Thomas Edison, businessman and inventor, is remembered for the phonograph, electric light, motion picture recording and many other inventions. In fact he had around one thousand patents in the USA, plus more in other countries. He established the world's first industrial laboratory at Menlo Park, New Jersey - which today is a Museum.

This talk will be about the events of 1875 when, with scant scientific evidence, Thomas Edison announced the discovery of the "Etheric Force" which he believed was a new phenomenon which would enable electricity to travel without wires. It sounded like a good idea … others had their doubts. The whole enterprise ended in failure and ridicule, which could have ended his career. So, did he nearly invent radio?

David Crawford, IEng MIET, is Curator of the 'Wireless in Wales' Vintage Radio Museum in Denbigh.