The New York herald., 1878-11-22
THE ELECTRIC LIGHT.
Edison Denies that His Invention
Resembles Any Other.
ALL OBSTACLES OVERCOME.
Only Waiting for Powerful Engine
to Complete the Work.

'sYou are the eleventh reporter to-day that has
made that observation" were the words, laughingly
spoken by Professor Edison, in his laboratory at
Menlo Park, to q HERALD reporter last evening.
They were called forth by the reporter saying he
seated himself in the chair profered by the inventor.
sI hear that the Patent Examiner in Washington has
rejected your application for patent for the electric
light. How is it?
Il don't believe it," said the inventor. ut can't
be true, else / would have been notified by my
Washington solicitor long before this. and haven't
heard from him to that effect. Besides" said the
Professor, after moments pause. my claim
is so distinct from any other made in
electric lights that the application could not on any
pretext be rejected; and. again, have applied fol
eight different patents to cover the invention Thl
rejection Of one leaves seven others
But it is said that in 1s45 Cincinnati inventor, J.
W. Starr, applied for patent for exactly the
principle yours"
II am familiar with the facts of that matter"
replied Mr.. Edison, throwing his hat his desk and
seating himself back in his chair with air of sub
mission to the interview. 'In 1s45 Mr.. Starr did
make application for patent for an electric
light but it rejected the ground that the prn
ciple sought to be patented was not Neither
was it, but my invention hasn't the faintest resem.
blance to it, Well, Mr.. Starr about the time ap-
piled through Edward A. King for English patent
and obtained one, but nothing.ever came OF it,"
Then you are not alarmed about receiving your
Alarmed" repeated the Professor smiling, ''why
should I bc? I know absolutely that my IN
weeks have had an expert searching the books
of the Astor Library and making digest of all pat
ens and caims on the subject Of electric lights and
he has found nothing bearing the slightest rescm-
examination in the Patent Once; If my
pstent for it, is new and Know that
the patent must be issued On that point the law is
imperative; t can't be got around No. have no
"But is there not just enough similarity between
your invention and some Of the other electric lights
to involve dispute and litigation p s-s8
''No, sir. There is not the first trace Of connec-
ton. The patent will be granted. There is no
.'How about the English patents? Have you heard
from them r
Eyes. I have heard from England. and the patents
there all right; but come" said the Professor rs
ing, 'lets 20 up stairs was just showing the light
to ex-Judge Curtis He is looking at it now; and in
an instant the Professor bounding up the stairs.
two steps at time like schoolboy on his hrst dAv
OF vacation.
VIEWING THE LIGHT
dozen gas jets lighted up the sanctum Of the great
inventor revealing telephones, megaphones, phono-
graphs. battercs chemicals and the Of other
scientific appliances which strewed the walls. table
and floor.
Here's the light at one candle power" said Pro-
fessor Edison seating himself by the side of Judge
laboratory, and pointing to diminutive instru-
ment which was emitting q pure white light.
70 wt the gas n nssI oy
the judge" continued Mr. Edison. Here you can
the difference between the old and the new.
Now will send the current through this strip
and in o few moments the heat will break it,.
The experiment proved the accuracy Of the statement
in
invention Note the difference" continued the in
ventor In q moment the light again appeared.
steady, white, uniform, and continued without fuc-
tuation until at the expiration Of about half an hour
the Professor turned of the electricity in order to
plain to his friend the particular OF the
light
A SCIENTISTS VIEWS.
d;scnss.d nnnhar os the objections made bv
scientific men with regard to light. In handling
them Mr.. Edison displayed . wonderfully re-
seriatim nearly all the objections referred to and
showed their insccurcy far AZ they bore upon the
some scientsts that the electric Hight as substitute
for gas out Of the question the inventor pointed
to copy Of q recent lecture delivered by
Professor Barker OF the University of Pennsylvania
In the the following passage - hoped
to be able to exhibit the famous light, but am in
formed by Professor Edison that sdvices fram his
London solicitors prevent him making his invention
public for twenty days yet, and therefore have to
wait but within week have visited Menlo Park.
and after q thorough examination of Mr.. Edsons
saa'se been solved and that Mr. Edison can place
which will give brilliant white light safe. pleasant.
beautiful and at about third the cost charged
for gas The practicabilty OF the scheme IS beyond
question"
GETTING READY.
The large eighty horse power engine, now in pro-
of erection in the new machine shop being
built in the Of the laboratory seems
TO be the msin thing needed by the Professor
preparatory to making his invention public.
With HIS present engine lie can supply only limited
quantity of electricity. On the completion of the
new building ut which score OF men are daily
working, he intends to begin the work of
lighting up the houses OF Menlo Park.
All connected with the laboratory share with Mr..
Edison confidence that all obstacles have been re-
moved The minor details which until recently have
made the discovery incomplete have been arranged,
and Mr.. Edison that he will very soon be able to
exhibit the light to the public ut large.
Before taking his departure the reporter witnessed
q number OF curious experiments made by Professor
Edison the electric light. BY lengthening the
strip through which the electricity passed,
and by forming it into different shapes.
he produced numerous degrees Of light.
When much surface exposed to the air the light
decreased until II scarcely more than visible.
The original intensity produced by q number OF
simple corftrivances.
In bidding the reporter good night Professor Edison
again expressed himself confident that he would
have no difficulty about his United States patents.