In September 1878, Thomas Alva Edison brashly—and prematurely—proclaimed his breakthrough invention of a workable electric light. That announcement was foll

Vols. 1-69 include more or less complete patent reports of the U. S. Patent Office for years 1825-59. Cf. Index to v. 1-120 of the Journal, p. [415]

A sweeping history of the electric light revolution and the birth of modern America The late nineteenth century was a period of explosive technological creativi