Edison Birthplace Museum

This page lists the principal inventions and discoveries of Thomas Edison. A complete list of Edison's patents -- over 1,000 -- is provided on the Patents page.

For more information on Edison's inventions, see Related Resources.

1868

Invented the electrical vote recorder.

1869

Invented the universal stock ticker and the unison stop.

1872

Invented the motograph.
Invented the automatic telegraph system.
Invented duplex, quadruplex, sextuplex, and multiplex telegraph systems.
Invented paraffin paper.
Invented the carbon rheostat.

1875

Discovered "Etheric Force," an electric phenomenon that is the foundation of wireless telegraphy.

1876

Invented the electric pen used for the first mimeographs.

1877

Invented the carbon telephone transmitter, making telephony commercially practical. This included the microphone used in radio.

1877

Invented the phonograph. This was Edison's favorite invention. He sponsored the Edison Phonograph Polka to help popularize the new device.

1879

Discovered incandescent light.
Radically improved dynamos and generators.
Discovered a system of distribution, regulation, and measurement of electric current-switches, fuses, sockets, and meters.

1880

Invented the magnetic ore separator.

1880

Discovered the "Edison Effect," the fundamental principle of electronics.

1885

Discovered a system of wireless induction telegraph between moving trains and stations. He also patented similar systems for ship-to-shore use.

1891

Invented the motion picture camera.

1896

Invented the fluoroscope.
Invented the fluorescent electric lamp.

1900

Invented the nickel-iron-alkaline storage battery.

1914

Invented the electric safety miner's lamp.
Discovered the process for manufacturing synthetic carbolic acid.

1915

Conducted special experiments on more than 40 major war problems for the Navy Department. Edison served as Chairman of the Naval Consulting Board and did much other work on National Defense.

1927-1931

Tested 17,000 plants for rubber content as a source of rubber in war emergencies. A piece of vulcanized rubber was made from a Goldenrod strain he developed.

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