> CP wrote --
>> True -- just like the lightbulb was parallel 'discovered'/invented on both
> sides of the Atlantic
> True, but there are those who take others ideas and improve on them.
> Benz invented the automobile c. 1885.  But by the mid 1890s others were
> taking that invention, changing this and that, improving something else,
> until they came up with a more reliable machine.
> People like Charles Duryea were building one or two hand made cars at a
> time. c. 1895.  Eli Ranson Olds had a stationary assembly line where the cars
> were pushed from one area to another around 1900.
> Ford took it a step further with interchangeable parts and used the
> moving assembly line to make a lot of cars c. 1908.  He didn't invent the
> assembly line, I think that was Colt in the 1860s, nor did he invent
> interchangeable parts.  He just took the idea

Yup - but people still think he invented something (usually "the car") that was already extrant (car, moving assembly line) -- he was genius to put the two  together, with interchasngeable parts, &, as they call it now, "a single SKU"  (sure; you can have any colour you want, so long as it's black)

I also credit him with paying his workers enough so they could support their  families appropriately AND afford to buy a Ford car.  This bit of genius has  been long forgotten or ignored, in the corporate world of today, along with the customer service commitment of Sam Walton. . .

> During Edison's time people here and in England were working on the idea
> of an electric light.  The idea was old then, it just how to do it.
> Edison came up with a filament that would last longer than a few hours.
> And yes he had a whole staff working for him and took the best idea,
> maybe made a minor change and claimed it as his own.

Yeah; but the standard now (I know--can't fairly judge the past by the filters  of today) is to give the inventor credit, but to own(& license or sell by your  own choice) the patents.

I hate tyoday's type of "entrepreneur," who buys up as company, & chops it up,  selling the patent to China, selling infrastructure to whomoever, etc, laying  everyone off, & pocketing the difference in profit. . .

I love that my current boss worked in this industry by himself, when needed,  for 30+ years before starting a business.

When he wanted to incorporate & expand, he brought in a silent partner, who  still gets dividends annually.

Now he's basivally retitredm, enjoying his grandkids, while a GM of his  choosding runs everything & leaves him to enjoy life & collect his due share of profits & revenue.

I have nothing but respect for this man -- the first I've ever had real respect for. & the only person I've ever called sir and mister & sincerely meant the  honour. (a mister was just a master(employer)

A non low-born9working class) boy became a mister when he married & thus  operated/ran his own household of people (wife, kids, servants, if applicable & farmhands, when of money & land)

Then some how we gave every male the title witghout having earned it in any  way.  Ditto for sir - a sdir was a knight -- a man of honour.  No knights now,  but I consider my bodss to be a man of honour.

I haven't grown to call the GM (my immediate boss now; my original boss is now  just friend) "sir" but I do vcall him a lesser "mister"(Mr. G) or "Jefe"(he's a PR in Mexico, whee he sdettled & immersed himself to learn the language & now  operates our company from there, with his Mexican wife, & a bunch of educated  Mexican staff. I'm the only OG employee left, so I have my way of diong certain things, so I got shifted 'upstairs' into admin, & out of Operations (most  clients are L;astionos speaking Spanish, so I'm out of that loop -- I can fake  it in French, but not Espanol. . .)

I'm still critical to the ongoing operations, though, & the GM & I influence  one another to grow & learn new things that are all client-focused.

> And don't forget Tesla who wanted alternating current and not Edison's
> direct current as the standard which led to a split.

Yup -- that was a mess -- the media went nuts with the links of each to capital punishment.

I consider Tesla to be a genius & Edison to be a practical & intelligent man.

> Edison's thinking if it works, fine, don't tinker with it.
> But others took his ideas and improved on them.

The times they are a-ch-ch-ch-changing. . .

> Bell, while not actually working on a telephone, was the first to make it
> practicable.

& someone else made the move to modems to translate from digital to analog(old 
phone lines) & back -- a necessary improvement a the time, but only then.

>> If it ain't broke, don't fix it -- normal perople If it ain't broke, fix it
> til it is
> LOL.  Gotta remember that one!

You have a similar view towards Microsoft's efforts that are now based more on  marketing than solid R&D?

Gates' dream/promise came true -- a computer in every home & so much better  than the 8086s running IBMDOS he first envisioned. . .

He also promised an ear in every home & a camera on every corner -- with the  newer Windows that's been done, too.

He played ball & delivered for the powers that be & he was permitted to grow  quite wealthy.

Trump was only permitted to grow rich, but his ego never saw the difference or  comprehended that there were doors closed to him, but open to others.

Money alone isn't enough. You can be brutal (think robber barons) but you got  to have honour & class. (& pedigree, usually)

--- BBBS/Li6 v4.10 Toy-5