Edison Did NOT Invent the Light Bulb
Posted: Monday, March 23, 2009
by Connor Davidson
The first ever artificial light source was created by Humphry Davy. This however, could not be classed as a conventional light bulb as it was far too bright and could only be used in light houses. It worked by shorting a battery to produce an ark of electricity. However, back to the point – Edison did not invent the light bulb he only tried but failed and then stamped his name on the product - talk about cheek. It was actually invented by a quite chemist in a small attic flat called Joseph Wilson Swan. He did not have very much money.
In 1889 Edison heard that Swan was making light bulbs and was outraged. He attempted to sue him but failed as Swan had already been making light bulbs for years. Then something remarkable happened: light bulbs suddenly lit in Edison's head. Following this sort of pattern $$$$$. He then got onto Swan and formed the Edison and Swan United Electrical Light Company or should I say the Investor and Inventor United Electrical Light Company.
As you can see Swan was the inventor of the light bulb and he was wrongly credited.
Remember Edison did NOT invent the light bulb!
Connor Davidson 3/23/09
This Article has been viewed 2,407 times. (Not updated in real-time.)
More commentsConnor, I remember reading this somewhere, but I don't know the details. Sadly, I guess money has always made a difference in research and credit for the discoveries.
That's something I didn't know. But right, give credit where credit is due!Thanks for sharing, Connor.Sandra
A fascinating revelation Connor. I had no idea of this. But are you certain of the source of this? I don't doubt it, but it just seems it would be much wider known.Hi Joel, this is true, he had his idea and model pattened in 1878.(Sorry, Connor, I hope you don't mind me answering this.)No problem. It was pattented in 1879 you are very correct.
Hi Connor, great info here. Just a little suggestion - It's helpful to site your source of info. It gives credibility to your informational piece. Blessings to you! Teresa. Keep sharing. I love your topics!I did not research this from one source. I have read hundreds of history books. I wrote this from memory. I did check the dates and some information. From just another day by Adam Hart Davis. Otherwise I can't say where the info was from exactly. But I assure you it is as accurate as possible- I am a qualified historian.
Hi Connor, I have no doubt you are an amazing and accurate historian. I did not mean to imply that you were not. I was just saying for writing purposes, I have experienced that most readers appreciated sited sources of information. Also, I read that as one of the writer's tips here on Search warp.I hope I did not offend you. Peace and blessings! TeresaNo offence taken.
This is a good article, but only part of the story. If you really do some checking you will find out that there were many people involved with this invention. Some names you could look up on the internet are:1809 - Humphry Davy, an English chemist, invented the first electric light.1820 - Warren De la Rue enclosed a platinum coil in an evacuated tube and passed an electric current through it.1835 - James Bowman Lindsay demonstrated constant electric lighting system using a prototype lightbulb.1850 - Edward Shepard invented an electrical incandescent arc lamp using a charcoal filament.1850 - Joseph Wilson Swan started working with carbonized paper filaments.1854 - Henricg Globel, a German watchmaker, invented the first true lightbulb. He used a carbonized bamboo filament placed inside a glass bulb.1875 - Herman Sprengel invented the mercury vacuum pump making it possible to develop a practicalelectric light bulb.1875 - Henry Woodward and Matthew Evans patented a lightbulb. (****These were two Canadian inventors*****)1878 - Sir Joseph Wilson Swan (1828-1914), an English physicist, was the first person to invent a practical and longer-lasting electic lightbulb.1879 - Thomas Alva Edison invented a carbon filament that burned for forty hours. Edison placed his filament in an oxygenless bulb. (Edison evolved his designs for the lightbulb based on the 1875 patent he purchased from inventors, Henry Woodward and Matthew Evans.) ***There's those Canadian inventors again.****So, as you can see, there were many people involved with the invention of the light bulb, but because Edison bought his patent off those two Canadian inventors, we Canadians love to say that it's a Canadian invention.You know, just like the telephone. (Although the first phone conversation took place in the USA, Bell said he developed the idea in 1875 in Brantford, Ontario, Canada)So there you go, who really knows who invented what? Although I do know that the paint roller and caulking gun were invented in Canada. Go Canada Go! :-)PS: and I got this information from about.comThank you for this most interesting information.I was trying to keep it short and easy to understand while still accurate. I may write another more indepth article in future. ThanksDavid,Why don't you open up America's eyes and do an article on the other things the Canadians have invented or discovered? So many of us know so little about our northern neighbors. You guys have done so much in medicine and other fields. (When I was there, I was part of a huge study on breast cancer -- extending from coast to coast and involving 1000's of women.)NancyThanks for that Nancy, I think I will. Stay tuned.Great. Tell me when you do. I would like to read it.
It is a sad but true fact of light Connor. Many times people stand on the shulders of giants and pretend to be tall. For example, I invented the internet but Al Gore took the credit!!! (just kidding...)that would be fact of LIFE, and SHOULDERS
Thanx for sharing the story with us. I was not aware about it. Thank you for sharing.regards,Swapna
Wow Boo...you have already told me this...btw don't forget E=MC2
Connor,Great job! We Americans tend to think everything was invented here although I must tell you a quickie. Back in the early 80's, I was checking out a Russian encyclopedia and it was quite eye-opening. In their books of knowledge, everything was invented in Russia...it said so!Thanks for sharing,Nancy
Brilliant article, I must say.It's annoying when people steal creit, like Edison stole Swan's credit.
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