Intro

Hello and Welcome to this episode of the podcast, "The Mnemonic Tree", where we add a single mnemonic leaf to our Tree of Knowledge.

Today's episode is on the man of invention, Thomas Edison. With over 1,000 patents to his name, he revolutionised electric power generation, mass communication, motion pictures, and sound recording. Edison was responsible in establishing the first industrial research laboratory, where he brought in talent from all disciplines, in his bid for invention.

Edison was born in Milan, Ohio in 1847. From a young age he showed an aptitude for learning and had a burning curiosity. He taught himself Morse Code before taking a job as a telegraph operator, which he would study on how to improve.

By the age of 22 he had his first invention when he filed his first patent for the Electrographic Vote Recorder. Though it never sold, it then led to his second invention which was the phonograph in 1877, where it occurred to him that sound could be recorded as indentations on a rapidly-moving piece of paper.

By 1876 Edison moved his operations to Menlo Park in New Jersey where he developed the world’s first research and development facility. Dubbed the ‘Wizard of Menlo Park’ Edison turned invention into a systemised team effort and soon was the first person to record sound and perfect the incandescent light bulb. Now just on recording sound, it has now been discovered by scholars that inventor Edouard-Leon Scott de Martinville is now the first to record sound, which was 20 years earlier than Edison, in France in 1857.

Edison played a key role in the evolution of society developing electric power systems, the lighting of homes and businesses, and the forming of the film industry. Along the way he had his rivals’ which for Edison was an ex-employee Nicola Tesla who was eventually backed by George Westinghouse who was a competitor of Edison.

Thomas Edison was also a very wise man, with some of my favourite quotes such as “I have not failed. I’ve just found 10,000 ways that won’t work,” or “Genius is one percent inspiration, ninety-nine percent perspiration,” and “Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work.”

Today’s mnemonic is on Thomas Edison’s top six inventions.

So, with no further ado, we will begin with a summary from Wikipedia.

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Thomas_Edison2-crop.jpg

Wikipedia Summary

Thomas Alva Edison (February 11, 1847 – October 18, 1931) was an American inventor and businessman.[1][2][3] He developed many devices in fields such as electric power generation, mass communication, sound recording, and motion pictures.[4]

These inventions, which include the phonograph, the motion picture camera, and early versions of the electric light bulb, have had a widespread impact on the modern industrialized world.[5]

He was one of the first inventors to apply the principles of organized science and teamwork to the process of invention, working with many researchers and employees. He established the first industrial research laboratory.[6]

Edison was raised in the American Midwest. Early in his career he worked as a telegraph operator, which inspired some of his earliest inventions.[4] In 1876, he established his first laboratory facility in Menlo Park, New Jersey, where many of his early inventions were developed.

He later established a botanical laboratory in Fort Myers, Florida, in collaboration with businessmen Henry Ford and Harvey S. Firestone, and a laboratory in West Orange, New Jersey, that featured the world's first film studio, the Black Maria.

With 1,093 US patents in his name, as well as patents in other countries, Edison is regarded as the most prolific inventor in American history.[7] Edison married twice and fathered six children. He died in 1931 due to complications from diabetes.

Extracted from: [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_Edison]

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Edison%27s_Menlo_Park_Lab.jpg

Mnemonic

Thomas Edison – Top 6 Inventions Mnemonic – Thomas Alva CAMP

(Picture Thomas Alva Edison’s Menlo Park laboratory as a camp where staff worked twenty-four-seven on the next invention)

1. The Light Bulb

2. Alkaline Storage Battery

3. Carbon Telephone Transmitter

4. Automatic Telegraph

5. Movie Camera and Viewer

6. Phonograph

Five Fun Facts

1. It is believed that a childhood case of scarlet fever may have been the reason for Edison’s hearing problems. As he grew older, he became partially deaf in one ear and completely deaf in the other. However, this did not hold him back, and he used it to his advantage helping him concentrate without the audio distractions.

2. Edison’s very first patented invention was a vote recorder that was never used. The device was called the Electrographic Vote-Recorder and was patented in 1869. Politicians didn’t like it, as it left no room for filibusters or last-minute deals, so they ended up sticking with the “Yea” and “Nay.”

3. Thomas Edison was not the sole inventor of the light bulb, rather its evolution into something that was more commercially viable. He improved upon the bulb to make it longer lasting and cheaper than the previous lightbulb of British Inventor Warren De La Rue.

Now just speaking of inventions I once heard that the guy who invented the umbrella was actually just going to call it Brella, but unfortunately … … he hesitated!

As for me, well I actually invented a ballet skirt. But for the life of me I couldn’t work out what to call it. But eventually, I did and put tu and tu together!

4. As previously mentioned in the Nicola Tesla episode (No:92) Edison and Tesla were opposed in how they believed electricity should be transmitted. Edison believed direct current (DC) was better, and that alternating current (AC) was unsafe. Tesla’s AC power eventually dominated which may have caused a rift in their relationship however, this has been overrated with both holding great respect for each other and helping each other along the way.

5. In the early 1900’s Edison had a small factory for the production of electric cars. In 1901 he had developed a nickel-alkaline battery which was to be an improvement on the current battery used. Unfortunately for Edison a few years after he created the battery, the manufacture of electric vehicles ceased due to their limited speed and range of distance.

6. In Edison’s final days at his home in West Orange, New Jersey he was in and out of a coma due to diabetes complications. A few hours before his actual death he woke up, looked up, and uttered his final words which were, “It is very beautiful over there.”