Thomas Alva Collection

Thomas Edison, the Wizard of the West, c1880s, (1914). Creator: E Bieber
Thomas Edison, the Wizard of the West, c1880s, (1914). Portrait of American physicist and inventor Thomas Alva Edison (1847-1931) who set up the first industrial research laboratory

Sir Joseph Swan (1828-1914), English physicist and chemist, 1911-1912. Artist: D Cameron-Swan
Sir Joseph Swan (1828-1914), English physicist and chemist, 1911-1912. Swan invented the incandescent electric lamp in Britain at about the same time as Thomas Edison patented it in the USA

The Edison Electric Illuminating Cos Station, illustration from
XJL210691 The Edison Electric Illuminating Cos Station, illustration from Scientific American, 1891 (engraving) by American School, (19th century); Private Collection; American, out of copyright

Thomas Alva Edison, from the series Great Americans (N76) for Duke brand cigarettes, 1888

The Electric Light, 1880. 1880. Creators: Nathaniel Currier, James Merritt Ives
The Electric Light, 1880. Thomas Edison stands in New Jersey and leans across the Hudson River joining hands with Charles F. Brush, who stands with one foot in Brooklyn the other in Manhattan

Thomas A. Edison, printers sample for the Worlds Inventors souvenir album (A25) for Allen & Ginter Cigarettes, 1888

Thomas Alva Edison, c1910s. Creator: Unknown
Thomas Alva Edison, c1910s. Portrait of American inventor Thomas Alva Edison (1847-1931). Edison was a prolific inventor who registered over 1000 patents

The Shelves of Edisons Laboratory with Samples of Every Known Substance, 1902
" The Shelves of Edisons Laboratory are Said to contain Samples of Every Known Substance". 1902. From " The Windsor Magazine Vol. XVI - June to November 1902". [Ward, Lock & Co

Thomas Alva Edison sitting beside his invention, the phonograph, 1878. Dubbed The Wizard of Menlo Park by a newspaper reporter

Thomas Edison, 1914
Thomas Edison. c1920.Thomas Edison (1847-1931), was dubbed The Wizard of Menlo Park by a newspaper reporter, he was one of the first inventors to apply the principles of mass production to

Thomas Alba Edison 1847-1931, 1934. Thomas Alva Edison (1847-1931), American inventor and businessman, who has been described as Americas greatest inventor

Edison and Steinmetz Join Forces to Achieve Success, 1922, (c1925). Thomas Alva Edison, (1847-1931), American inventor and businessman

Thomas Alva Edison, American inventor, with his first dynamo for producing electric light, 1880s. Edison (1847-1931) was a prolific inventor who registered over 1000 patents

Thomas Alva Edison, American inventor, 1893. From The Pictorial Treasury of Famous Men and Famous Deeds published by Frederick Warne and Co. [London and New York, 1893]

The Ediswan Pointolite, c1916. The Edison and Swan Electric Light Company Limited was an English manufacturer of incandescent lamp bulbs and other electrical goods

Thomas Edison, American inventor, c1878 (1956). Edison (1847-1931) aged thirty-one, with an early model of his phonograph

Edisons incandescent lamps light up a New York art gallery, 1882 (1956). Thomas Alva Edison (1847-1931), American physicist and inventor, produced the first successful electric light bulb

American inventor Thomas Alva Edison on board an electric railroad, 1892. Edison constructed a three-mile-long trial electric railroad at his Menlo Park laboratory in New Jersey

Reproducing Speech, 1878. Artist: C A Keetels
Reproducing Speech, 1878. Demonstration of the Edison phonograph in New York. Illustration from Adventures of America, 1857-1900, by John A Kouwenhoven, published by Harper & Brothers, (New York)

Thomas Alva Edison at Menlo Park, late 1880s. Edison (1847-1931), American physicist and inventor in his laboratory at Menlo Park, New Jersey

Incandescent light bulb, 1929. Thomas Alva Edison (1847-1931), American physicist and inventor, produced the first successful electric light bulb

Thomas Alva Edison, 1888
Thomas Alva Edison, American inventor, 1888. Edison (1847-1931) listening to a recording on his phonograph. This is an electric model powered by a bichromate cell (left)

Thomas Alva Edison, American physicist and inventor, 1929. Obverse of a medal celebrating the 50th anniversary of Edisons (1847-1931) invention of the incandescent lamp in 1879

Making Edison light bulbs, 1880. Vacuum apparatus used to exhaust Edison incandescent light bulbs at G (centre top). From Scientific American. (New York, 1880)

Thomas Alva Edisons first Phonograph, 1878 (1915). In this model the cylinder on which the sound was recorded had to be rotated by hand. The instrument is shown in recording mode

Advertisement for Ediswan incandescent light bulbs, 1898. The Ediswan brand was the result of a merging of the interests of the two pioneers of electric light bulbs

Thomas Alva Edison, American inventor, 1924. Edison (1847-1931) was a prolific inventor who registered over 1000 patents, many of which were related to the development of electricity

Thomas Edison, American inventor, in his laboratory, Menlo Park, New Jersey, USA, 1870s (1920s)
Thomas Alva Edison, American inventor, in his laboratory at Menlo Park, New Jersey, USA, working on the perfection of the incandescent light bulb, 1870s (1920s)

Thomas Alva Edison, American inventor, c1906
Thomas Alva Edison, American inventor, listening to a recording on an electric model of his phonograph powered by a wet battery, c1906

Thomas Alva Edison, American inventor, c1879. Edison (1847-1931) was a prolific inventor who registered over 1000 patents, many of which were related to the development of electricity

Thomas Alva Edisons kinetographic theatre, c1892. This combined the recording of sound and vision. From a cigarette card published 1915

Thomas Alva Edisons first Phonograph, 1878. In this model the cylinder on which the sound was recorded had to be rotated by hand. Instrument in recording mode

Making recording on first model of Thomas Edisons Phonograph, c1878

Thomas Edisons Kinetographic Theatre, c1891. In this he combined the recording of sound and vision

Making a recording with, and listening to, first Edison Phonograph, 1878
First model of Edison Phonograph. Top: Making recording. Bottom: Listening to recording. Paris, April 1878

Advertisement for Edison phonograph cylinder recordings, 1900. From Scientific American. (New York, 1900). Thomas Edison (1847-1931)

Thomas Edisons improved form of JW Trowbridges electric dynamometer, 1879. Edison (1847-1931) was a prolific inventor who registered over 1000 patents

Thomas Edisons generator for electric light at his home at Menlo Park, New Jersey, USA, 1879. Behind the doors is the 80 hp engine

Edisons incandescent light globe in a table lamp fitting, 1891. The filament here is carbonised bamboo fibres. Thomas Alva Edison (1847-1931), American physicist and inventor

Edisons incandescent lamps showing various forms of carbon filament, 1883. Thomas Alva Edison (1847-1931), American physicist and inventor, produced the first successful electric light bulb

Edisons carbon filament lamp, 1880. Thomas Alva Edison (1847-1931), American physicist and inventor, produced the first successful electric light bulb

Sir Joseph Wilson Swan, scientist and inventor, c1900. Swan invented the incandescent electric lamp in Britain at about the same time as Thomas Edison patented it in the USA

Thomas Edison experimenting with electric lamps on his wedding day, 1871 (1883). Edison (right) is preoccupied with his work as his bride and other guests wait in the adjoining room

Edison carbon telephone, 1879. Wood engraving

Sending and receiving apparatus with battery box at base, Edison carbon telephone, 1890. Solid metal diaphragm. Wood engraving

Wall-mounted Edison carbon telephone with pony-crown receiver, New York, 1879. Wood engraving

Edison telephone in a wall-mounted box, New York, 1890. Wood engraving

New York telephone subscriber making call through operator at telephone exchange, 1883. Apparatus in picture used an Edison transmitter and a pony-crown receiver

For sale as Licensed Images

Choose your image, Select your licence and Download the media

Thomas Alva Edison, the brilliant American inventor and entrepreneur, revolutionized the world with his groundbreaking inventions. From his early days at The Edison Electric Illuminating Cos Station to his later years as a renowned figure in history, Edison's contributions have left an indelible mark on society. In 1888, an illustration from the series Great Americans (N76) for Duke brand cigarettes depicted Thomas Alva Edison. This portrayal showcased his prominence and influence during that era. Another notable artwork from 1880 by Nathaniel Currier and James Merritt Ives titled "The Electric Light" captured the essence of Edison's revolutionary invention. Printers sample for the Worlds Inventors souvenir album (A25) featured Thomas A. Edison, showcasing him among other great inventors of all time. In another photograph from the early 1910s, we see Thomas Alva Edison sitting beside his remarkable creation - the phonograph - which forever changed how we experience sound. Throughout his life, numerous photographs documented different stages of Thomas Edison's journey. Whether it was labeled "The Wizard of the West" in a captivating image dating back to the late 1800s or a more candid shot taken in 1914, these pictures provide glimpses into both his professional accomplishments and personal life. Edison's laboratory shelves were filled with samples of every known substance in 1902 – a testament to his tireless pursuit of knowledge and experimentation. His dedication paid off when he successfully produced electric light using his first dynamo in the 1880s. Even after passing away in 1931 at age eighty-four, Thomas Alba Edison continued to be remembered through various tributes such as a commemorative card featuring him alongside Steinmetz in their joint endeavor towards success around 1925. Additionally, a posthumous portrait released in 1934 honored this extraordinary inventor who forever changed our world. Thomas Alva Edison will forever be celebrated as a pioneer, an innovator, and a visionary.