The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-12-11
An Authoritative Explanation Of Ed
sons Great Invention.
PRODUCED BY INCANDESCENCE.
Why the Secret Has Been So
Carefully Guarded.
A NEW GEN RATOR.

Of the same thus far published. Hitherto
there have appeared at intervals in journals.
scientific and popular. both in Europe and America.
so-called descriptions OF the light, absurd i'll
their variance from the truth, others approxmating
the real facts and two accurately hitting upon
a part Of Etison's system; but before the
present have received his sanction Yet the facts
which / present do not comprise the
light in all its details, as many parts
OF the SYSTEM which is exceedingly complex are not
yet sufficiently protected by patents to the
inventor in disclosing the The great anxiety
of the thousands of other inventors all the
world who are eagerly working the subject of
electric lighting to learn his plans has made
Edison unusually secretive and. while willing to
give the public at large the benefit of whatever
he has accomplished, he feels it necessary his
protection to withhold the secrets Of his inventions
and discoveries until such time as all are properly
secured by patents Scarcely day passes without
witnessing anxious inquircrs visiting
Menlo Park in the hope of learning
Of the INVENTORIES plans, and letters and
kilograms inquiring, suggesting and proposing with
reference to the electric light arrive without numbers
but to all up to the present time that part Of the
laboratory containing the substance of the invention
has been closed Edison now. however feels safe in
acquanting the public with the contour OF his
system
AN ERRONEOUS IMPRESSION.
First it be promised that the popular idea that
Edisons invention is embraced in one or two patents
is exceedingly erroneous. Before it is absolutely
complete it will probably be covered by thirty or per-
haps forty patents Our patent laws do not permit
the embracing in one set Of specifications all the de-
tails Of complex plan.-each distinct feature
Edison stock telegraph instrument which. although
not nearly so complex as the electric light is protected
matte n.s system Of terraphy the patents Covering
which number forty-sx. His quadruplcx tce-
graph, apparatus trihe in comparison with
the electric light far ~ minute details
cerned required for all its parts eleven patents The
various parts of the system Of his electric lighting
are probably numerous and require many
patents for complete protection did the
system Of lighting by gas. with its puri-
hsrs. gasometers. resorts ana the hundred
the entire plan. Among the appliances of the electric
Light which will have to be secured before the light
dynamo machines. the regulators. condensers.
switches and coolers. besides the different
portions Of the light proper and the various
the diversity in the wants of the consumers. When
all these complctedand not day passes without
q marked advance toward their complction-the elcc
trc light OF the wizard of Menlo Park will be ready
for inspection. criticism and but not before.
THE LABORATORY.
saw the invention to-day under peculiarly favor
able circumstances. The drenching rain and fierce
tornado that beat against and almost rocked the lab
assistants afording them day Of comparative rest
from the army of visitors that almost continually
DeSct the W1ZaruS SanCttlm from MONDAY morning
to Saturday night. Only one or two had braved
the storm, and these mild in their demands. in
ssting only seeing the megaphone, tasimeter aud
songs and rectations from the phonograph and from
asking for detailed history of the progress OF the
electric light from the beginning the present mo
On this account probably all the inmates
were in good humor when l called. Mr..
Griffin. the inventors private secretary porting
over batch OF correspondence half foot high.
while he peacefully INDUCED in q meerschaum, fl
ing the Office with clouds of smoke. Mr. Bachelor
the chief assistant. was cheerily whistling
lathe on which he was engaged. Edison himself was
on the second floor of the laboratory. the picture
OF ease and content, Before him, on table. were
five six Of the lamps of his electric light which
he had been recently working. The other members
of the laboratory corps were engaged in various
occupations All seemed happy III the fact that they
could pursue their several occupations without in
corruption.
been allowed in Washington began your
respondent explanatory of his visit.
''rhat's what hear replied the inventor, clearing
away pile OF scientific books from corner OF the
table to give more room to few cells OF battery ON
the edge.
Then you will be ready to make the secret
public?'
That don't necessarily follow" said Mr.. Edison,
still arranging the battery. Two patents don't
4 am not yet advised which claims have been allowed
MY solicitor informs me that the claims allowed
numbers 1866 and l62 but what particular points they
cover can't now say.
Then you have other patents pcndingg"
''By all means / have at the present time eleven
III the lUeDt Onlcc lHc systtH yOuEnOW, IL dliJlie
complex
After some further preliminary conversation Edison
accorded me the privilege of examining in detail the
lamp and the other appliances going to make up
the light. explaining the parts with logical
conciseness that brought out all perfect clearness
l took down the points in detail and submitted the
same his inspection TO insure accuracy After
vising and correcting the same, and in some places
striking out parts as describing tho invention too
much in detail he gave his approval.
THE LIGHT IL PRODUCED.
The light is produced by ncandcscencc. The con.
current passing through 1t. is small, eurionsly
shaped apparatus. consisting of high alloy OF pat-
mum and iridium, which cannot be melted under
tity OF this metal is placed in each
burner TO give light equal to that of gas jet. DE
inents have proved, of equal reliability, con-
nected with the lamp. They surmount
the apparent impossibiiity ~ Of regulating
placed III the electric circuit in which strong
current circustes is absolutely independent of tho
Of the vital features Of the invention Thus, If the
regulator is set that the light gives only say ten
candle power. increase in the strength of the
rent will increase its brilliancy.
LIGHT INDEPENDENT.
Each light is independents Of. oil others In the
ductor and the extinguishing, Of all but one
will have on that one. Edison claims. no
perceptible effect Each lamp in the circuit.
IL allowed draw from the central station just SUN.
dcscence the light is obtained by the resistance
which the conductor in the lamp Offers
to the passage OF the electric current.
Hence any other resistance exterior to the
lamp used Herewith regulate II requires current
in proportion to IFS resistance although it gives no
light. one Of the main features OF Edisons inven-
ton consists in having all the resistance out
side of the main conductor produce light.
consequently there Is maximum economy.
The lamp devised by Edison is not merely
q coil OF incandescent metal but very peculiar
arrangement OF such metal whereby 10y means of u
discovery of his in connection with radiant energy
much weaker current liz made to generate given
light than II simple spiral were used, and the
siderable loss due to the division OF the light is
pensatcd for.
IScASDrscExcE vs. CARBON.
II has been acknowledged by nearly all electricians
that lighting by incandescence, especially in
candescence of metallic wire. offers less
obstacle 10 the division of the electric light
than by any other method and Edison be-
nevcs 1t to be the only reliable method, because
the light giving metal electrical constant
whose resistance can always be known and depended
upon-a condition which is exceedingly essential
when many hundreds of lights must be supplied
from conductor. In the Of the electric arc