• In 1878, Thomas Edison was camping in Wyoming when someone accidentally knocked a bamboo fishing pole into a campfire. He noticed its resistance to burning. When he went back to his lab in New Jersey, he proceeded to produce millions and millions of light bulbs with bamboo filaments, until he got the bright idea that tungsten worked even better.
• Joseph Swan invented a light bulb in 1879, one year before Thomas Edison. But Swan didn't patent his idea and was accused of copying by Edison ( who did patent the idea and is therefore recognised as the inventor ) until it was shown both bulbs were produced in different processes. They then formed a joint company using the best of both technologies.
• Thomas Edison, lightbulb inventor, was afraid of the dark! (unverified)
• ... additional facts are listed on the Thomas Edison trading card

http://www.thomasedison.com/

http://inventors.about.com/library/inventors/bledisonbiography.htm

http://www.tomedison.org/

http://inventors.about.com/library/inventors/bledison.htm

http://inventors.about.com/library/inventors/bledisonpatents.htm

http://inventors.about.com/library/inventors/bledisonfailures.htm

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_edison

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