The announcement caused gas company stocks to plummet. In 1878, a young Edison stated that he could create a safer, cheaper, and more reliable incandescent light to replace existing gas lights in just six weeks. Countless chemists, physicists, and inventors clamored for the honor and substantial payoff. Edison, an undisputed visionary, was not the only one competing to develop the first commercial incandescent bulb. Edison is solely credited with inventing the modern incandescent light bulb after 10,000 attempts. Who Invented The Incandescent Light Bulb: Edison v. The middle class used cheap tallow candles while the poor used rushlights, makeshift candles made from reeds dipped in animal or vegetable fat and ignited, which burned for a short time. Wealthy aristocrats used beeswax and spermaceti candles to light up their lavish households. They were also dangerous and required constant attention. These early sources of illumination emitted a weak light, smoked, and gave off foul odors.
In the 18th century, candles and oil lamps illuminated many light fixtures in most homes and businesses. However, on most clear nights, the moon and starlight were strong enough to navigate at night. In wooded areas, bark was strategically cut from trees to expose the lighter wood underneath. In The Downs, an area near the English Channel, patches of chalky soil were used as beacons known as down lanterns.
Before the arrival of electric lighting, people used a variety of tricks for navigating their neighborhoods at night.