Thomas Edison

Thomas Alva Edison (1847–1931). Thomas Edison was an American inventor and businessman who held 1,093 patents. He's best known for the light bulb, but he also invented the phonograph and made significant contributions to telegraphy, telephony, and motion pictures. Edison's genius was in improving existing technologies to make them more affordable and practical.

These men became such close friends over the years, that Thomas Edison, Henry Ford, and Harvey Firestone had homes in Fort Myers, Florida, at the site now known as the Edison Ford Winter Estates. Edison built his home, "Seminole Lodge," Henry Ford purchased the adjoining property, "The Mangoes," and Harvey Firestone was a frequent guest who also camped with Edison and Ford in the Florida wilderness.

Thomas Edisons’ son Charles, which contained air from his father's room, with paraffin wax after Edison died in 1931. The sealed test tube said to hold Thomas Edison's dying breath was given to the inventor's friend and mentee, Henry Ford by Charles. The tube symbolizes the strong friendship between Thomas and Henry and serves as a unique relic of the authentic friendship.

Henry Ford

Henry Ford (1863–1947) As the founder of the Ford Motor Company, he is credited as a pioneer in making automobiles affordable for middle-class Americans through assembly line production.

Thomas suggested to Henry that he not use kerosene lanterns on his new automobiles. With Henry’s support, Thomas went to work developing batteries and electric lights for vehicles.

Harvey Firestone

Harvey Samuel Firestone Sr. (1868–1938) was an American businessman, and the founder of the Firestone Tire and Rubber Company. Firestone was focused on making bicycle tires, his relationship with Henry Ford propelled him into one of the first global makers of automobile tires.

Henry Ford executed the largest contract for 2,000 sets at $55 a set with Harvey Firestone. It was the singles largest contract for tires in the world. Thomas Edison, began investigating alternative natural rubber sources as he spent time with tire magnet Henry Firestone. In the 1920s, understanding the impact of WWI and importing rubber, Thomas Edison began his search for a home-grown source of rubber with Henry Firestone. The U.S. imported rubber from Southeast Asia and the East Indies. Edison experimented with a variety of plants at his laboratories. In 1927, Ford and Edison, along with Harvey Firestone, co-founded the Edison Botanic Research Corporation in Florida to research and develop a domestic source of rubber.

John Burroughs (1837–1921) was a prominent American naturalist and nature essayist, known for his influential writings that captured his unique perceptions of the natural world and promoted nature conservation.

His first essay collection, Wake-Robin, was published in 1871, and he authored numerous other popular books. Burroughs was also a biographer of Walt Whitman, and his literary legacy includes the creation of the nature essay as an American genre.

John Burroughs

Sun Valley Lodge

Since 1983, Allen & Co’s exclusive, invitation-only gathering each July at Sun Valley Lodge in Idaho is the ultimate media & finance networking experience. It is often called Summer Camp for Billionaires. It is a formula that works. Significant business originating at camp:

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Where genuine friendships emerge among extraordinary people

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