GE co-founder Elihu Thomson discusses growing up in the 1860’s in unearthed video—
We can read all the history books in the world, and still, there’s something magical about hearing about a time period firsthand, from someone who actually lived in it. Especially since, depending on how far back you go, it can be incredibly rare.
Take for instance this video interview, originally filmed in 1932 (wow), which was colorized and shared to Youtube by the ‘Life in the 1800s’ Channel. It features Elihu Thomson, an English-America engineer and inventor who helped bring mainstream electricity to America.
But this video isn’t about his career, but about his childhood memories while living in Philadelphia in the 1860s.
MuchoftheconversationrevolvedaroundThomson’sfirstelectricalexperiments.Apparently,theyoung,preciousladwas“forcedoutofhighschool”whenhewasonly11,andteachersrecommendedthatheusehissparetwoyearsto“keepawayfromthebooksandtodevelopphysically.”
That,however,didn’tflywithpreteenThomson,whosaid“ifyoudothatyoumightaswellkillmenow,becauseI’vegottohavemybooks.”Hey,atl
