Talk:Thomas Edison/Archive 12

In popular culture
Adding citation to line in this section:

"Camping with Henry and Tom", a fictional play based on Edison's camping trips with Henry Ford, written by Mark St.Gemain. First presented at Lucille Lortel Theatre, New York, February 20, 1995.[citation needed]

The citation is confirmed in a NY times review of the performance the following day: http://www.nytimes.com/1995/02/21/theater/theater-review-american-luminaries-venture-into-the-wild-with-agendas-in-tow.html — Preceding unsigned comment added by Mhbrannen (talk • contribs) 20:38, 31 January 2018 (UTC)

Semi-protected edit request on 7 February 2018
Thomas Edison did not create the light bulb it was Nickola Tesla i want you to remove that from this padge BlackZer0Hacking (talk) 20:25, 7 February 2018 (UTC)
 * Red question icon with gradient background.svg Not done: please provide reliable sources for any proposed changes. Fountains of Bryn Mawr (talk) 20:34, 7 February 2018 (UTC)

Tell the truth
Why have i been the only one to shed light on this thief of ideas? Someone needs to put an external link on this guy n bring the truth. We could havd had free energy slready n been advanced 100s of years from TESLAS idea. Truth.is.power (talk) 15:56, 26 February 2018 (UTC)
 * Red question icon with gradient background.svg Not done: please provide reliable sources for any proposed changes. Fountains of Bryn Mawr (talk) 21:43, 26 February 2018 (UTC)

Semi-protected edit request on 20 April 2018
Thoams Edison was an inventor who faced competition with Nikola Tesla. Nathan16Wiki (talk) 16:58, 20 April 2018 (UTC)
 * Red question icon with gradient background.svg Not done: it's not clear what changes you want to be made. Please mention the specific changes in a "change X to Y" format and provide a reliable source if appropriate. L293D (☎ • ✎) 16:59, 20 April 2018 (UTC)

He did not invent the motion picture camera
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ill2cgCyTUc — Preceding unsigned comment added by Vsusarla55555 (talk • contribs) 00:12, 10 March 2018 (UTC)

He also did not invent a large number of things he held patents for. He simply patented other people's ideas and stole the credit. This article is severely misleading and in need of drastic reform. Crazfulla (talk) 07:07, 20 June 2018 (UTC)

Edison is not the man history tells you.
I am surprised this talk page is not engaging in open discussion regarding Edison's apparent plagiarism of other people's ideas, and that there is no obvious mention of it on the main Wikipedia article.

Here are some links I was looking at moments ago, however there is a wealth of other information available via a simple web search.


 * https://www.quora.com/Is-it-true-that-Thomas-Edison-stole-ideas-from-others-especially-Nikola-Tesla-If-yes-is-there-any-proof-of-that
 * https://www.historicmysteries.com/did-thomas-edison-steal-inventions/

Edison was an astute businessman, no doubt. Credit where it is due. He probably helped pioneer the concept of Intellectual Property (IP) rights. But he really didn't invent as many amazing things as he claims. Such important facts must not be omitted or obscured. Crazfulla (talk) 06:58, 20 June 2018 (UTC)


 * Edison bashing is a popular past time on the web and the sources you are citing are not very reliable (crowd sourced Quora, articles that cite Wikipedia). Need to come up with the "important facts" first. Fountains of Bryn Mawr (talk) 17:35, 20 June 2018 (UTC)

Semi-protected edit request on 30 August 2018
Britain Paul44 01:29, 30 August 2018 (UTC)
 * Red question icon with gradient background.svg Not done: it's not clear what changes you want to be made. Please mention the specific changes in a "change X to Y" format and provide a reliable source if appropriate. L293D (☎ • ✎) 02:32, 30 August 2018 (UTC)

electronic inventions?
Apparently Edison died long before the discovery of electronics. Didn't he invent any electronic device? --Espoo (talk) 10:54, 20 December 2018 (UTC)
 * He may not have discovered fire, but he made some smoke. The "Edison Effect" was the observation that current would flow one way through an evacuated bulb with a hot filament, but not the other. Edison patented a voltage regulator application for this but wasn't able to see that this was the mechanism for vacuum tube electronics. And he patented a kind of fluorescent lamp powered by electrons flowing through a vacuum.  --Wtshymanski (talk) 20:15, 20 December 2018 (UTC)

The hyperlink to his son Thomas Jr redirects back to this, his father's page. Can someone fix that?
I've removed the link. James Booker fan (talk) 11:38, 14 January 2019 (UTC)

This is an old article
Was digging into some old old Wikipedia history today and wanted to mention for anyone who may care that this article (under the incarnation "ThomasEdison") is currently listed as the oldest contribution on the project under Jimbo Wales's early CamelCase username JimboWales. See. That edit is from January 23, 2001, the ninth day of Wikipedia's existence. The article was actually created about an hour before that by "PPPa83-ResaleSaltLakeCity2-2R7218.dialinx.net." (Many of Wikipedia's earliest edits are not preserved in current histories.) The first paragraph you see at  is what they created, and Jimbo added the comment "I have read that, similarly, the credit traditionally given to ThomasEdison for the invention of the LightBulb is misplaced.  I am not competent to assess this claim." Amusingly, that edit is still preserved today without attribution as the first talk page entry at Talk:Thomas Edison/Archive 1. Thomas Edison ranks among the very oldest articles on Wikipedia. Probably one of the first 250 pages. Edison was barely beat by William Kennedy Dickson, which was created by the same IP just before tackling Edison. Cheers.--Milowent • hasspoken 18:47, 6 March 2019 (UTC)
 * Just to add to my prior comment, ThomasEdison was the 177th page created (not the 177th article, since non-article pages cohabitated with everything else in Wikipedia's very early days). It was the fourth biographical article, just after the Dickson I mentioned above.  Thomas Reid and William Alston were the first two biographical articles.  The next biographical article created after Edison was also the first BLP, of then-President George W. Bush.--Milowent • hasspoken  19:41, 7 March 2019 (UTC)

Semi-protected edit request on 9 April 2019
change its to it's Onion the youtuber (talk) 13:22, 9 April 2019 (UTC)
 * Red information icon with gradient background.svg Not done: I don't see anywhere in the article this is needed. Remember, "its" is possessive (the thing belonging to 'it') while "it's" is a contraction ("it is" or "it has"). If I've missed something, please reopen the request and point out the specific instance you're referring to. &#8209;&#8209; El Hef  ( Meep? ) 13:38, 9 April 2019 (UTC)

2 people to add to the "List of people who worked for Edison"
Claude Azell Prince Sr. was a chemist for Edison for several years; Claude Azell Prince Jr. was Edison's personal assistant from 1930 until Edison's death and then continued his work for The Edison Foundation in the recording and preservation of rubber experimentation data. These two men were my great-grandfather and grandfather. C.A. Prince Jr. was interviewed many times over the years and worked closely with the Edison Museum, as he was the last living person to have worked with Edison. Thank you. Katyp921 (talk) 14:27, 7 July 2019 (UTC)Katyp921 7/7/19

Semi-protected edit request on 15 August 2019
The accumulator had been in use long before Edison "invented" it. He invented a specific type of accumulator, the Akaline Accumulator. 92.25.52.50 (talk) 08:27, 15 August 2019 (UTC)
 * You are right that our current statement is misleading. Could you provide a more specific sentence and maybe some references? It seems to me that the section is talking about the Edison–Lalande cell, which is not rechargeable (so we certainly should not link to rechargeable battery). —Kusma (t·c) 08:57, 15 August 2019 (UTC)
 * Red information icon with gradient background.svg Not done: please provide reliable sources that support the change you want to be made. Melmann 21:44, 16 August 2019 (UTC)

With spouse(s) in infobox, "d." is confusing
For spouses of Edison, infobox currently reads on the first line: Mary Stilwell (m. 1871; d. 1884) The second line says: Mina Miller (m. 1886)

I think the "d." may confuse some readers, as they may think it means the couple divorced in 1884. But in fact Mary died in 1884.

I think in this case abbreviations should be dispensed with. The section should read, first line: Mary Stillwell--married in 1871; she died in 1884 Second line: Mina Miller--married in 1886

However, I'm having trouble formatting so that the section appears this way.

Do people agree that it should be clarified the way I'm suggesting? If so, can someone edit it so that it appears that way in the finished article? Greg Dahlen (talk) 00:52, 1 September 2019 (UTC)

Semi-protected edit request on 16 October 2019
In the second paragraph of section 5.7 (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_Edison#Chemicals) Change the link in the first sentence from gaslighting to gas lighting. Presently it links to a page on the psychological manipulation technique, rather than the antiquated light source. Though amusing, it's also slightly misleading. Dr Zono (talk) 23:45, 16 October 2019 (UTC)
 * Yes check.svg Done Egsan Bacon (talk) 00:19, 17 October 2019 (UTC)

"Thora Balf" listed at Redirects for discussion
An editor has asked for a discussion to address the redirect Thora Balf. Please participate in the redirect discussion if you wish to do so. signed,Rosguill talk 23:04, 6 February 2020 (UTC)

Edison did not invent the NiFe battery. What a joke Wikipedia has become to spread this lie. Jungner patented the NiFe battery already 1897. Let’s not give this corrupt sack of shit credit for other peoples inventions.

Edison did not in any way invent the NiFe battery
Edison did not invent the NiFe battery. What a joke Wikipedia has become to spread this lie. Jungner patented the NiFe battery already 1897. Let’s not give this corrupt sack of shit credit for other peoples inventions. User:83.233.2.6 21:26, 17 February 2020‎
 * Where in the article does it say he invented it? Fountains of Bryn Mawr (talk) 18:35, 18 February 2020 (UTC)
 * It says he invented the ackumulator under "Battery", which I assume is the NiFe rechargable battery invented and patented by Jungner in 1897 and stolen by Edison. --83.233.2.6 (talk) 15:00, 19 February 2020 (UTC)
 * Needs work, accumulators existed before Edison or Jungner, sources don't really show Edison "stealing", Jungner abandoned the NiFe in favor of developing the Ni-Cd, Edison went on to perfect a version of the NiFe. That does get you a patent normally. Fountains of Bryn Mawr (talk) 15:27, 19 February 2020 (UTC)

Expanded Fountains of Bryn Mawr (talk) 23:26, 19 February 2020 (UTC)
 * What actually happened was that Thomas Edison didn't get his NiFe battery accepted by the US patent office, as Jungner clearly was the inventor and had priority. Jungner was given a US patent 1903, and had already patented it in Europe years prior. The first patent dates 1897 to the Swedish patent office. Thomas Edison then procceeded with having patent office officials removed from their positions for not accepting his patent. This is pretty easily obtainable information.


 * "This folder contains material pertaining to a Patent Office hearing involving a patent for an improved alkaline storage battery, granted to Waldemar Jungner on September 1, 1903. Edison objected to the patent and initiated proceedings against the examiners, Thomas A. Witherspoon and Albert M. Lewers, charging them with "incompetence, neglect of duty and maladministration of office." The selected items include Edison's petition; the petitioner's brief; letters from Edison to President Theodore Roosevelt; and correspondence between Frank L. Dyer and U.S. Senator John F. Dryden of New Jersey. Also included is the decision by Assistant Commissioner of Patents Edward B. Moore, which declared the Jungner patent invalid and reassigned the examiners to another division in the Patent Office while exonerating them from charges of malfeasance." — Preceding unsigned comment added by 83.233.2.6 (talk) 06:10, 20 February 2020 (UTC)
 * At a patent office they call that "Tuesday". I don't see anything that constitutes "stealing", patents are challenged and turned over all the time. And a patent doesn't mean Jungner didn't invent the NiFe, doesn't seem to be a claim otherwise. Its about all we can say unless you have (many) reliable secondary sources that say something different. Fountains of Bryn Mawr (talk) 14:12, 20 February 2020 (UTC)

Oh they call that a tuesday? Getting fired because you refuse to give someone a patent is an everyday event at a patent office? Yeah there are secondary sources out there. I will gather some and post them in this thread. 2A02:AA1:1015:B377:2872:BD5B:37E8:A8AF (talk) 14:32, 21 February 2020 (UTC)

the movie camera
Thomas Edison did not invent the movie camera, Louis  Le Prince did. — Preceding unsigned comment added by Poissy (talk • contribs) 14:07, 13 May 2020 (UTC)


 * Red question icon with gradient background.svg Not done: it's not clear what changes you want to be made. Please mention the specific changes in a "change X to Y" format and provide a reliable source if appropriate. Fountains of Bryn Mawr (talk) 19:18, 13 May 2020 (UTC)

Edison is responsible for the greeting "Hello" when we pick up the phone.
Thomas Edison is responsible for our saying"Hello" when we pick up the phone! 104.244.133.52 (talk) 23:54, 13 May 2020 (UTC)


 * ❌. It's not clear what changes you want to make. –Deacon Vorbis (carbon &bull; videos) 23:57, 13 May 2020 (UTC)

Semi-protected edit request on 15 June 2020
He is the world's first pornographer he filmed the first kiss on camera 2401:4900:3303:6F34:FD75:CD7D:C5FF:946D (talk) 03:27, 15 June 2020 (UTC)


 * ❌. Oh myyyyyyyyy. –Deacon Vorbis (carbon &bull; videos) 03:48, 15 June 2020 (UTC)

Semi-protected edit request on 21 June 2020
So in inventions if it states he made the light bulb he didn’t but he did Nikola Tesla was the first person too create it but Thomas Edison stole the plans made it for himself and took all the credit so Nikola Tesla really did but he didn’t reveal it to the public he would’ve but he didn’t know Thomas Edison stole his plans there fore Thomas Edison did not make the light bulb 203.166.241.83 (talk) 12:04, 21 June 2020 (UTC)
 * Red question icon with gradient background.svg Not done: it's not clear what changes you want to be made. Please mention the specific changes in a "change X to Y" format and provide a reliable source if appropriate. Jack Frost (talk) 12:08, 21 June 2020 (UTC)

Invention of light bulb
Edison is generally credited with the invention of the lightbulb. At the moment, the sources in this article follow that narrative. However, other sources suggest a different etiology.

This article quotes Paul Israel, an American historian who is a specialist in the history of American invention and innovation. He is the director and general editor of the Thomas A. Edison Papers at Rutgers University. In his book, A Life of Invention, Israel reveals Edison "to be a media-savvy egomaniac, quick to take credit for work done by others in his employ. The list of disgruntled collaborators claiming that Edison robbed them of their ideas seems endless." Confirming this proclivity, this article in the New Scientist says "The German-born precision mechanic Heinrich Goebel demonstrated a practical prototype of the lightbulb in 1854, and offered to sell Edison his patent. Edison rejected the offer, waited till Goebel died, then snapped the patent up at a discount from Goebel’s impoverished widow."

The wiki article on Lewis Latimer also contradicts much of the familiar narrative about Edison. It says that Edison's original design used a paper filament which would burn out quickly. In 1881, Latimer invented and patented the carbon filament which allowed lights to shine continuously. Also see this article which states “Latimer invented and patented a process for making carbon filaments for light bulbs” and suggests he never got the public credit because he was black. Doubledowndemo (talk) 20:19, 18 July 2020 (UTC)

Semi-protected edit request on 19 July 2020 AWARDS section incomplete.
Please add The Retheman Gold metal to Awards given to T.A.Edison Given in 1913 to Edison by the American Safety Museum of NYC for his Electric Safety Miners' Lamp. See The Electrical Review: Vol.72. No 1,840 2/28/1913 p 383 and your article on the safety miners'lamp. Thank you. A.LaSala MD 32.213.246.45 (talk) 19:18, 19 July 2020 (UTC)
 * Red information icon with gradient background.svg Not done: please provide reliable sources that support the change you want to be made. Wikipedia articles are not considered a reliable source -  FlightTime  ( open channel ) 19:20, 19 July 2020 (UTC)

Untitled
Please add to awards bestowed upon Thomas A. Edison. The Rathenan Gold Metal awarded to T.A.Edison by the American Museum of Safety, NYC, NY on 1/1913 for the Miners'Safety Lamp. Anthony F. LaSala MD President Knights of Edison 32.213.246.45 (talk) 114:59, 18 July 2020 (UTC)
 * Red question icon with gradient background.svg Not done: Please provide a reliable source that this is important enough to mention, Wikipedia is not an indiscriminate collection of information. Fountains of Bryn Mawr (talk) 16:17, 18 July 2020 (UTC)
 * Please list The Ratheman Gold Metal award bestowed on T.A. Edison for Safety Miners' electric lamp. See Wiki article on Miners'safety lamps, it is mentioned there. Tx Anthony F. LaSala MD 32.213.246.45 (talk) 114:59,  17:48, 18 July 2020 (UTC)
 * Still the same answer, any reliable source the The Ratheman Gold Metal is notable? Fountains of Bryn Mawr (talk) 19:07, 18 July 2020 (UTC)
 * Thank you. The source is The Electrical Review Vol.72, No 1840 2/28/1913 p 363. This article reference an earlier mention of same in The Electrical World of 1/23/1913. The correct spelling of the award is The Rathenau Gold Metal — Preceding unsigned comment added by 170.163.202.10 (talk) 14:34, 20 July 2020 (UTC)

Failed to sign above.. This is A.LaSala MD — Preceding unsigned comment added by 170.163.202.10 (talk) 14:55, 20 July 2020 (UTC)

Semi-protected edit request on 25 August 2020
Thomas Edinson was a fraud and al he did in his life was sabotage Nikola Tesla 78.94.244.2 (talk) 12:28, 25 August 2020 (UTC)
 * Red question icon with gradient background.svg Not done: it's not clear what changes you want to be made. Please mention the specific changes in a "change X to Y" format and provide a reliable source if appropriate. Fountains of Bryn Mawr (talk) 12:40, 25 August 2020 (UTC)

The hyperlink to his daughter Madeleine Edison directs to John Eyre Sloane´s page.
Perhaps because Sloane married Madeleine Edison and there is no page for her. — Preceding unsigned comment added by AnalogGround (talk • contribs) 12:47, 4 September 2020 (UTC)

Semi-protected edit request on 12 October 2020
I'd like to request an edit please. Intern2020 (talk) 19:08, 12 October 2020 (UTC)

I'd like to request an edit please.
 * Red question icon with gradient background.svg Not done: it's not clear what changes you want to be made. Please mention the specific changes in a "change X to Y" format and provide a reliable source if appropriate. Eggishorn (talk) (contrib) 19:32, 12 October 2020 (UTC)

was edison a thief
edison promised Tesla 50.000 dollar for improvements, but never paid those dollars even after 24 NEW inventions around DC electric. Then Tesla took HIS inventions under patents and then edison started to diminish and plunder Tesla. So, is it TRUE that edison was nothing more then a THIEF of OTHERS EFFORT.... https://www.imdb.com/title/tt5099076/ is this the 'prove' needed for the editorial change requested earlier ??? 85.149.83.125 (talk) 04:07, 27 October 2020 (UTC)
 * No, POV documentaries are not a reliable source. Fountains of Bryn Mawr (talk) 20:34, 27 October 2020 (UTC)

Semi-protected edit request on 16 November 2020
In this sentence:

The nickel–iron battery was never very successful, by the time it was ready electric cars were disappearing and lead acid batteries had become the standard for tuning over gas powered car starter motors.[99]

change "tuning" to "turning" JasonAeschilman (talk) 23:05, 16 November 2020 (UTC)


 * Yes check.svg Done - good catch. Fountains of Bryn Mawr (talk) 01:21, 17 November 2020 (UTC)

Semi-protected edit request on 17 November 2020
In this sentence:

Edison responded by undertaking production of phenol at his Silver Lake, facility using processes developed by his chemists.

The comma should be removed. JasonAeschilman (talk) 16:51, 17 November 2020 (UTC)


 * Comment: ; please mention the section and paragraph number. The article is too long.  -ink&amp;fables     «talk»   17:52, 20 November 2020 (UTC)

In the time you took to make that comment you could have done a simple page search but if this is what it takes to get a comma removed, so be it.

Section: Chemicals Paragraph: 3 Sentence: 1 JasonAeschilman (talk) 19:03, 20 November 2020 (UTC)
 * Yes check.svg Done  78.26  (spin me / revolutions) 19:31, 20 November 2020 (UTC)

Semi-protected edit request on 19 January 2021
I am requesting that the description of Edison's birthplace as Ohio be changed to acknowledge that his origins are still a matter for debate and have been for a long time. For example, the Mexican American artist Judith Baca's mural in LA, The Great Wall, was in part inspired by the theory that Edison was born in Mexico, then adopted and raised in the United States:

The official artist website explains their research findings as follows: "the Mural Makers found much evidence to support the theory that Edison was born in Zacatecas, Mexico, and adopted by U.S. parents. According to Edison’s daughter, Madeline Edison Sloane, there is no birth record for her father in the United States. In addition, almost all American biog­raphers and historians agree that Edison could speak, read and write Spanish as fluently as a native speaker even though he had only three months of formal education." 24.246.250.168 (talk) 18:03, 19 January 2021 (UTC)


 * Red information icon with gradient background.svg Not done: please provide reliable sources that support the change you want to be made. See WP:SPS. Point to this information in a peer-reviewed scholarly journal rather than on an artist's WordPress site, and we'll be having a different discussion. &#8209;&#8209; El Hef  ( Meep? ) 19:19, 19 January 2021 (UTC)

Self-educated??
The info box states ‘Education: self-educated’. But the article states:
 * In 1875, at age 28, he enrolled in a four-year chemistry course at The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art.*

Wouldn’t consider that self-educated. Maybe not an official BSc, but it sounds like a major. Moreover, the field he was taught in (chemistry, apparently) is highly relevant for the rest of his career. What do others think? Dr. F.C. Turner (talk) 18:27, 27 January 2021 (UTC)


 * According to this source (http://faculty.cooper.edu/topper/general/edison.html) Edison enrolled in "a chemistry course" at Cooper Union. That seems to conflict. It's possible that he enrolled in a four-year course of study, but never completed it. I think that his attendance for 4 years may not be a solidly established biographical fact despite the citation at https://www.theodysseyonline.com/life-thomas-edison saying otherwise. It would be better to modify the text of the article until we have a better source. KeeYou Flib (talk) 21:59, 27 February 2021 (UTC)


 * Actually it's worse than I thought. The Cooper Union web page above, which quotes an Edison biography, says that Edison enrolled in the course in 1872 whereas the page says he enrolled in a four-year course in 1875. This just does not sound right. KeeYou Flib (talk) 22:06, 27 February 2021 (UTC)


 * I've made some edits to the text and the infobox; this should solve the problem. More information from a verified source on Edison's time at Cooper Union would be helpful here. KeeYou Flib (talk) 19:21, 5 March 2021 (UTC)

No Joseph Swan?
This article didn't talk about how Swan sued Edison for copyrighting his old lightbulb from the 1850s. Baccherini (talk) 17:22, 4 April 2021 (UTC)
 * Red information icon with gradient background.svg Not done: please provide reliable sources that support the change you want to be made. Fountains of Bryn Mawr (talk) 18:30, 4 April 2021 (UTC)

Charlie Chaplin denied ??
According the movie 'Teslafy Me' Edison denied Charlie Chaplin to produce in America. what is true about that? Did Edison steal from Tesla? If i understand the claims in that movie then Edison was not a concurent but a dictator. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt5099076/ 85.149.83.125 (talk) 16:54, 20 April 2021 (UTC)
 * Red information icon with gradient background.svg Not done: please provide reliable sources that support the change you want to be made. Fountains of Bryn Mawr (talk) 19:52, 20 April 2021 (UTC)

"Too stupid to learn"
Hi Why do you say it's fiction? I acknowledge it's not the best source in the world, but it's not fiction, and it was published while Edison was still alive. If it is indeed false I reckon it would advisable to mention it in the article as an apocriphal story, because it has been quoted a gazillion times in hundreds of books. --Jbaranao (talk) 18:43, 13 May 2021 (UTC)
 * Please read WP:RS. Sources are not considered reliable because they are contemporaneous (in fact, they are considered almost the opposite of reliable). Reliable sources do not seem to include this episode (I don't see any). We do not put disputed/apocryphal/writers opinions or views or fiction in Wikipedia's voice as "the truth" (see WP:YESPOV). Re: "said the mother to herself", see WP:TONE. As for copying it whole from a book see WP:PLAG. Fountains of Bryn Mawr (talk) 23:42, 13 May 2021 (UTC)

Move discussion in progress
There is a move discussion in progress on Talk:Thomas Edison (Cottrill) which affects this page. Please participate on that page and not in this talk page section. Thank you. —RMCD bot 16:05, 5 June 2021 (UTC)

Semi-protected edit request on 30 June 2021
I would like to request that the fact that Edison worked in the patent office is added, and that the notion of a 13 year old and made !!!!$50!!!!! selling candy and newspapers in 1860 is elaborated on, because making $1 back then was the equivalent of making $10 000 today. So maybe revise your lies 86.45.201.8 (talk) 21:00, 30 June 2021 (UTC)
 * Red information icon with gradient background.svg Not done: please provide reliable sources that support the change you want to be made. Living Concrete (talk) 21:13, 30 June 2021 (UTC)

Semi-protected edit request on 9 October 2021
2405:201:C00B:BA6B:B576:961D:AE2F:A232 (talk) 15:21, 9 October 2021 (UTC) Was born in April 17
 * Red information icon with gradient background.svg Not done: please provide reliable sources that support the change you want to be made. — Sirdog (talk) 15:37, 9 October 2021 (UTC)

Semi-protected edit request on 20 January 2022
Change "an chapter" to "a chapter." 2601:381:4200:19B:E003:3863:A0ED:8826 (talk) 18:58, 20 January 2022 (UTC)
 * ✅ —<b style="background:#000;color:#FFF;padding:1px;">GMX</b><b style="color:#000;padding:1px">(on the go!)</b> 19:14, 20 January 2022 (UTC)

Semi-protected edit request on 11 February 2022
Under "Spirit Phone", change "previously published additions" to "previously published editions". SimpsonDG (talk) 12:14, 11 February 2022 (UTC)


 * Good catch; this is done. KeeYou Flib (talk) 22:33, 11 February 2022 (UTC)

suggestion
After

thanks to the intervention of his brother.

add the name of the brother. 151.29.76.84 (talk) 20:09, 16 December 2021 (UTC)


 * Good suggestion; this is now done. KeeYou Flib (talk) 22:38, 11 February 2022 (UTC)

Question
Does this article have a copyright, if so, what is the copyright date? Thank you. 67.135.4.210 (talk) 21:12, 16 February 2022 (UTC)


 * Yes, but as the bottom of the page says Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. The copyright date is the date of the version of the page cited. On the article page click on "Cite this page" in the Tools menu, and you will see this. StarryGrandma (talk) 23:55, 16 February 2022 (UTC)

Taking credit for other people's inventions
I feel like that at the start, when mentioning the 1,093 US patents. It should at least be mentioned that he often patented on his name inventions made by other people on his team. This would frame the number and the person better. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 93.36.181.77 (talk) 11:13, 7 April 2022 (UTC)


 * Do you have a suggestion for a reliable source for this? Qflib, aka KeeYou Flib (talk) 12:01, 7 April 2022 (UTC)

Semi-protected edit request on 20 May 2022
I would like to edit this page for more facts to other kids! 98.179.157.206 (talk) 14:24, 20 May 2022 (UTC)
 * If you have specific suggestions for edits, please post them on this page with good sources, and we'll gladly make changes on your behalf. Qflib, aka KeeYou Flib (talk) 14:35, 20 May 2022 (UTC)

Semi-protected edit request on 31 July 2022
76.169.189.60 (talk) Edison did not invent cinema Louis de prince did
 * Red question icon with gradient background.svg Not done: it's not clear what changes you want to be made. Please mention the specific changes in a "change X to Y" format and provide a reliable source if appropriate. ScottishFinnishRadish (talk) 18:32, 31 July 2022 (UTC)

A Commons file used on this page or its Wikidata item has been nominated for deletion
The following Wikimedia Commons file used on this page or its Wikidata item has been nominated for deletion: Participate in the deletion discussion at the. —Community Tech bot (talk) 06:51, 12 November 2022 (UTC)
 * A day with Thomas A. Edison.webm

Semi-protected edit request on 19 November 2022
Under "Early Life", in the line, "... his father moved to Vienna, Ontario and fled after his involvement in the Rebellion of 1837", the word "Vienna" is a hyperlink that mistakenly takes us to "Vienna, Austria" instead of "Vienna, Ontario". Someone else will need to fix this, as I can't. Thanks. 76.236.220.28 (talk) 20:47, 19 November 2022 (UTC)
 * Yes check.svg Done - good catch. Fountains of Bryn Mawr (talk) 22:24, 19 November 2022 (UTC)

Semi-protected edit request on 9 February 2023
204.228.23.222 (talk) 16:42, 9 February 2023 (UTC)
 * Red question icon with gradient background.svg Not done: it's not clear what changes you want to be made. Please mention the specific changes in a "change X to Y" format and provide a reliable source if appropriate. small jars 17:27, 9 February 2023 (UTC)

Semi-protected edit request on 29 March 2023
I wish to edit Thomas edison's birthday in the page from 1947 to February 11, 1947. — Preceding unsigned comment added by Tsmwinter (talk • contribs) 01:00, 29 March 2023 (UTC)
 * Red question icon with gradient background.svg Not done: it's not clear what changes you want to be made. Please mention the specific changes in a "change X to Y" format and provide a reliable source if appropriate. Fountains of Bryn Mawr (talk) 01:08, 29 March 2023 (UTC)

Check the Patent dates
Check: Swan’s and Edison’s patents for electric light bulb. Thomas Edison received his U.S. Patent on 27 January 1880 (https://www.archives.gov/milestone-documents/thomas-edisons-patent-application-for-the-light-bulb#:~:text=On%20January%2027%2C%201880%2C%20Edison,his%20electric%20lamp%20is%20223%2C898.), whereas Sir Joseph Swan received his U.K. Patent for the same on 27 November 1880 (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joseph_Swan). 125.235.239.244 (talk) 11:34, 3 June 2023 (UTC)


 * Yes check.svg Done - from your comment, I saw that there was a point in the article that said that Swan's patent was a year before Edison's, and as you pointed out, that was not the case. I believe that I've corrected the error. Qflib, aka KeeYou Flib (talk) 00:04, 4 June 2023 (UTC)

Press ‘heyday’?
Perhaps ‘furore’ or ‘field day’ would be better. ‘Uproar’, maybe.

‘Heyday’ refers to a time in the past when a person or thing was at its best.

‘The press had a field day over Edison’s remarks.’ 59.102.126.169 (talk) 09:00, 5 June 2023 (UTC)


 * Yes check.svg Done - yes indeed, this was incorrect. Fixed now, I think. Qflib, aka KeeYou Flib (talk) 15:51, 5 June 2023 (UTC)

Commemorations and tributes
— first off, let me say that I like the message on your user page-- so true, and thanks for creating the List of things named after Thomas Edison article. I would, however, like to re-include one, perhaps two, of the most important tributes to Edison to his biography, as I believe most readers would like to see something in that regard here, which in turn would attract more readers to the article you created. In particular, I believe the postage stamp of Edison, a national honor issued on the 100th anniversary of his birth, should be returned. Perhaps I speak with a bias, as I'm a stamp collector and have written much here at WP about postage, postal history, and such, but going on past experience, such honors would be welcomed by most readers, esp fans of Edison. The stamp image is also an eye-catcher, and as such, will attract more people to the new article created. -- Gwillhickers (talk) 22:24, 22 November 2023 (UTC)


 * I do think it's a good idea too! Be bold and do it! CactiStaccingCrane (talk) 07:12, 23 November 2023 (UTC)
 * ✅ — I made a composite image of the two stamps for Edison. The 2-cent red stamp was issued in 1929, on the 50th anniversary of his incandescent light invention, while the 3-cent violet stamp was issued in 1949, first issued in Milan, Ohio, Edison's place of birth. Hope everyone appreciates them. -- Cheers and Happy Thanksgiving. -- Gwillhickers (talk) 20:40, 23 November 2023 (UTC)

LOOK AT A MAP, PEOPLE!
" Edison was raised in the American Midwest. " No, he was not. Michigan and Ohio are NOT 'the midwest' !

People who are geographically inept, look at a map of the United States, and learn what 'mid' (middle point) and 'west' (direction) means. Those states are nowhere near 'midwest', so stop following wrong common vernacular. 107.129.97.80 (talk) 05:44, 10 February 2024 (UTC)
 * Midwestern United States Fountains of Bryn Mawr (talk) 13:58, 10 February 2024 (UTC)