The electrographic vote recorder

Edison's first patented invention came to fruition in 1868. The Electrographic Vote Recorder was made for legislators in Congress to vote on issues by switching a device to read either "yes" or "no" rather than handwriting each vote.

According to an archivist at the Thomas Edison National Historic Park, Edison thought this invention would make him rich. But Washington officials hated it.

Politicians quickly rejected the device out of fear it would disrupt the voting process, and Edison vowed to never again invent something that didn't have an "apparent" market.