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Article: Archive: How we all missed out on Starr light; Thomas Edison is usually credited with inventing the lightbulb but Chris Upton finds that a man buried in Birmingham got there first.(Features)
- Article from:
- The Birmingham Post (England)
- Article date:
- March 20, 2004
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2004 Birmingham Post & Mail Ltd. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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Byline: Chris Upton
There's this joke. Thomas Edison, the great American inventor, has made a new discovery. He puts out a press release, saying that his latest invention will be revealed in a certain hall on a particular day.
All the American papers send along a reporter and the hall is full and hushed with expectation. On the table at the front is what looks like a hollow glass bowl with wires inside it.
In comes Mr Edison and asks for the curtains in the hall to be drawn. Then Edison flicks a switch and the glass vessel begins to glow; it fills ...