Science and technology in the United States finish. For example, the British engineer Joseph Swan built an incandescent electric lamp in 1860, almost 20 years before Edison. But Edison's light bulbs lasted much longer than Swan's, and they could be turned on and off individually, while Swan's bulbs could be used only in a system where several lights were turned on or off at the same time. Edison followed up his improvement of the light bulb with the development of electrical generating systems. Within 30 years, his inventions had introduced electric lighting into millions of homes. Another landmark application of scientific ideas to practical uses was the
Banker's lamp Banker's lamp The banker's lamp (or Emeralite) is a style of electric table lamp characterised by a brass stand, green glass lamp shade and pull-chain switch (though modern versions may make use of alternate switch types). Other examples can feature different colors of glass. The first patent for a banker's lamp was filed on 11 May 1909 by Harrison D. McFaddin and were produced and sold under the brand name Emeralite ("emerald" and "light"). Emeralite lamp shades were produced by the J. Schreiber & Neffen factory located in the city of Rapotín, Moravia. Later competitors were sold as "Greenalite", "Verdelite"