Thomas Edison

[DRB]

Thomas Edison and his electric car

Thomas Edison in a Bowler

Thomas Edison and his wife

Thomas Edison and his son

Thomas Edison and his team

George Eastman (of Kodak) and Thomas Edison discuss the new color camera.

Henry Ford and Thomas Edison

Thomas Edison and his son in his electric car

Thomas Edison holding a light bulb

 

[eto]

Wow these are fine pictures. I really enjoy this type of history, thanks for posting.

 

[alanfgag]

Wonderful archive, Dennis - thanks for sharing these!

 

[martinsantos]

Interesting as Edison was a kind of hero those days. Ever here, so distant from NY, there were streets, buildings, shops called "Thomas Edison". And greatest recording company here in 10s was "Casa Edison".

But the meomry about him looks pale after the 50s... Nowadays I only read about him in texts about Tesla (a true genius too, and a very bad moment in the life of Edison).

 

[bolthead]

Great stuff, thanks for posting.

 

[mayserwegener]

Dennis, Great photos!

But the meomry about him looks pale after the 50s... Nowadays I only read about him in texts about Tesla (a true genius too, and a very bad moment in the life of Edison).

Tesla could never get out of Edison's shadow while he was alive so I think payback is due. Tesla was a poor businessman but the impact of his vast accomplishments are unrivaled.

 

[DRB]

Thanks guys, I also found it interesting. It appears that Mr. Edison did not favor any type of particular hat as I see him in a variety of styles.

 

[David Conwill]

Thomas Edison remains one of my heroes, along with Henry Ford. Neither man was perfect, but neither deserved the demonizing that modern historians have given them. Edison, in particular, deserves more credit for his methods than he is typically given today. He didn't just randomly stumble upon his discoveries as many would have you believe.

-Dave

 

[dhermann1]

Thomas Edison and his wife

I think that's also Henry Ford in this shot as well. It may have been taken at Chautauqua. Edison's second wife, Mina Miller Edison, was the daughter of Chautauqua Institution founder, Lewis Miller.
I spent lot of time in the Miller Cottage as a kid, and there is a lot of Edison memorabilia there, including a really cool painting.
My mom said she often saw him toddling around the neighborhood when she was a child in the 1920's.
I've always been an Edison fan, too.

 

[martinsantos]

I suppose is USA happened the same here in late 60s and 70s. There was a movement about desconstructing and reviewing the "heroes" of other times. Looks to me Edison memoir suffered from this. (here the most attacked were military from the Paraguay War in 1860s, composer Carlos Gomes, and so on. Names that were highly respected until 1970) Sad, because Edison is one of the few men who really changed the world. And changed it to better, in my opinion.
,

Neither man was perfect, but neither deserved the demonizing that modern historians have given them.
-Dave

 

[mayserwegener]

Thomas Edison remains one of my heroes, along with Henry Ford. Neither man was perfect, but neither deserved the demonizing that modern historians have given them. Edison, in particular, deserves more credit for his methods than he is typically given today. He didn't just randomly stumble upon his discoveries as many would have you believe.

-Dave

Tesla described Edison's methods as "trying to find a needle in a hay stack". Tesla was very critical of Edison's methods but I think he still had a grudging respect. Tesla came from an academic background and just didn't see himself in the same light as Edison.

 

[Lefty]

Tesla came from an academic background and just didn't see himself in the same light as Edison.

I don't know if that was intentional or not, but I like it.

 

[mayserwegener]

Not intentional but I like it too!

 

[Mobile Vulgus]

I suppose is USA happened the same here in late 60s and 70s. There was a movement about desconstructing and reviewing the "heroes" of other times. Looks to me Edison memoir suffered from this.

It isn't just Edison. In the 1960s very historical figure in America that was once revered was fatally "deconstructed" to evil status if they were white and male. But this didn't just start in the 1960s. It started at the turn of the 1900s with the efforts of such luminaries in the field of education and history as Charles Beard and John Dewey. It is they you can thank for the utter destruction of America's educational system. That is is the joke it is today we can lay at the feet of these "progressive" educators.

And now, few Americans know the slightest thing about our history or any other country's for that matter (present company here at the Lounge excepted).

 

[DRB]

 

[Yeps]

“If Edison had a needle to find in a haystack, he would proceed at once with the diligence of the bee to examine straw after straw until he found the object of his search.
I was a sorry witness of such doings, knowing that a little theory and calculation would have saved him ninety per cent of his labor.”

I believe this was the quote referenced earlier.

 

[Yeps]

Edison, in particular, deserves more credit for his methods than he is typically given today. He didn't just randomly stumble upon his discoveries as many would have you believe.

From what I understand, Edison was a very hard worker, and very good at directing and organizing, as well as seeing the practical and monetary applications of things.

 

[mayserwegener]

I believe this was the quote referenced earlier.

Thanks! I should have looked for the exact quote.

 

[59Lark]

If you go to henry ford museum in Dearborn mich, and the village so many of the edison building and workshops have been recreated or moved there that you feel like Thomas will walk around the corner and bump into you. The one lab from Menlo park, my memory isnt what is was, and the florida buildings and the boarding house where his workers lived. My memories are perfect,, but henry sure put a lot of money and effort to rememember his friend in his village. 59Lark

 

[hatophile]

If you go to henry ford museum in Dearborn mich, and the village so many of the edison building and workshops have been recreated or moved there that you feel like Thomas will walk around the corner and bump into you. The one lab from Menlo park, my memory isnt what is was, and the florida buildings and the boarding house where his workers lived. My memories are perfect,, but henry sure put a lot of money and effort to rememember his friend in his village. 59Lark

I agree, Lark, the Ford museum is a great place to spend some time, not only to remember Edison, but many other historical characters and mementos.