Uploaded November 2020 | Updated September 2026, 1 day ago
The original catalog description provided by the Ford Motor Company reads as follows:
Thomas A, Edison, Charles P. Steinmetz, and others in laboratory.
“Dr. Steinmetz explained some of his recent experiments to his distinguished visitor and interested listener.”
Steinmetz talking to Edison.
“Mr. Edison was shown what a million volts would do to a piece of wood --”
Block of wood on table, block disappearing, reappearing, falling over.
“-- or a porcelain insulator.”
Insulator breaking.
“They discussed electricity’s mighty power and future. It was their last heart-to-heart talk and it seems as though the motion picture took advantage of this opportunity to do its best in recording its inventor, Thomas A. Edison, and his close friend, Dr. Chas, P. Steinmetz.”
Edison and Steinmetz looking at equipment and talking.
“Mr. Edison and Dr. Steinmetz took a ride around the plant; greeted by the twenty thousand employees. It was their last journey together. Dr. Steinmetz completed his Earthly work October 26, 1923.”
Steinmetz, Edison, and another man in open car, crowd of workers.
“The incandescent lamp will stand forever as a symbol of the will and determination of a great genius.”
Early incandescent lamp.
“As it is made to shine brighter and brighter by those who are devoting their lives to its development --”
Two lamps, one early, the other later.
“-- may it awaken in us a realization of what we owe its inventor, Thomas A. Edison."
Worker holding large light bulb.
“Dr. Coolidge also invented ductile tungsten. Mr. Edison was extremely interested in the process of manufacture as explained by Dr. Coolidge.”
William D. Coolidge explaining machine to Edison and Steinmetz.
“Ductile tungsten is the strongest known metal and is used for filaments in all Mazda lamps. Its invention marked the greatest advance in the incandescent lamp since its birth.”
View of bulb.
“Mr. Edison’s intense interest in the work of Dr. Irving Langmuir, inventor of the gas filled incandescent lamp --”
Dr. Langmuir and Edison looking at lamps in laboratory.
“-- was exceeded only by his amazement at the latest achievement, an incandescent lamp (for experimental purposes) consuming forty horse power of electrical energy --”
Dr. Langmuir showing Edison large light bulb.
“-- a lamp having an illuminating ability equal to more than five thousand of Mr. Edison’s first lamps.”
Edison and Langmuir talking.
“It must be remembered that Dr. Irving Langmuir invented the ‘high power vacuum’ tube.”
Langmuir explaining tube to Edison.
“The vacuum tube makes our present day radio possible.”
Hand holding radio tube.
“We can easily imagine Mr. Edison’s pleasure in meeting again his world renowned friend, Dr. Charles P. Steinmetz.”
Steinmetz and Edison walking in plant yard.
“Dr. Steinmetz, father of the high tension alternating current system, which brings the power of the distant waterfalls to the service of man.”
“-- by which a lamp is produced in a few minutes at a small cost.”
Views of women workers at machines in shop - light bulbs in various stages of manufacture.
“Mr. Edison was so impressed that he expressed a desire to see more, and a few days later motored one hundred and fifty miles to the Research Laboratory at Schenectady, N.Y. --”
“-- to visit the scientists who are delving into the unknown and revealing its mysteries for the good of man. Mr. Edison is greeted by Dr. W.R. Whitney, Director of Research.”
Edison and Whitney shaking hands in office.
“When the inventor of the Incandescent Lamp wrote his name in the Visitors’ Book, it dated a meeting of five of the most eminent contributors to the world’s well-being: Thomas Alva Edison, Dr. W.R. Whitney, Dr. W.D. Coolidge, Dr. Irving Langmuir, Dr. Charles P. Steinmetz.”
Whitney handing Edison pen, Edison writing in book.
“Dr. Whitney told Mr. Edison how he came to invent the metalized carbon filament --”
Whitney and Edison in laboratory.
“-- an achievement which established a new mile-post in the efficiency of incandescent illumination.”
Edison examining filament, listening to Whitney.
“No greater scientific contribution was ever made to suffering humanity than the Coolidge X-ray tube.” [1923]
The original catalog description provided by the Ford Motor Company reads as follows:
Thomas A, Edison, Charles P. Steinmetz, and others in laboratory.
“Dr. Steinmetz explained some of his recent experiments to his distinguished visitor and interested listener.”
Steinmetz talking to Edison.
“Mr. Edison was shown what a million volts would do to a piece of wood --”
Block of wood on table, block disappearing, reappearing, falling over.
“-- or a porcelain insulator.”
Insulator breaking.
“They discussed electricity’s mighty power and future. It was their last heart-to-heart talk and it seems as though the motion picture took advantage of this opportunity to do its best in recording its inventor, Thomas A. Edison, and his close friend, Dr. Chas, P. Steinmetz.”
Edison and Steinmetz looking at equipment and talking.
“Mr. Edison and Dr. Steinmetz took a ride around the plant; greeted by the twenty thousand employees. It was their last journey together. Dr. Steinmetz completed his Earthly work October 26, 1923.”
Steinmetz, Edison, and another man in open car, crowd of workers.
“The incandescent lamp will stand forever as a symbol of the will and determination of a great genius.”
Early incandescent lamp.
“As it is made to shine brighter and brighter by those who are devoting their lives to its development --”
Two lamps, one early, the other later.
“-- may it awaken in us a realization of what we owe its inventor, Thomas A. Edison."
Worker holding large light bulb.
“Dr. Coolidge also invented ductile tungsten. Mr. Edison was extremely interested in the process of manufacture as explained by Dr. Coolidge.”
William D. Coolidge explaining machine to Edison and Steinmetz.
“Ductile tungsten is the strongest known metal and is used for filaments in all Mazda lamps. Its invention marked the greatest advance in the incandescent lamp since its birth.”
View of bulb.
“Mr. Edison’s intense interest in the work of Dr. Irving Langmuir, inventor of the gas filled incandescent lamp --”
Dr. Langmuir and Edison looking at lamps in laboratory.
“-- was exceeded only by his amazement at the latest achievement, an incandescent lamp (for experimental purposes) consuming forty horse power of electrical energy --”
Dr. Langmuir showing Edison large light bulb.
“-- a lamp having an illuminating ability equal to more than five thousand of Mr. Edison’s first lamps.”
Edison and Langmuir talking.
“It must be remembered that Dr. Irving Langmuir invented the ‘high power vacuum’ tube.”
Langmuir explaining tube to Edison.
“The vacuum tube makes our present day radio possible.”
Hand holding radio tube.
“We can easily imagine Mr. Edison’s pleasure in meeting again his world renowned friend, Dr. Charles P. Steinmetz.”
Steinmetz and Edison walking in plant yard.
“Dr. Steinmetz, father of the high tension alternating current system, which brings the power of the distant waterfalls to the service of man.”
“-- by which a lamp is produced in a few minutes at a small cost.”
Views of women workers at machines in shop - light bulbs in various stages of manufacture.
“Mr. Edison was so impressed that he expressed a desire to see more, and a few days later motored one hundred and fifty miles to the Research Laboratory at Schenectady, N.Y. --”
“-- to visit the scientists who are delving into the unknown and revealing its mysteries for the good of man. Mr. Edison is greeted by Dr. W.R. Whitney, Director of Research.”
Edison and Whitney shaking hands in office.
“When the inventor of the Incandescent Lamp wrote his name in the Visitors’ Book, it dated a meeting of five of the most eminent contributors to the world’s well-being: Thomas Alva Edison, Dr. W.R. Whitney, Dr. W.D. Coolidge, Dr. Irving Langmuir, Dr. Charles P. Steinmetz.”
Whitney handing Edison pen, Edison writing in book.
“Dr. Whitney told Mr. Edison how he came to invent the metalized carbon filament --”
Whitney and Edison in laboratory.
“-- an achievement which established a new mile-post in the efficiency of incandescent illumination.”
Edison examining filament, listening to Whitney.
“No greater scientific contribution was ever made to suffering humanity than the Coolidge X-ray tube.” [1923]
![Signing of the Treaty of Versailles [Stock footage, good quality]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/3ar3y3NCpCQ/mqdefault.jpg "Signing of the Treaty of Versailles [Stock footage, good quality]
The signing of the Peace Treaty of Versailles, June 28, 1919.")
