Thomas Edison Patent Models
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Saige Jedele is a former associate curator, digital content, for The Henry Ford
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When Thomas Edison applied for a patent, he often included an intricate model showing how his invention worked. These models helped explain Edison’s ideas to patent office officials. Later, Edison could display them for visitors to his laboratory.
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Edison Patent Model of Electric Distribution System, 1887
Patent Model of Edison & Pope Printing Telegraph, 1870
Stock tickers are telegraphs that printed real-time financial information. Edison made several improvements to these devices; he was interested in finding a way to synchronize multiple units. This model contains a unison stop device that allowed all stock tickers in a circuit to be brought into phase with a stock ticker in a central office.
View ArtifactPatent Model of Edison's Acoustic Telegraph Improvement, 1876
Patent Model of Edison's Acoustic Telegraph Improvement, 1880
Patent Model of Edison's Adjustable Electro-Magnet, 1875
Patent Model of Edison's Automatic Roman Character Telegraph, 1876
Patent Model of Edison's Automatic Telegraph Improvement, 1875
Patent Model of Edison's Automatic Telegraph Transmitter and Receiver Improvement, 1875
Patent Model of Edison's Automatic Telegraph, 1879
This patent demonstrated the recording and transmitting of Morse code messages. A cardboard disc was placed on top of a rotating plate with spiral grooves. Indentations were embossed onto the cardboard by a needle powered by an electromagnet. These indents formed a recorded message, which could then be transmitted — without needing an operator — to several stations, saving labor.
View ArtifactPatent Model of Edison's Carbon Telephone Transmitter, 1879
Patent Model of Edison's Chemical or Automatic Telegraph, 1874
Patent Model of Edison's Chemical Telegraph Circuit, 1874
Patent Model of Edison's Chemical Telegraph Improvement, 1873
Patent Model of Edison's Duplex Chemical Telegraph Improvement, 1874
Patent Model of Edison's Duplex Telegraph Improvement, 1875
Patent Model of Edison's Electric Light, 1880
Patent Model of Edison's Electrical Printing Machine, 1872
Patent Model of Edison's Electrographic Vote Recorder and Register, His First Patent, 1869
Edison received a patent for this electrographic vote recorder in 1869. Legislative bodies could record votes accurately and instantaneously with his device. Edison's invention stirred little interest and was never manufactured. The invention's significance, however, should not be overlooked. This was the first of Edison's 1093 U.S. patents and in a way marks the start of his inventive activity.
View ArtifactPatent Model of Edison's Electro-Harmonic Multiplex Telegraph, 1876
Patent Model of Edison's Fire Alarm Telegraph, 1877
Patent Model of Edison's Improvement in Electric Lights, 1880
Patent Model of Edison's Improvement in Printing Telegraphs, 1872
Patent Model of Edison's Improvement in Telephones, 1882
Patent Model of Edison's Magneto-Electric Machine, 1879
Patent Model of Edison's Magneto-Electric Machine, 1882
Patent Model of Edison's Printing Telegraph Improvement, 1872
Patent Model of Edison's Printing Telegraph Improvement, 1872
Patent Model of Edison's Printing Telegraph Improvement, 1872
Patent Model of Edison's Printing Telegraph Improvement, 1872
Patent Model of Edison's Printing Telegraph Improvement, 1872
Patent Model of Edison's Printing Telegraph Improvement, 1872
Patent Model of Edison's Printing Telegraph Improvement, 1873
Patent Model of Edison's Printing Telegraph Improvement, 1873
Patent Model of Edison's Printing Telegraph Transmitter & Receiver, 1873
Patent Model of Edison's Printing Telegraph, 1872
Patent Model of Edison's Printing Telegraph, 1872
Patent Model of Edison's Printing Telegraph, 1872
Patent Model of Edison's Printing Telegraph, 1872
Patent Model of Edison's Printing Telegraph, 1872
Patent Model of Edison's Printing Telegraph, 1873
Patent Model of Edison's Printing Telegraph, 1875
Patent Model of Edison's Rheotome or Circuit Detector for Telegraphs, 1872
Patent Model of Edison's Sextuplex Telegraph, 1879
Patent Model of Edison's Speaking Machine, 1878
Patent Model of Edison's Telephonic Telegraph Improvement, 1877
Patent Model of Edison's Telephonic Telegraph, 1877
Patent Model of Edison's Telephonic Telegraph, 1878
Patent Model of Edison's Universal Stock Printer, circa 1872
Thomas Edison's reputation was initially established through his work in telegraphy, particularly on stock tickers — telegraphs that printed real-time financial information. While he did not invent the stock ticker, his improvements — particularly those related to synchronizing multiple units — were a great commercial success. Edison's experience with telegraphy infrastructure, and his approach to continually refining his designs, was foundational for his later successes.
