On February the 11th 1847, one of technologies greatest inventors, Thomas Edison was born. Edison had a revolution of extraordinary inventions like no other. The Phonograph, the Movie Camera and the incandescent light bulb were just some of his 1093 patents! Even though Edison died in 1931, many of his inventions still live on today. These inventions have led to films, music, and especially the lights in every home across the world! Edison’s hard work and talent has led him to become the legend he is today.
Thomas Edison was, of course, a legendary inventor, however without the help and legacies of others, he may have never gotten to where he is today. For example, if you go way back in time to the early ages, without Benjamin Franklin, and his discovery of electricity, almost none of Edison’s inventions could have happened. Also, in the 1820’s, cameras were starting to be developed. In fact, one of the first photos ever was taken by Sir Nicephore Niepce in 1827(Harry Ransom Center - University of Austin). Also, in 1889, George Eastman created a flexible, durable film that Edison needed to finish the Camera, and the Kinetograph (Viewing mechanism) allowing him to make it fully functional so he could patent it. Finally, probably one of the biggest misconceptions of all time is Thomas Edison and the light bulb. Many people don’t realize that Edison did not create the light bulb; He only improved it. Humphry Davy was the first inventor, creating the first generation light bulb in 1800, followed by Charles Francis with his light bulb which was created right before Edisons ("Invention of the Light Bulb: Davy, Swan and Edison - EnchantedLearning.com"). This set up Edison up perfectly to create a fully functional incandescent light that could last up to 1,200 hours. But this was only the build up to what edison really accomplished.
Now, one may think that Edison was just a small time inventor who just copied off of others. False. Edison may have piggybacked a little on the light bulb, because he wasn't’ the original inventor. However, he greatly improved it to make it incandescent, and he also made a electric company, which could power cities. Another one of his key inventions was the phonograph, or otherwise known as a recorder. But in this occasion, there was nobody to even get him started. Edison himself once said, “To invent, you need a good imagination and a pile of junk.” This perfectly fits to what edison had to do to make the phonograph. Edison went to work, and eventually finished the phonograph where his first words were “mary had a little lamb” (Thomas Edison’s most famous inventions). But Edison wasn’t done yet, he had another idea that he needed to become a reality. A playback camera; the movie camera. In 1888, Edison started his craft of this device. He started with a simple design that resembled his phonograph, that had a spiral arrangement of 1/16 inch photographs viewed through a microscope. This camera had blurry, and crude images, so Edison started grinding to get a second version. Edison then met up, and collaborated with W.K.L Dickson, and they created a better camera, called the strip kinetoscope, and then went on to create a full viewing system, called the Black Maria in 1893. Each Kinetoscope was about 4 feet tall, 20 inches square, and had a peep hole magnifier that allowed the person to view 50 feet of film in about 20 seconds. A battery-operated lamp allowed the film to be illuminated on the projector screen. This started the revolution of hollywood pictures, and allowed videos to be played back. Overall, Edison had many inventions that truly made him a legend.
Of course, many of Edison's inventions did quickly fail, and go away. But many of his inventions also went on to change the course of history. First off, things changed straight away back in the day when people finally didn’t have to rely on fire as a light source. With Edison’s Incandescent light bulb, and his electric business, houses were being lit up at night, and dark rooms, were now light. Also, there was more jobs at night, things to do at night, and overall more activity at night. His lightbulb went on to lighthouses for years on end, and it is even still being used now. Of course, it has been improved since then, but his version of the light is what started it all. Next, Edison impacted our world by bringing us films and motion pictures. At the time they weren't very good, but his ideas left a legacy for projectors, and movie theatres. Without his ideas, billions of dollars in the film industry would have never been made. People also need to consider that, without Edison, music probably never would have been made. Considering that his first words into the phonograph was a small tune or form of music, that alone shows his doings led to all of our pop stars today being successful. Also, the creation of the phonograph also led to Alexander Grahmbell’s telephone. He had some sort of carbon transmitter, that was very advanced at the time, and it helped Graham Bell advance his phone into the world.
Overall, Thomas Edison impacted our world greatly. His key inventions led to many of our technology today. Music, videos, and even the lights in our houses were made because of him. His legacy was remembered when his hometown turned on all of their lightbulbs after he died. His contributions in life led him to become one of the worlds greatest inventors of all time, which he truly deserves. Edison not only was one of the great minds of the past, but also one great mind to be remembered in the future.
Thomas Edison was, of course, a legendary inventor, however without the help and legacies of others, he may have never gotten to where he is today. For example, if you go way back in time to the early ages, without Benjamin Franklin, and his discovery of electricity, almost none of Edison’s inventions could have happened. Also, in the 1820’s, cameras were starting to be developed. In fact, one of the first photos ever was taken by Sir Nicephore Niepce in 1827(Harry Ransom Center - University of Austin). Also, in 1889, George Eastman created a flexible, durable film that Edison needed to finish the Camera, and the Kinetograph (Viewing mechanism) allowing him to make it fully functional so he could patent it. Finally, probably one of the biggest misconceptions of all time is Thomas Edison and the light bulb. Many people don’t realize that Edison did not create the light bulb; He only improved it. Humphry Davy was the first inventor, creating the first generation light bulb in 1800, followed by Charles Francis with his light bulb which was created right before Edisons ("Invention of the Light Bulb: Davy, Swan and Edison - EnchantedLearning.com"). This set up Edison up perfectly to create a fully functional incandescent light that could last up to 1,200 hours. But this was only the build up to what edison really accomplished.
Now, one may think that Edison was just a small time inventor who just copied off of others. False. Edison may have piggybacked a little on the light bulb, because he wasn't’ the original inventor. However, he greatly improved it to make it incandescent, and he also made a electric company, which could power cities. Another one of his key inventions was the phonograph, or otherwise known as a recorder. But in this occasion, there was nobody to even get him started. Edison himself once said, “To invent, you need a good imagination and a pile of junk.” This perfectly fits to what edison had to do to make the phonograph. Edison went to work, and eventually finished the phonograph where his first words were “mary had a little lamb” (Thomas Edison’s most famous inventions). But Edison wasn’t done yet, he had another idea that he needed to become a reality. A playback camera; the movie camera. In 1888, Edison started his craft of this device. He started with a simple design that resembled his phonograph, that had a spiral arrangement of 1/16 inch photographs viewed through a microscope. This camera had blurry, and crude images, so Edison started grinding to get a second version. Edison then met up, and collaborated with W.K.L Dickson, and they created a better camera, called the strip kinetoscope, and then went on to create a full viewing system, called the Black Maria in 1893. Each Kinetoscope was about 4 feet tall, 20 inches square, and had a peep hole magnifier that allowed the person to view 50 feet of film in about 20 seconds. A battery-operated lamp allowed the film to be illuminated on the projector screen. This started the revolution of hollywood pictures, and allowed videos to be played back. Overall, Edison had many inventions that truly made him a legend.
Of course, many of Edison's inventions did quickly fail, and go away. But many of his inventions also went on to change the course of history. First off, things changed straight away back in the day when people finally didn’t have to rely on fire as a light source. With Edison’s Incandescent light bulb, and his electric business, houses were being lit up at night, and dark rooms, were now light. Also, there was more jobs at night, things to do at night, and overall more activity at night. His lightbulb went on to lighthouses for years on end, and it is even still being used now. Of course, it has been improved since then, but his version of the light is what started it all. Next, Edison impacted our world by bringing us films and motion pictures. At the time they weren't very good, but his ideas left a legacy for projectors, and movie theatres. Without his ideas, billions of dollars in the film industry would have never been made. People also need to consider that, without Edison, music probably never would have been made. Considering that his first words into the phonograph was a small tune or form of music, that alone shows his doings led to all of our pop stars today being successful. Also, the creation of the phonograph also led to Alexander Grahmbell’s telephone. He had some sort of carbon transmitter, that was very advanced at the time, and it helped Graham Bell advance his phone into the world.
Overall, Thomas Edison impacted our world greatly. His key inventions led to many of our technology today. Music, videos, and even the lights in our houses were made because of him. His legacy was remembered when his hometown turned on all of their lightbulbs after he died. His contributions in life led him to become one of the worlds greatest inventors of all time, which he truly deserves. Edison not only was one of the great minds of the past, but also one great mind to be remembered in the future.