Thomas Edison’s inventions: An overview

Thomas Edison became famous for his inventions, he patented over a thousand of them. The light bulb in particular was attributed to him

Thomas Edison’s inventions

The list of Edison’s inventions is long; after all, he patented over a thousand inventions and invented even more. As a self-taught electrical engineer in the 19th and 20th centuries, most of his inventions related to power and electricity. More decisive than his wealth of inventions was his successful entrepreneurial spirit.

• The light bulb: Thomas Edison was long regarded as the inventor of the light bulb. However, there were already considerable developments in light bulbs before Edison. However, Edison further developed and marketed the light bulb to such an extent that his light bulb became the first economically and practically viable model.

• His first inventions, however, were in the field of telegraphy. He invented the duplex technique for transmitting two messages at the same time. This was followed by several other inventions to improve the telegraph. He also worked on electrical vote counters for voting and the electrical display of stock market prices. The improvement of telephone connections by extending their range was also based on his invention.

• The so-called phonograph was an invention of great significance. A device that can record and play back voices. This works by recording sound, which leaves a unique signature in the form of notches on staniol paper and can later be played back by moving a needle over it. The subsequent vinyl record was not invented by Edison, but was nevertheless significantly further developed.

• A decisive step was also the supply of electricity to the masses. Thanks to Edison, individual houses were connected to the power grid using alternating current instead of direct current. The more efficient electricity made the larger supply possible and safer at the same time.

• Moving images were made possible by the kinetoscope. These are so-called peep boxes in which a film track runs and thus shows the viewer moving images. Here and with many other inventions, Thomas Edison was not alone. He relied on teamwork and had set up large laboratories with many employees. However, the patents related to him alone.

• Many other inventions can be attributed to Edison. Some of them more important than others. Examples include the electric pen and mimeography in the field of printing, the kinetophone, which combined the kinetoscope (moving images) and phonograph (voice recording), further development of microphones and, last but not least, the impetus for the development of the electric chair.