Thomas Edison

above: The Dudes pose with a statue of Thomas Edison in front of one of his amazing Banyan trees.

 

Thomas Edison’s motive for invention was to “transform middle class life”. We got a chance to see some of his 1,093 inventions (he still holds the record for the number of patents) that have transformed our lives in Ft. Meyers where his and his buddy, Henry Ford’s, homes have been turned into museums.

 

 

 

left and below: Some of his inventions.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We had not planned to stay in Ft. Meyers/Sanibel Island for very long but a severe weather system, which covered all of South Florida, convinced us to hang around a couple of extra days before heading South. The layover gave us an opportunity to seek out other interesting things to do.

 

 

 

left: The Docent demonstrates the phonograph.

 

 

 

 

right: The “chuck wagon” he took on camping trips with his buddies Henry Ford and Harvey Firestone. Could this be the beginning of RVing?

 

 

 

 

The Thomas Edison Museum gives a special “kids tour” on Saturday mornings so we jumped at the chance to do it. The Docent gave the kids a brief introduction about the famous inventor then toured us through the museum to show and demonstrate some of his inventions. He even gave the kids an opportunity to “make rubber”, one of Edison’s research passions.

 

 

 

left and below: Making rubber with glue, borax and water.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Docent also gave the kids an opportunity to see the advantages of the assembly line process vs. a one person build out of a model-T by racing them in building a “model” – T. The kids, of course, won and had a great time doing it.

 

above: The “assembly line”.

We also got to tour one of his laboratories complete with beakers, tubing and test tubes and see a small portion of the extensive gardens on the grounds. There just happen to be an art exhibit from local schools on display which made the garden even more interesting.

 

 

 

left and below: Edison’s laboratory.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

left and below: Art exhibit in the garden.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Just imagine life without toasters, fans, waffle irons, recorded music, movies and LIGHTBULBS!

below: Some more of his famous inventions

 

 

 

Edison evidently made most of his money on the batteries that he invented but I do believe his success was not only due to each of his individual inventions but due to the fact that he accomplished what he set out to do – “transform middle class life”.