Thomas Alva Edison - Patent for Electro Light

In 1879, using lower current, a small carbonized filament, and an improved vacuum inside the globe, he was able to produce a reliable, long-lasting source of light. Perhaps more importantly, Edison's invention led to an industry to distribute electric power creating jobs for many Americans. Edison was granted his first patent on June 1, 1869, and averaged one patent application every 11 days between 1869 and 1910. America's most prolific inventor received 1,093 patents--more than any other person before or since. While he reveled in and profited from his successes, he lived with failure every day. "Results? Why man, I've gotten a lot of results. I know several thousand things that won't work." Thomas Alva Edison, 1900 In 1973, Edison was the first inventor inducted into the National Inventors Hall of Fame.