Edison Patent Model Lamps

Historic Edison Collection

Most Famous Lamps in the World

Famous Edison Lamp Collection DISCOVERED After Century in Darkness

Patent Model Lamps and Patent Drawing Lamps - The testimony below is from "Edison Electric Light Company vs. United States Electric Light Company," Circuit Court of the United States, Southern District of New York. The testimony is that of John W. Howell, taken on July 12, 1890. John Howell was asked questions by Richard N. Dyer, Esq. (attorney for Edison) about the coil design of his Tar-putty filaments. In the testimony, Howell provides several notable facts. His testimony indicates that the filament coil on his first 18 lamps are modeled after the coil sketch found in Edison's patent drawing found in U. S. Patent 223,898 (the patent in suit). Howell's testimony then states, " The other spiral lamps are coiled more closely that this, about the same as the Patent Office model of the patent in suit . . ." (Edison's Menlo Park 1881 Lamp "8", Edison's Menlo Park 1881 Lamp "9", and Edison's Menlo Park 1881 Lamp "10").

A comparison of each Tar-putty lamp number with the filament type match the facts Howell gives in his testimony. The lamp numbers (listed below) are categorized as follows: The number without parentheses found on the paper label located near the tip of each lamp indicates the lamp's position in the collection. The number set off with parentheses (#) found on the label near the lamp base (crossed out by pencil lines) indicate the court exhibit number. Loosely coiled filament lamps - Lamp 1 (10), Lamp 4 (8), Lamp 5 (6), and Lamp 7 (2 - on "4454" label). Closely coiled filament lamps - Lamp 2 (22), Lamp 3 (19), and Lamp 6 (26).

The image below is from the Edison Infringement Trial Transcript - (Volume V, pg. 3489)

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