For the Love of Invention

In the United States post-Civil War years, it was reported that successful invention was seldom the work of a solitary inventor.  However, a study of 70 cases of inventions in Europe and America during this period would show these came from the inventor with meager resources, struggling to invent.  These inventions included the jet engine, the process of making soap and margarine, power steering, magnetic tape recording, Bakelite, the helicopter, Kodachrome, the zipper and the self-winding wristwatch - all inventions made by solo inventors.

The organizational quest for the invention, however was new.  In modern America, the most substantial, most calculating, and the largest, most respectable enterprise would produce the most respectable inventor who would make it his profession.  No longer the profession of the eccentric madman - the inventor became the geniuses of the scientific world.

Thomas Alva Edison saw inventing as a passion.  He sometimes complained that every young applicant for a job at Menlo Park wanted to know how much the pay was or how long the hours were.  "Well we don't pay anything, and we work all the time!" - Edison would tell them.  Many young men shared his passion and joined him in his work at Menlo Park, pay or no pay.  Simply for the love of invention.

Next time...The Edison Electric Light Company
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Today in Pioneer History: "On March 8, 1896, the first modern Olympic Games is held in Athens, Greece.  It was the first time in 1,500 years that athletes competed from 13 nations in the games.  The events included track and field, gymnastics, wrestling and the first ever marathon to an audience of 60,000 people.