There are many theories about who invented the lightbulb, but there is a clear leader. Edison is often remembered as the father of the light bulb, but did Nikola Tesla invent the lightbulb? The answer to that question isn’t so simple. There are many reasons why Edison invented the lightbulb, but none are as compelling as Tesla’s story. This article explores the differences between Edison and Tesla.
Nikola Tesla spent his early years traveling Eastern Europe. At age 25, he worked as an electrical engineer at the Budapest Telephone Exchange. He grew more eccentric, spending much of his time tending to pigeons in the city parks. His illogical ideas and talk of a powerful “death beam” attracted the attention of the FBI and the Soviet Union during World War II. Eventually, Tesla would be awarded the Nobel Prize for his invention.
Though he is widely considered to be the first person to use a lightbulb, it was actually the British chemist Joseph Swan who made the first commercially viable carbon light in 1878. Swan’s design tended to burn out quickly, but Thomas Edison eventually used thin carbon filaments and improved vacuums to solve the commercial and scientific challenges of making light bulbs. Edison is often credited with the invention of the lightbulb, but it is difficult to determine who actually invented the first one.
While Thomas Edison and Nikola Tesla share credit for the invention of AC technology, they are widely considered rivals. While Edison helped Edison’s inventions, Tesla’s AC was seen as superior. In the same way, Tesla pursued a complex form of electrical conduction that Edison had dismissed. The result? Tesla’s AC is the source of most AC machines today. And that’s the main difference between them.
Nikola Tesla immigrated from the Austro-Hungarian Empire to the United States. He worked with Thomas Edison for a few years, but then split up with him after a falling out. The rivalry over electricity is legendary. Edison had a direct current patent, which he favored, while Tesla invented alternating current. As a result, alternating current proved to be a far better electrical transmission method.
Edison was not the only one who invented the light bulb. He also invented the motion picture camera and a phonograph, among other devices. Tesla is credited with helping to bring electricity to the home. Several years later, he was involved in a cartel that included the General Electric Company and Osram. This cartel ultimately ruined his career. Despite all this, Edison remains the father of the light bulb and the most important invention of modern times.
The Edison-Tesla feud was very bitter, and was the primary cause of a rift between the two inventors. Neither man wished to offend the other, so they went out and bought the patents from each other. Tesla’s AC patents were then sold to Westinghouse. This feud continued until Edison’s death. The alternating current system has remained the standard worldwide.
Nikola Tesla was born in Smiljan, Serbia, where his father was a priest in the Orthodox Church. Nikola’s interest in electricity probably began with his mother. He attended several colleges and even worked for a telephone company in Budapest. While there, Tesla worked on the induction motor concept, but it wasn’t successful in gaining support. In 1884, Tesla moved to the United States, where he met Thomas Edison. Unfortunately, the two men didn’t get along and could not work together.
Edison and Tesla’s approach to invention differed fundamentally. While both men were trained and educated in a similar field, they had very different approaches to completing their projects. The Edison method relied on experimentation and trial-and-error, while Tesla’s was conceptualized first. The two used different systems of electricity: direct current and alternating current. Ultimately, both were credited with creating the lightbulb and electrifying America.