The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1879-12-21
EDISON'S Light.
The Great Inventors Triumph in
Electric Illumination.
A SCRAP OF PAPER.
1t Makes Light, Without Gas or
Flame, Cheaper Than Oil.
TRANSFORMED IN THE FURNACE.
Complete Details of the Perfected
Carbon Lamp.
FIFTEEN MONTHS OF TOLL.
Story Of His Tirslsss Experiments with Lamps,
Burners and Generators.
SUCCESS In A COTTON THREAD.
The Wizards BypIay with Eodiy Pain
and Gold "TaGngs"
History OF III ErPpLC IMHTINn
SUCCESS IN A COTTON THREAD.
The Wizards BypIay. with EodIy Pain
and Gold "Tailings"
HISTORY OF ELECTRIC LIGHTING.

~
HISTORY OF ELECTRIC LIGHTING.
The approach Of the first public exhibition Of
Edsons long looked for electric light. announced to
take place on New Years Eve at Monlo Park. ON
which occasion that place will be illuminated with
the new light. has revived public interest in the
great inventors work. and throughout tie civilized
world scientists and people generally anxiously
awaiting the result. From the beginning Of his ex
perimsnts in electric lighting the present time
Mr.. Edison has kept his laboratory guardedly
closed. and no authoritative account Except that
published in the HERALD some months ago relating
to his first paten Of OF the important steps Of
his progress has been made public-a course Of pro-
cedure the inventor found absolutely necessary for
his own protection. The HERALD is now. however.
enabled to present to its readers full and accurate
account OF his work from its inception to its COM
plstion.
LIGHTED PAPER
Edisons electric Light incredible it may appear.
II produced from little piece Of papers, tiny strip
Of paper that breath would blow away Through
this little strip of paper is passed electric
rent and the result is bright. beautiful light. like
the mellow sunset Of ON Italian autumn.
'But paper instantly burns. under the trifng
heat Of tallow candlel" excsims the sceptic. "and
how. then. can it withstand tho fierce heat of an
electric current ?" Very true but Edison makes the
little piece OF paper infusible than platinum
more durable than granite. And this in
wolves 10 complicated process. The paper Is
merely baked in an oven until all its
elements have passed away except its carbon
framework. The latter is then placed in Q
electricity producing machine. and the air exhausted
from the globe. Then the apparatus ready give
out n light that produces no deeterious gases. no
smoke. offensive odors-a light without flame,
without danger. requiring matches to ignite.
giving ont but little heat. vitiating air. and free
from all pickering; light that is little globe of
sunshine. q veritable Aaddin's lamp. And this
light. Tho inventor claims, DO produced cheaper
than that from the cheapest oil. We're it not
for the photograph. tho quadruplex tele-
remarkable productions of the great inventor
the world might well hesitate to accept his assurance
that such benehcent result had been obtained but,
~ 1t Is. his past achievements in science sur
hcient guarantee that his claims are not without
foundation. though for months past the press
Of Europe and America has teemed with disserta-
tons and expositions from learned scientists rid
iculing Edison and showing that it impos-
sible for him to achieve that which he has
undertaken.
FIRST ATTENTION ELECTRIC LIouTINa
When Edison began his experiments in Septem-
Der. 1878. he had lust returned from the inspiring
scenery Of the Rocky Mountains. where ho had
been enjoying little recreation after sew
eral months of hard labor. Hc was ripe
for fields and enterprises visit to Conncc-
ticut factory whore electric light used con-
contrated his thoughts tho subject Of lighting
BY electricity. aud he determined to attack the
problem Previous to this time, although he had
roamed broadcast over the domain OF electricity.
Wrestling from It. well known many of its hid
don secrets. Edison had scarcely thought Of tho
eubuo mud In connection with practicM illumina-
ton. Now. however, he bent all his energies on
the subject. and was soon deep in the bewildoring
intricaces OF subdivision magnetic currents. resist
ancc laws and tho various other branches going to
mako up system OF lighting by electricity. Tho
task before tho young inventor was divisiblo into
two parts.
fba-Thc producing Of pure. steady and rca-
BILE light from cleo tricity: and
Second-producing It SO cheaply that It could com.
pete with gas for general illumination.
lie CHOOSES iScANpEsckxcE.
OF tho two systems before him--viz.. voitac arc
and the incandcscenco system, Edison chose the
latter his Geld OF operations. Prominent among
the difficulties incident to incandescent lighting.
Il will be remembered, tho liability Of the plat
mum when that metal uscti) to melt under the
intense heat of the electric current and the liability
tho carbon. when that was employed. to gradually
become dissipatcd under tho combined action Of
gases and the electric current.
THE PLATINUM LIGHT.
As between platinum and carpon ms the substance
t. be nado incandcscent, Edison took up platinum
and devoted first his attention to tho obtaining Of
some device to prevent the platinum from melting
the intense heat OF tho electric current. An
ingenious and simple continuance met the require.
mcnt. Ito arranged small lever. about three inches
long, that the expansion Of the platinum (caused
by tho hsat beyond certain degree would close IT,