One of the most successful branding campaigns, ever, was linking electric utility companies to Thomas Edison’s name. It’s as if we called all automobiles “Fords.” Edison did not invent electric light or power generation, although he definitely improved on what was available before he started. He was on the wrong side of the DC versus AC fight, and fortunately lost that battle. In other words, he was one part of a vast technological change, but somehow 140 years after he started selling power in New York I still send a check every month to the Consolidated Edison Company.
A manhole cover seen on the street in Detroit seems like an appropriate place to leave the touristing behind.
