Swan, a British physicist and chemist, began experimenting with carbon filaments for incandescent lamps as early as the 1850s. His early models failed because the vacuum pumps of the time were not effective enough. In 1878, with better vacuum technology, Swan successfully demonstrated a working lamp with a carbonized paper filament to a live audience.
After Edison patented his more successful, long-lasting bulb in 1879, Swan's strong patents forced them to collaborate and form the "Ediswan" company in Britain. Swan's improved carbon filament, developed in 1881, became an industry standard, which was used by Ediswan and later by General Electric.
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