It Starts with an Idea

Edison understood the problems of early electrical lighting - the series current, the lack of power plants and the popularity of gas lighting as well as the dangers.  He also thought there was a better way.  In 1878 he revealed to a New York Sun reporter his idea of a total system.

His system would send out electric power through a wire network to every household where the current would illuminate thousands of small household lights instead of few large ones.  He predicted New York City would have half a million alone.  His predictions enlisted financial aid from Vanderbilt and Drexel, Morgan and Company.

Edison had no idea how to accomplish his idea at this point, but he had the confidence that his Menlo Park invention factory would get it done.  He knew that 90% of the gas lighting business was open to something new (10% was in street-lighting which he didn't see electric lighting as an outdoor competitor).  Household lighting, on the other hand, making a small light for use in residential homes, was indeed possible.

Edison envisioned a universal network of electric power lines, thus the danger of gas lighting in public places like theaters could be eliminated.  He showed how the cost of converting coal and steam power into electric power compared to that of gas.  Urban areas could be subdivided into areas that needed more power, like industry with those that needed less, like residential.  The new electric current would allow lights to turn off and on separately instead of all on a series current.

All this from a central power station wired with thousands of outlets.  Edison's mind began to make it a reality...

Next time - The vision comes real
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Today in Pioneer History: "On April 13, 1870,  the Metropolitan  Museum of Art opens in New York City.  It was the brainchild of Americans in Paris and a number of wealthy New Yorkers, the MET would become one of the world's premier centers of art.