Edison not in same league as the Wrights

Lifestyles
Aug 2, 2010
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Re “Edison fine choice for Capitol statue,” July 17: The letter writer shows a very fuzzy view of Dayton history. Thomas Edison’s light bulb would have been of little use to the Wright brothers because in the late 1890s, there was no electric service in the West Third Street area. The Wright brothers generated their own power to operate the machinery and did their paper work by the light of gas and candles.

The lighting we enjoy in our homes today is the result of the work by Nikola Tesla, not Edison. The direct current promoted by Edison was rejected because it was impractical and dangerous.

Edison’s real talent was in the field of public relations and self-promotion. As an innovator and inventor, he was not in the same league with Wilbur Wright, Orville Wright and Charles Kettering.

Incidentally, the movie projector was invented by Francis Jenkins, a Daytonian, not by Thomas Edison and his large staff of co-workers in New Jersey, although they generally take credit for it.

The Wright brothers are the only logical choice for a statue in the U.S. Capitol.

Oliver W. Beardmore

Oakwood

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