Edison, Thomas Alva

—Born 1847. An American inventor, famous for his experiments in applied electricity. He began life with newspaper work which he soon abandoned for telegraphy, making many original inventions in duplex systems of operation. After a varied experience in that line he came to New York in 1871 where his talents were recognized and he had opportunity to profitably develop his ideas. The duplex telegraph. was made a succe the following year, and two years later the quadruplex; and thereupon he began manufacturing on a large scale for the Western Union Telegraph Co. In 1876 he gave up his factory, and established his experiment station at Menlo Park, N. J., where for several years he worked upon the problem of the in ean descent electric light, exhibiting a succe ful bamboo filament lamp in Paris in 1881. He invented the phonograph in 1878. He superintended the construction of the first incandescent lighting station in New York in 1882. Moving his laboratory to Orange, N. J., he established there a large plant for electrical experiment and invention, and as a result of his labors there he ‘has taken out 400 patents. Among his inventions may be further named: a type of dynamo, a microphone, the chemical electric meter, an electric pen, the mimeograph, the magnetic ore separator, dead beat galvanometer, the electric torpedo, a telephone transmitter, and a storage battery. His chief fame rests with his development of the telegraph, his invention of the incandescent lamp and the phonograph.