 

Edison: The Wizard of Light (2000) - Producer: A&E Home Video

An Emmy Award-winning family drama about the 1 percent inspiration and 99 percent perspiration required to build an impassioned life. A-12-year-old boy wins Edison's affections and a long-term apprentice job. Believable conversations between mentor and student about education, life, and the invention of Edison's light bulb and phonograph are dotted with many recognizable, timely quotations.

Click here to purchase this Video edition of "Edison: The Wizard of Light (2000)"

Young Tom Edison (1940) - Producer: MGM

Edison's early life depicted with flair by Mickey Rooney.

Click here to purchase this Video edition of "Edison the Man"

Edison the Man (1940) - Producer: MGM

Spencer Tracy stars as the earnest inventor in this sequel to "Young Tom Edison."

Click here to purchase this Video edition of "Edison the Man"

 

Biography - Thomas Edison - Producer: A&E Biography

A&E's look at the famous inventor.

 

RELATED WEBSITES:

 

The Edison Papers: Rutgers University

Thomas Edison: The Wizard of Menlo Park

Thomas Edison's Home Page

Edison National Historic Site

IEEE's Edison Pages

The Edison Birthplace Museum

Thomas Edison/Henry Ford - Winter Estates Homepage

Edison After Fourty - A Smithsonian photo-album providing a look into the latter half of the life of Edison

Thomas Edison Bio
Thomas Edison's Patents
Edison National Historic Site

 

INVENTORS A - Z

 

 

Albert Einstein

Alec Issigonis

Alexander Graham Bell

Archimedes

Barnes Wallis - Dambusters Bomb

Benjamin Franklin

Charles Babbage - Computer

Christopher Cockerell - Hovercraft

Clive Sinclair

Ferdinand Porsche

Frank Whittle

Francis Bacon

Galileo Galilei

George Eastman

George Stephenson

Gottlieb Daimler

Guglielmo Marconi

Henry Ford

Howard Hughes

How Things Work - Links

Isaac Newton

Isambard Kingdom Brunel - Great Eastern

James Dyson

 

 

James Watt

John Dunlop

John Logie Baird

John McAdam

Joseph Swan

Leonardo da Vinci

Louis Bleriot

Michael Faraday

Montgolfier Brothers

Nelson Kruschandl - Car joystick

                         - EV refuelling system

                         - Solar Yacht

                         - Wind tunnel

Nikolaus Otto

Robert Fulton

Rudolph Diesel

Thomas Edison

Thomas Sopwith

Thomas Telford

Trevor Bayliss

Sebastian de Farranti

Wright Brothers - Orville and Wilbur

 

 

 

 


 

A taste for adventure capitalists

 

 

Solar Cola - the healthier cola alternative

 

 

This material and any views expressed herein are provided for information purposes only and should not be construed in any way as a prospectus or offer.  Please contact the company concerned for information of any business opportunity or specific program. Before investing in any business, you must obtain, read and examine thoroughly its disclosure document or offering memorandum.

 

This website is Copyright © 1999 & 2006  NJK.   The bird logo and name Solar Navigator are trademarks. All rights reserved.  All other trademarks are hereby acknowledged.       Max Energy Limited is an educational charity.

 AUTOMOTIVE  |  BLUEBIRD  |  ELECTRIC CARS  |  ELECTRIC CYCLES  |  SOLAR CARS