October 22, 2019
We travel back to Menlo Park, New Jersey where inventor Thomas Edison used carbonized cotton thread to make a major lighting breakthrough
"I haven't failed -- I've just found 10,000 ways that won't work." – Thomas Edison.
The year is 1878, the place is Menlo Park New Jersey. Hot off the success of his phonograph, Thomas Edison has his sights set on the light bulb. He figures he and his team of 40 researchers can come up with a functioning incandescent bulb in three or four months.
But it wasn't until more than a year later, on the morning of October 22 (after working all through the day of October 21, 1879) that Thomas Alva Edison and his team finally “perfected” the incandescent light bulb. The bulb cost USD 40,000 (about USD 850,000 in today's money) and burned for slightly more than half a day.
I haven't failed -- I've just found 10,000 ways that won't work."
The team had executed approximately 1,200 experiments, testing hundreds of materials in the process before hitting upon the winning design. It turned out that baking a piece of coiled cotton thread until it was all carbon was the winning filament. Inside a glass bulb that was almost a vacuum, it was able to stay lit for 13.5 hours. In the end, Edison’s "three or four month" project had taken him 14 months.
The lengthy timeframe was partially because Edison was also busy developing an electric meter, redesigning his telephone receiver (to avoid infringing on the patent held by Alexander Graham Bell) and finessing his electrical generators.
And yet, with all this going on, in the face of numerous setbacks, Edison got there. And with that first incandescent light bulb he also forged the path for a whole industry.
140 years later Edison’s legacy is still visible in the relentless innovation taking place in the lighting sector. Signify is proud to be a part of that tradition, continuing to innovate and improve lighting products, even redefining what’s possible with lights.
The secret to success – as true in Edison’s time as it is today – is perseverance. As Edison himself said, "Genius is 1% inspiration and 99% perspiration.”
As a seasoned expert in the field of innovation and historical advancements, let me delve into the fascinating narrative that took place in Menlo Park, New Jersey, back in 1878, as Thomas Edison and his team undertook the monumental task of perfecting the incandescent light bulb.
The quote, "I haven't failed -- I've just found 10,000 ways that won't work," encapsulates Edison's relentless pursuit of success. This mindset reflects the exhaustive process undertaken by Edison and his team, a process that involved approximately 1,200 experiments over the course of 14 months. The goal was to create a functional incandescent bulb, following Edison's prior success with the phonograph.
On October 22, 1879, after an intense day of work on October 21, the team achieved their breakthrough. The resulting incandescent light bulb, though expensive at USD 40,000 (equivalent to about USD 850,000 today), burned for slightly more than half a day. This achievement marked a pivotal moment in history and laid the foundation for the lighting industry as we know it today.
The key to their success lay in perseverance and an unwavering commitment to experimentation. Edison's team tested hundreds of materials, conducting experiments to find the optimal filament. The winning design involved carbonizing coiled cotton thread, a process that allowed the bulb to stay lit for an impressive 13.5 hours. The bulb, encased in a nearly vacuum-sealed glass, demonstrated the culmination of Edison's dedication to innovation.
Edison's multifaceted approach to innovation is evident in the extended timeframe, as he simultaneously worked on other projects such as developing an electric meter, redesigning the telephone receiver to avoid patent conflicts, and refining electrical generators. Despite setbacks, Edison's resilience prevailed.
Fast forward 140 years, and Edison's legacy continues to resonate in the lighting sector. Companies like Signify take pride in being part of this tradition, pushing the boundaries of innovation and redefining possibilities in the realm of lighting products.
The enduring lesson from Edison's journey, applicable then as it is today, is the formula for success: "Genius is 1% inspiration and 99% perspiration." This timeless principle emphasizes the importance of hard work, dedication, and perseverance in achieving groundbreaking innovations that shape industries for years to come.
