Lewis Latimer and the Problem With Edison’s Light Bulb

“Co operate, you dang little….”

Lewis Latimer, in 1876, started working with Thomas Edison, who had a problem.

Edison’s lightbulb lit up just fine.

But then it burned out too quickly. Latimer figured out that carbon filaments would burn for a long, long time.

Latimer had also taught himself mechanical drawing. And Edison needed a mechanical drawing if he was going to patent his light bulb.

Latimer drew up the design (with his carbon filament), and Edison got his patent.

Later, Latimer drew up plans to light up cities around the world - Philadelphia, New York, and Montreal. Cutting crime waaay down.