If people are asked about the first lightbulb, the credit for those who can remember their education, is usually given to Thomas Edison. The thing is, Edison invented the first commercially successful lightbulb in 1879 because the bulb itself was inexpensive enough for some people to purchase and he had a way of providing relatively affordable electricity. He created a power plant and then wired from the plant several hundred homes to begin his business journey.
But before Edison came along, an Italian inventor in 1800, came up with an energy source that was the precursor to how batteries were designed and he created a bulb/lamp that provided light. It wasn't efficient for commercial use as it required copper and zinc as part of its energy source. Other inventors tried to harness energy that would direct itself into something comparable to Edison's lightbulb but the lights were typically way too bright for business or home use and the power source quickly diminished to where more copper, platinum, and zinc would be necessary to get the power going again.
So the concept for lighting was there a long time before Edison, but he made it work. As with many inventors who fail their primary objectives, the ideas of these early inventors of light sources led to a very successful battery concept which is still being used to this day.
But before Edison came along, an Italian inventor in 1800, came up with an energy source that was the precursor to how batteries were designed and he created a bulb/lamp that provided light. It wasn't efficient for commercial use as it required copper and zinc as part of its energy source. Other inventors tried to harness energy that would direct itself into something comparable to Edison's lightbulb but the lights were typically way too bright for business or home use and the power source quickly diminished to where more copper, platinum, and zinc would be necessary to get the power going again.
So the concept for lighting was there a long time before Edison, but he made it work. As with many inventors who fail their primary objectives, the ideas of these early inventors of light sources led to a very successful battery concept which is still being used to this day.
RSS Feed