The Invention Thomas Edison Couldn't Sell

 

When we think of Thomas Edison, we usually think of the light bulb, the phonograph, or perhaps the motion picture camera. But Edison's first patented invention had nothing to do with any of those things. In fact, it was an invention although it was brilliant, no one wanted it. It was never even mass produced. 

Young Edison

On October 13, 1868, a 21-year-old Thomas Edison signed a patent application for an Electrographic Vote-Recorder.  It was designed to make vote counting in the legislature go quickly. Each desk would have a switch. The congressman toggled to yes or no as a bill was brought up for roll-call vote. Their vote would go across an electric wire, like a telegraph works, to a main console where it would be recorded beside their name. Quick and efficient.

His first invention came from his work life.

Edison was working as a telegraph operator when he came up with the idea.  Telegraphs would send messages over electrically charged wires. Not only was he an operator but he spent hours tweaking the system so the messages moved faster across the nation. Some areas of  the country had delays. The operators worked to ensure messages arrive swiftly.  He envisioned other ways to use electricity to save time. The Electrographic Vote-Recorder seemed like a great solution to getting more done during legislative sessions around the country.

Roll call votes were often a long, time-consuming process. When a roll-call vote was required, each legislator's name was called individually. The member would announce his vote, and someone would record it. With dozens—or even hundreds—of legislators involved, the process could take considerable time.

Edison's Electrographic Vote-Recorder was designed to eliminate that delay. His fellow telegraph operator, Dewitt Roberts, invested $100. Once they had a working prototype, Roberts took it to Washington D.C. And demonstrated it. The idea of instantly recording and counting votes was a technological advance beyond its time in 1868.

Edison believed legislators would welcome it.

However, he was about to learn an important lesson about inventing—and about politics.

The legislators understood something the young inventor had overlooked: a slow vote wasn't necessarily a bad thing.

A roll-call vote gave legislators time.

It gave members an opportunity to argue with one another, persuade colleagues, negotiate, delay a measure, or perhaps change someone's mind before the final tally.

What Edison saw as efficiency, politicians could see as a loss of valuable persuasion time. No one was interested. It was a working invention that was beyond its time.

Edison learned a valuable lesson from his unsaleable invention

It became a cornerstone for every invention he patented in the future. His invention had to solve a problem people actually wanted solved. The voting machine did not make Edison rich. It wasn't adopted by Congress, and it never became a commercial success.

As history shows us, Edison didn't give up. Lightbulbs, phonographs, even motion pictures brought him fame and fortune because they were things people were willing to buy. Eventually he became America's most prolific inventor.

A hundred years later

Edison was trying to automate legislative voting in 1868. Congress didn't adopt an electronic voting system for the House of Representatives until 1973—more than a century after Edison's first attempt.

Learning from this failure as a 21-year-old made all the difference in his future success. His brilliant mind turned to inventing things people were wanting to use, enjoy or felt they needed.

Can you list any other inventions Edison patented?

Sources:

Thomas Edison Papers — Rutgers University

The actual 1869 U.S. patent

Edison's 1869 Electrographic Vote-Recorder Patent No. 90,646

.Edison Papers — Patent history ,October 13, 1868 — Edison signed the application, October 28, 1868 — application filed. June 1, 1869 — patent issued as U.S. Patent No. 90,646.

 Library of Congress — Edison and Failure

Library of Congress — Thomas Edison and Learning Through Failure

 The Henry Ford — actual patent model

The Henry Ford — Edison's Electrographic Vote Recorder Model

 

Cindy Ervin Huff, is a multi-published award-winning author in Historical and Contemporary Romance. She’s a 2018 Selah Finalist. Cindy has a passion to encourage other writers on their journey. When she isn’t writing, she feeds her reading addiction and enjoys her retirement with her husband of 50-plus years, Charles. Their favorite retirement pastime is visiting historical sites and enjoying live theater. Visit her at www.cindyervinhuff.com.

 

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