Thomas Edison Aquarium Heater
According to Leonard DeGraff, archivist at the Thomas Edison National Historical Park, the Edicraft Division of Thomas A. Edison Inc. manufactured a range of consumer products to bolster factory operations because of phonograph business decline in the late 1920s. The Edicraft line produced various appliances including coffee makers, sandwich grills, toasters, and, as seen in this catalogue, aquarium heaters.
DeGraff notes, “We have no evidence that Thomas Edison was personally involved in these products, although the company used his name and image to advertise them. By that time, Edison’s work focused on rubber research.” In an article for The Birthplace Museum of Thomas A. Edison, Dillon Liskai explains that Edicraft products were manufactured and distributed “under the purview” of Thomas Edison’s son, Charles.1
Despite no direct involvement on Thomas Edison’s part, this aquarium heater stands out as a unique product released alongside more common household goods like toasters, hot plates, and refrigerators. It also serves as a historical relic of Edison-branded items following the ultimate closure of the company during the Great Depression. See this very interesting catalogue advertisement for it below.
The ad opens by underlining the importance of purchasing dependable aquarium heaters and thermostats, as “Their proper performance too often is a matter of life or death to valuable fish.” Establishing the high stakes nature of aquarium heating, it continues by reassuring potential customers of the quality design and dependable construction of the Thomas A. Edison Laboratories heater.
If you, or anyone you know, have access to one of these heaters, please contact us!
MOAPH1: https://www.tomedison.org/blog/how-edison-branding-became-ubiquitous
