The Industrial Revolutions Chapter 60: The Electric Age
May 2, 2022
They trace the rise of modern engineers and the burst of late 19th century inventions. They follow Thomas Edison from telegraphs to the phonograph and his push for electric lighting. They explore building city electrical distribution and the AC versus DC rivalry that reshaped power transmission. The story closes with consolidation of companies and the spread of electrification.
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Bell Won The Patent Amid A Contentious Race
- The telephone patent race pitted Elisha Gray and Alexander Graham Bell who both filed on the same day, with Bell awarded the patent amid controversy.
- Bell's background teaching the deaf and his team led to rapid global telephone deployment by 1890.
Phonograph Launched Edison's Fame
- At Menlo Park Edison and his team built the phonograph by pressing audio vibrations into wax, playing back 'Mary had a little lamb.'
- The phonograph made Edison a household name and earned him the nickname Wizard of Menlo Park.
Bamboo Filaments Made Practical Lightbulbs
- Edison focused Menlo Park on creating a practical, long-lasting incandescent lamp using carbonized filaments, especially bamboo, rather than precious metals.
- He paired invention with PR demos that attracted investment and public acceptance of electric lighting.
