Timeline of Thomas Edison Inventions
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Timeline of Edison's Inventions

  1. Electric Pen

    First electric motor driven appliance sold in the U.S. It was the predecessor to the modern copy machine.

  2. Carbon Button Transmitter

    In 1876 Alexander Graham Bell invented the telephone. It was a great invention, but the first telephone had very poor sound. In 1877 Edison invented the carbon button transmitter which improved the sound quality and range of Bell's telephone.

  3. Phonograph - Recording Sound

    Edison now knew it was possible to transmit sound electronically, so it is also possible to record sound. In 1877 Edison invented the phonograph and was the first to record and play back sound.

  4. First Practical Light Bulb

    Edison is most famous for inventing the first practical light bulb. Edison tested over 1600 different materials until he found the right filament to make a light bulb that was safe inside a house and which lasted for a while. His original design concepts are still used today.

  5. First Commercial Power Station

    Edison knew he needed power to supply electricity for his light bulbs. The first commercial power station was the Pearl Street Power Station in New York, NY. It was a direct current (DC) power station because Edison believed that AC power was too dangerous. Many power companies use Edison in their name today.

  6. Improved Phonograph

    Edison's improved phonograph used wax cylinders instead of tin. Audio recordings on the wax cylinders were sold to people who wanted to hear music and other sound recordings.

  7. Kinetogragh & Kinetoscope

    Edison and his team of scientists invented and received a patent for the kinetograph, which was the first motion picture camera and the kinetoscope, which was the viewer that allowed the motion picture to be watched.

  8. First Motion Picture Studio

    Edison knew that in order for his kinetogragh and kinetoscope to sell, there needed to be motion pictures available to view. In 1893 Edison set up the first motion picture studio. The studio was a moveable stucture that sat on rails so it was possible to turn. The roof also opened up on the building. These features allowed the studio to get the natural light they needed for filming.

  9. First Talking Motion Picture

    Edison invented the equipment and procedure needed to produce the first talking motion picture.