Edison vs. Tesla | Prometheus’ Fire | 1
American History Tellers
Audible
4.6 • 19K Ratings
🗓️ 6 May 2026
⏱️ 44 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
In the 1870s, the age of artificial light was still in its infancy. Gas lamps cast a dim glow on city streets, and early arc lights were just beginning to appear in a handful of public spaces. But reliable, practical light for homes and businesses remained out of reach for most people. Then, in 1878, America’s most famous inventor, Thomas Edison, witnessed a demonstration of a novel electric generator and had a spark of inspiration.
Edison was convinced that he would be the one to harness electricity to illuminate the world. He set his sights on an audacious goal: not just to improve the light bulb, but to build a system capable of lighting an entire city. It was a vision that would demand years of relentless experimentation and push him to the brink of failure. And just as his system flickered to life, a new rival would emerge — one with a radically different vision of electricity.
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Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | Hello, American history teller listeners. I have an exciting announcement. I'm going on tour and coming to a theater near you. |
| 0:06.8 | This live show is a thrilling evening of history, storytelling, and music with a full band accompanying me as we look back to explore the days that made America. |
| 0:15.4 | And they aren't the days that you might think. Sure, everyone knows July 4th, 1776. We'll be hearing a lot about that date this year, |
| 0:22.4 | but there are many other days that are maybe even more influential. So come out to see me |
| 0:26.9 | live. More shows to be announced soon. So for information on tickets and upcoming dates, |
| 0:31.8 | go to American History Live.com. That's American History Live.com. Come see my Days That Made America tour, live on stage. |
| 0:40.2 | Go to American History Live.com. |
| 0:46.6 | Imagine it's Sunday, September 8th, 1878, and in Sonia, Connecticut. |
| 0:53.9 | You're the owner of a successful brass and copper foundry, but your real passion is technology. |
| 0:59.7 | Today, you're excited because you're expecting an esteemed guest, the famous inventor Thomas |
| 1:04.5 | Edison. |
| 1:05.4 | It's rare that he takes a break from his busy workshop, but a mutual friend convinced him to visit |
| 1:10.0 | your foundry to take a look at something you've been tinkering with, a new electric lighting system. |
| 1:14.6 | So as you wait for him to arrive, you nervously check your electrical generator called a dynamo, which feeds electricity through copper wiring to a row of arc lights you've hung on the wall. |
| 1:24.6 | The foundry door opens, and in walks Edison, wearing a floppy |
| 1:29.2 | straw hat and loose linen coat. You hold out your hand to greet him. Oh, it's a real honor to have |
| 1:35.4 | you here, Mr. Edison. I know you're a busy man. He copps a hand to his year. You've been warned that he |
| 1:41.4 | has trouble hearing, so you move closer to repeat your welcome, |
| 1:44.6 | but he waves you away with a distracted smile and walks over to the wall of lights. |
| 1:49.3 | Well, our friend here's been telling me about your new invention. Let's have a look. |
| 1:53.3 | Well, of course, as you can see, the lights are all powered by my improved dynamo. I call it |
| 1:58.7 | the telemacon, and it's quite unique. |
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