Edison Light Bulb, 1879 Thomas Edison used this carbon-filament bulb in the first public demonstration of his most famous invention—the light bulb, the first practical electric incandescent lamp. The ...

In 1883, Edison lost his light bulb patent when the U.S. Patent Office ruled his work had been based on that of another inventor, William Sawyer. After a number of court hearings, that ruling ...

The incandescent light bulb Edison’s phonograph was groundbreaking, but it was primarily seen as a novelty. He had moved on to another world-changing concept: the incandescent light bulb.

Thomas Edison's incandescent light bulb, patented in 1880, made electric lighting practical, affordable, and long-lasting. It completely transformed homes, cities, and industries worldwide, going ...

Illustration by Meilan Solly / Background via Library of Congress In the autumn of 1878, Thomas Alva Edison had a problem. He hadn’t invented the light bulb —yet.