Thomas Edison's invention of the light bulb was once criticized for this reason

Thomas Edison was not the first to come up with the idea of ​​​​the incandescent light bulb. He just brought it closer to human life.

Thomas Edison (February 11, 1847 - October 18, 1931) was an inventor who created many devices that influenced human life in the 20th century.

In particular, the most famous achievement is probably the creation of the first incandescent electric light bulb , which has helped Edison be hailed as the most brilliant inventor of all time.

However, he is not the only person who has contributed to the development of this revolutionary technology.

Looking back at history, it is easy to see that Edison was not the first to come up with this idea, but he only helped it get closer to human life.

Not the only one who "lights up" human civilization

The story of the electric light bulb began long before Edison patented the first successful commercial light bulb in 1879.

Back in time in 1800, Italian inventor Alessandro Volta developed the first practical method of generating electricity, the voltaic column .

Alessandro Volta is considered the inventor of the electric battery and the discoverer of methane gas (CH ₄ ). His name is given to the unit of electrical potential volt.

This method involves alternating zinc and copper plates. Inserted in between are layers of cardboard impregnated with salt water, called voltaic columns that conduct electricity when a copper wire is connected to each electrode.

While indeed the forerunner of modern batteries and accumulators, the Volta's glowing copper wire is also considered one of the earliest demonstrations of the light bulb.

In 1802, a British inventor named Humphrey Davy also built the world's first electric light bulb by connecting voltaic columns to coal electrodes. This invention is called the electric arc lamp, named for the bright arc emitted between two carbon rods.

Illustration of Humphry Davy's electric arc experiment.

However, this is not a practical light source, because it burns out very quickly and is too bright to use in home or work conditions.

In 1840, British scientist Warren de la Rue developed an efficiently designed light bulb that used a coiled platinum filament instead of copper, but the high cost of platinum prevented this type of bulb from being successful. on the commercial market.

However, the idea of ​​​​a light bulb with a filament as the main part when they glow is heated, through a transparent glass shell, was conceived as early as the 30s and 40s of the 1800s.

Who is the real father of the incandescent light bulb?

Incandescent light bulbs through the ages.

According to records, in 1835, James Bowman Lindsay was really the inventor of the world's first electric incandescent light bulb and closest to reality. Unfortunately, he didn't get a patent to protect his invention, and never perfected the original prototype.

In 1860, inventor Joseph Swan came up with the idea to create a space to prolong the burning of the filament inside the light bulb. His "filament" was then made of graphite placed in a vacuum-sealed glass vessel. However, Swan's equipment for creating vacuum is not yet superior.

It was not until 1879 that Thomas Edison and his researchers at Menlo Park pursued the idea of ​​​​improving the incandescent light bulb. He successfully created a light bulb filament made of carbonized cotton fiber, which can light up for 14 hours and apply well in practical conditions.

Evidently, Edison was clearly not the first to come up with this idea, but he just helped it get closer to human life. In addition, the American inventor also went down in history thanks to. quickly registered the copyright to own the light bulb.

This once caused him to be forced to face Joseph Swan in court to determine ownership of the light bulb invention. Because Edison's work was nothing more than an improvement on Swan's invention, he quickly lost the case.

In the end, both inventors were authorized to jointly produce the light bulb. The Edison & Swan United Electric Light Company, known as "Ediswan" was also born.

Light bulbs were once criticized badly, as "abandoned"

Edison's invention brought light and civilization to the whole human world.

It can be said that Edison's invention brought light and civilization to the whole human world, and at the same time gave birth to the world's electrical industry. However, in the early days, his topic was not interested by many people.

Americans believe that the light from the bulb is unnatural. Many people even liken filament lights to ghost lights, bringing bad luck, or can only be used in fairy tales.

A member of the US Congress once said: "Edison's lightbulb is only useful across the Atlantic, not America".

Fortunately, over time, people also gradually acknowledge the value that light bulbs bring. Since then, electric light bulbs have become indispensable in human life.