Electrifying Manhattan
Summary
TLDRIn 1881, Thomas Edison shifted his focus from Meno Park to New York, where he set up a Brownstone as a showcase and headquarters for his electric light company. Despite facing challenges in designing the world's first electrical power grid, Edison was determined to electrify Lower Manhattan. His team transformed two warehouses into a central power station, equipped with heavy machinery and a vast network of copper conductors beneath the streets. Edison's ambitious plan involved convincing city officials, overseeing mass production of components, and managing financial backers, all while ensuring a simple, switch-based electricity supply to homes and businesses.
Takeaways
- π οΈ In 1881, Thomas Edison shifted his focus from Meno Park to New York, where he set up an operations base in a brownstone on 5th Avenue.
- π’ The brownstone was equipped with 200 lamps, serving as both a showcase and headquarters for the Edison Electric Light Company.
- β³ Edison's promise to electrify Lower Manhattan had been delayed for over two years due to the complexities of creating the world's first electrical power grid.
- π‘ Edison was committed to the practical production and full realization of the light bulb, viewing it as a business venture requiring a significant return on investment.
- π Edison's Central Power Station in Manhattan's Financial District was to be housed in two warehouses, featuring steam engine dynamo sets and testing facilities.
- π§ Over 80,000 feet of copper conductors were laid under the streets to supply electricity to a mile-square area, including homes and businesses.
- ποΈ Edison faced the challenge of convincing New York City officials to allow the running of electric current underground before he could begin construction.
- π§ Mass production of lamps, meters, and other system components was necessary, with Edison overseeing the factories to ensure production.
- π¨βπΌ Edison had to juggle multiple roles, including administrator, manufacturer, and salesman, to manage the project's vast scope.
- π° The 'money men,' as Edison called them, provided a constant distraction as he sought to secure funding and maintain investor interest.
Q & A
When did Edison leave Meno Park to work on the electric light project?
-Edison left Meno Park in February 1881 to work on the electric light project.
What was the location of Edison's Brownstone in New York?
-Edison's Brownstone was located at 65 Fifth Avenue in New York.
How many lamps were wired in Edison's Brownstone?
-Edison's Brownstone was wired with approximately 200 lamps.
What was the purpose of the Brownstone at 65 Fifth Avenue?
-The Brownstone served as both a showplace and headquarters for the Edison Electric Light Company.
What was the main challenge Edison's team faced in electrifying Lower Manhattan?
-The main challenge was designing the world's first electrical power grid.
Where did Edison's family reside while he worked on the electric light project?
-Edison's family resided in a suite of rooms in a nearby hotel.
What was the significance of the Pearl Street location for Edison's project?
-Pearl Street in the Financial District was chosen as the site for Edison's Central Power Station, which was central to his plan to electrify Lower Manhattan.
How many steam engine Dynamo sets were installed in Edison's Central Power Station?
-Edison's Central Power Station was equipped with six steam engine Dynamo sets.
What was the weight of each steam engine Dynamo set installed in the Central Power Station?
-Each steam engine Dynamo set weighed approximately 30 tons.
What was the planned area of electricity supply by Edison's project?
-Edison planned to supply electricity to a swath of city blocks, a Mile Square area.
What were some of the roles Edison had to take on for the project?
-Edison had to act as an administrator, manufacturer, and salesman for the project.
What was the term Edison used for the financiers involved in the project?
-Edison referred to the financiers as 'the money men'.
Outlines
π‘ Edison's Electric Light Revolution
In 1881, Thomas Edison left his workbench at Meno Park and focused on his new endeavor in New York. He set up an elegant brownstone at 65 Fifth Avenue, which was equipped with 200 lamps to serve as both a showcase and headquarters for the Edison Electric Light Company. Despite promising to electrify Lower Manhattan over two years prior, Edison's team faced significant challenges in designing the world's first electrical power grid. Edison's residence was in a nearby hotel while he worked tirelessly on the project, which was not just a scientific experiment but a business venture aimed at generating a substantial return on investment. Edison's focus was on the complete realization of the light bulb, and he was involved in every aspect from production to sales. His efforts included convincing New York City officials to allow underground electric current, overseeing mass production of system components, and dealing with financial investors, all while transforming two warehouses into a central power station with steam engine dynamo sets, switchboards, control instruments, and a testing area for lamps.
Mindmap
Keywords
π‘Edison
π‘Meno Park
π‘Electric Light Company
π‘Electrical Power Grid
π‘Central Power Station
π‘Copper Conductors
π‘Lamps
π‘Switchboards
π‘Control Instruments
π‘Mass Production
π‘Capital Investment
Highlights
Edison left Meno Park to focus on electrifying Lower Manhattan.
He set up an elegant Brownstone at 65 Fifth Avenue as a showplace and headquarters.
The Brownstone was wired with 200 lamps to demonstrate the electric light system.
Edison's pledge to electrify Lower Manhattan had been stalled for over two years.
His team faced challenges in designing the world's first electrical power grid.
Edison declared his light was perfected and ready for practical production.
Edison's family was accommodated in a nearby hotel while he worked on the project.
The project was not just scientific but also a significant business venture.
Edison aimed to electrify Pearl Street in Manhattan's Financial District.
Two warehouses were to be transformed into Edison's Central Power Station.
The power station was to be equipped with six steam engine Dynamo sets.
Nearly 80,000 feet of copper conductors were planned to be laid under the streets.
Edison planned to supply electricity to a mile-square area of the city.
The system was designed to provide light to every subscribing home and business with a simple switch.
Edison had to solve a multitude of different problems for the project's success.
New York City officials had to be convinced about the safety of underground electric current.
Edison had to oversee the mass production of lamps, meters, and other system components.
He had to juggle multiple roles including administrator, manufacturer, and salesman.
Edison referred to the financiers as 'money men' who provided distractions.
Transcripts
in February 1881 Edison left his
workbench at Meno Park behind and began
spending his days in New York An Elegant
Brownstone at 65 fth Avenue wired with
some 200 lamps to serve as both
Showplace and headquarters for the
Edison electric light
company by then the inventor's pledge to
Electrify Lower Manhattan had been
stalled for more than 2 years while his
team grappled with the challenges of
Designing the world's first electrical
power grid my light is perfected Edison
said I'm going into the Practical
production of it with his family ins
sconed in a suite of rooms in a nearby
Hotel the inventor plunged
in this was not a science experiment
this was a business trying to get a
significant return on a significant
amount of capital investment so Edison
had to follow the light bulb all the way
to its full
realization on Pearl Street in the heart
of Manhattan's Financial District Two
adjoining warehouses now would be
transformed into Edison's Central Power
Station equipped with six steam engine
Dynamo sets weighing some 30 tons each
as well as switchboards and Control
Instruments
and a bank of 1,000 lamps for testing
the
system meanwhile nearly 80,000 ft of
copper conductors would be laid below
the surrounding
streets ultimately Edison planned to
supply electricity to a swath of city
blocks a Mile Square and provide light
to every subscribing home and Business
in the district with the simple flip of
a
switch it was massive all of the
different problems that he had to solve
but being Edison he just very steadily
pushed
through first New York City officials
had to be convinced of the wisdom of
running electric current underground
before they awarded Edison the permit to
tear up the
streets lamps meters and the other
system components had to be
mass-produced and it fell to Edison to
oversee the factories
it was as his secretary noted a gigantic
undertaking one that required the
inventor to be administrator
manufacturer and salesman all at
once and on top of everything there were
the money men as Edison called them who
never failed to provide distraction
5.0 / 5 (0 votes)