The Pioneer of Electric Wall Plugs: Tomas Taylor Smith and Hervey Hubbell

Electricity has revolutionized how we live, and the evolution of the electric wall plug is a fascinating journey through innovation and practicality. While many people mistakenly associate the invention of the plug with Thomas Edison, it was in fact Tomas Taylor Smith and Hervey Hubbell who played significant roles in shaping our modern electrical infrastructure.

Innovations of Tomas Taylor Smith

Electricity began its widespread use around the late 1800s, with Thomas Edison introducing his Edison screw base for light fixtures in 1880. In 1882, Tomas Taylor Smith, a designer from London, came up with an invention that would shape the future of electrical safety and functionality. Smith received a patent for his invention, which included a plug and socket. This early design laid the groundwork for modern electric wall plugs and contributed to the rise of electric lighting.

The patent described a simple yet effective method for connecting lights to the wall, which was fundamental for the domestic use of electricity. The resemblance of Smith's original design to modern European sockets is clear, pointing to the significant influence his invention had on future developments.

The Frontiers of Hervey Hubbell

Hervey Hubbell, often credited with refining and modernizing the electric plug, entered the scene later. However, it is crucial to note that Hubbell was not the very first. His initial patent from 1904 featured sockets with round prongs, closely resembling modern European-style plugs. Over time, Hubbell modified his design to introduce flat prongs, which were horizontally positioned and installed horizontally in the socket.

Hubbell's innovation in 1912 was to rotate the prongs, which generated the plug design that is still in use today. This design, with prongs positioned horizontally, forms the foundation of the common two-prong plug that became widespread in the United States.

The Emergence of the Two-Prong Plug

The two-prong plug, as we recognize it today, was invented by Hervey Hubbell. Prior to this, homes were wired only for overhead electric lights using the Edison screw base. Early appliances required screw-in plugs, which could be fitted into light sockets designed for bulbs. As technology advanced, Edison introduced screw-in wall sockets for appliances, but these had significant safety issues.

Safety was a major concern, especially for children who could accidentally touch the open socket. One such incident famously occurred with Hervey Hubbell's little brother, who touched an exposed socket, jumping across the room in fright. Hubbell responded to this by inventing the two-prong plug and a screw-n adapter. This invention addressed the critical safety concerns of the time.

If you wished to use a new iron with a two-prong plug into an overhead light socket, you would use a screw-n adapter. Similarly, if you had an appliance with a screw-in plug and needed to connect it to a two-prong socket, you could use a similar adapter. These adapters allowed for the safe and convenient integration of appliances with the existing lighting infrastructure.

Edison Electric Company's Influence

In the United States, the most popular forms of outlets were those from the Edison electric company. Interestingly, modern Edison outlets are quite different from those from its early days. Modern outlets have a larger neutral prong hole, which ensures that the plug is inserted correctly, preventing accidental reversals and further enhancing safety.

During Edison's era, the prong sizes were the same, allowing for some confusion. Plugging a plug into these sockets could result in the neutral being disconnected and the lamp turning off, while the hot wire remained live, posing a significant safety risk.

Conclusion

The journey of the electric wall plug is a testament to the ingenuity and adaptation of human invention. Tomas Taylor Smith and Hervey Hubbell played pivotal roles in shaping the modern electric plug, ensuring safety and functionality in our daily lives. Their contributions have evolved into the complex and sophisticated systems we take for granted today, paving the way for a fully electrified world.