Thomas Alva Edison

Thomas Alva Edison was born on February 11, 1847 in Ohio. He began to work when he was twelve years old. His first job was a newspaper boy on a train. He soon began to produce his own newspaper. It was about the size of a handkerchief. He gathered news, printed and sold the newspapers all by himself. He had a small laboratory in the baggage car of this train. There he carried out experiments. Edison kept records of all his experiments. Then Edison got lessons in telegraphy and the next five years he worked as a telegraphist in various cities of the US and Canada.

In 1877 Edison invented a phonograph. This talking machine both recorded and played back. It resembled the present day tape recorder more than a record player.

Then Edison became interested in the electric-light bulb for lightning streets and buildings. It had taken Edison and his assistants thirteen months to produce the incandescent lamp, but he already knew, that success awaited it.

Edison carried out experiments from morning till night. All his inventions were the results of his endless work. He sometimes made thousands of experiments. For months he slept no more than one or two hours a day. Yet he had time to read not only scientific books. He was fond of Shakespeare and Tom Pain. He had over 10000 volumes in his library.

Edison continued to work all through his long life. He attributed his success not so much to genius as to hard work. Edison's inventions include the phonograph, or gramophone, the megaphone, the cinematograph, the improved lamp of incandescent light, many greatly improved systems of telegraphic transmission and numerous other things.