Thomas Edison

Edison responded to unionization efforts at his New Jersey lamp factory by automating work and firing his employees.

“than fifteen thousand striking streetcar drivers clashed with police as they fought for a shorter workday and a minimum wage. Then, on May fourth, 1886, a deadly bombing and police shooting at a labor protest at Chicago's Haymarket Square killed more than ten …”

The veteran inventor who employed Tesla, dismissed his ideas on alternating current, and ultimately soured their professional relationship.

“dabbled in that field was wasting his time, and besides, it was a deadly current, whereas direct current was safe. Tesla was stung by the rejection and felt that he was being misunderstood. Edison justified his commitment to his direct current system by pointi…”

His enterprise was the leading commercial force in electrical power in Europe and employed Tesla.

“leading commercial force in electrical power in Europe. Tesla was soon recruited to work at Edison's headquarters in Paris, and there he impressed his bosses with his understanding of electrical engineering and ability to troubleshoot complex problems. Among t…”

His electrical empire was the target of competition from the Tesla and Westinghouse partnership.

“Thomas Edison's electrical empire.”

Recognized as a genius and wizard of electric lighting, though his system is challenged by Westinghouse.

“Imagine it's late November, 1886 in Buffalo, New York. You're a local grain trader and you usually work long hours managing your business. It's early evening now, and you should be still in your office reviewing the details of your latest shipments. But as dar…”

A famous inventor who dominated the electric market until challenged by Westinghouse and Tesla.

“Shortly after Thanksgiving, eighteen eighty-six, residents of Buffalo, New York were amazed to see a new and glorious sight downtown, their business district lit up with electric light. Many assumed it was the work of Thomas Edison, the famous inventor who had…”

The famous inventor and boss of the Edison Electric Light Company who meets Tesla and hires him.

“was housing on the top floor for electricians in training, a workshop for new employees, and a laboratory where seasoned staff worked on refining Edison's latest inventions. And thanks to his exemplary work at the Edison Company in Paris, Tesla arrived with a …”

His direct current system is compared unfavorably to Tesla's new AC system.

“lower voltage to be used safely inside private homes or businesses, a distinct advantage over Edison's direct current system. Recognizing the innovation at once, Martin then called in a well-respected electrical expert from Cornell University to review Tesla's…”

A famous inventor who visits a foundry to inspect a new electric lighting system and challenges the owner to a race to perfect electric illumination.

“[drum roll] From Audible Originals, I'm Lindsey Graham, and this is American History Tellers: Our History, Your Story. [instrumental music] On our show, we'll take you to the events, the times, and people that shaped America and Americans, our values, our stru…”

Inventor who hosted a demonstration of his incandescent light bulbs to persuade city officials.

“[drum roll] On December 20th, 1880, less than a year after Thomas Edison dazzled the public with a display of his new incandescent light bulbs, he hosted another lavish event in Menlo Park, New Jersey. But on this evening, it wasn't the public that was invited…”

The primary inventor facing criticism for his lighting system and seeking to prove its superiority at the Paris Electrical Exposition.

“Edison's backers, who had seen his lighting system up close, remained impressed with the scale of his vision, so they and Edison decided to quiet the critics once and for all by establishing the superiority of Edison's design in a very public venue, the first …”

The inventor who perfected the incandescent bulb and faced significant challenges while building his lighting system in New York.

“In the fall of 1881 at the Paris Electrical Exposition, Thomas Edison proved to the world that he had not only perfected the incandescent bulb, but successfully built an entirely new lighting system, one that was more powerful and reliable than any other. And …”

A prolific inventor whose early life and career in telegraphy and electrical systems are the focus of the series.

“Thomas Alva Edison was born on February eleventh, eighteen forty-seven in Milan, Ohio, a bustling port town near the banks of Lake Erie. His father, Samuel, had moved his family down from Canada to make his living as a carpenter and merchant in the area's grow…”

The inventor who successfully developed and demonstrated the first commercial indoor electric lighting system.

“Imagine it's September fourth, eighteen eighty-two in Manhattan's Financial District. You're a successful and wealthy financier, but recently one of your biggest investments, a plan to bring electric light to the city, has faced scrutiny for numerous delays an…”

The primary inventor who developed the telegraph system, the phonograph, and sought to create a new electrical lighting system.

“sent Edison's dinners to the workshop, where he frequently stayed late into the night. And in the morning, it was common for his assistants to find him napping on a bench or a stack of newspapers in the corner. But the unrelenting pace of work paid off when in…”

The primary inventor leading the team at Menlo Park during the development of the incandescent light bulb.

“Imagine it's a chilly morning in October eighteen seventy-nine. You're one of Thomas Edison's top assistants, and as you trudge up the hill to the Menlo Park workshop, you feel your shoulders grow tense. The strain of the past few weeks is wearing you down, an…”