The Incandescent Lamp
The invention of the light bulb had a major
impact on the economy and work force of the United States. The incandescent lamp was an important
invention of Edison’s time. The light bulb was efficient and inexpensive and
produced a less intense light than other light sources of that time period, such
as carbon-arc and gas systems which “produced an extremely bright light by
sending electricity across a gap between two carbon terminals” (DeWitt). Edison was the first to “make the first
successful high resistance carbon lamp” (Powell). The light bulb was also a very practical home
light source, and since it lasted longer than other light sources, it created a
wider range of work positions for factories and business, such as night
shifts. The light bulb provided an foundation on which other inventors could
build, and many improvements, such as carbonized sewing thread and bamboo
filaments were created. These
improvements helped increase the life of the bulb. The idea of commercial electric lighting was
a new idea since many businesses did not have access to electricity. In the
article “Electricity and Electronics”, DeWitt states how “Edison spent the next
several years creating the electric industry.”