Artifact #4

DISCOVERED

After a Century in Darkness

Edison Trial Evidence Collection

"Edison Electric Light Company vs. United States Electric Light Company"

Tar-putty Lamp No. 4

Tar-putty Lamp Label - No. 8

Tar-putty Lamp No. 4 is also labeled Tar-putty Lamp Exhibit No. 8

"Edison Electric Light Company vs. United States Electric Light Company"

Tar-putty Lamp #4 (8) The quarter courtroom square label located near the evacuation tip has a hand written "4" in black ink. The older courtroom exhibit label located near the base is marked in dark ink with the number "8" and marked out by pencil. Lamp #4 is one of the lamps made specifically for exhibit in the famous Edison patent suit. Made by John W. Howell in 1890 to the specifications in Edison's U.S. patent 223,898.

In this battle, Edison's competition was winning the legal fight until Edison presented these lamps as evidence. In patent law, this Tar-putty lamp evidence is the most important patent exhibit ever offered in the courtroom. This is the evidence that won the most famous technology infringement trial in history. This famous Tar-putty lamp #4 has a seven loop filament and two paper labels. The label located near the tip is marked with a "4" in the center. The older courtroom exhibit label located at the base is marked in dark ink with the number "8" and marked out by pencil. The seven Edison Tar-putty lamps in this collection are the only lamps of their kind known to exist that are documented as the actual courtroom evidence.

2007 is this lamp's 117 th. Anniversary

Go To the Collection Group Exhibit

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