Help! Ds11 has to dress like Thomas Edison on Monday!

[ruadisneyfan2]

Some background....
Each marking period ds11 has to read a book for school, then do some small project on it. First one he made a poster, all was good. This time it had to be a biography & then give a speech about it. He is used to this and isn't worried. Now he tells me yesterday that he has to dress like the person whose biography he read. OMG! How does one dress like Thomas Edison? I have no idea.
Ds suggested he wear his suit to school since back in those days men almost always wore suits. Dh has a paperboy style cap too but what else?

Hold a light bulb in his hand while giving the talk?

I'm so at a loss & not very creative to begin with.

Any ideas?

 

[cornflake]

You know there was photography around at the time, right? Below, Edison young, Edison older, Edison posing with his phonograph (cause full suit visible), the guys who worked in one of Edison's shops, for general males of the era comparison.

 

[TheElectricMayhem]

Perhaps you could have him wear his newsboy cap, a white button up and pants? I don't think the suit is necessary. I hate these kinds of impossible school projects that just make parents jump through hoops and teach the kids nothing. I kind of refuse to spend much time worrying about this kind of stuff.

 

[StarNova]

Here's a picture of Edison at work in a lab coat http://www.heritage-images.com/Preview/PreviewPage.aspx?id=1158117&pricing=true&licenseType=RM

Costume for your DS could be:

cheap lab coat (you can usually find these at a resale shop where they sell nursing scrubs)

or a white button up shirt with white pants

bowtie (clip on is the easiest. I would try kid's clothing resale shop or goodwill / thrift shops. Ask family or friend if you could borrow one for the day)

http://www.wonderhowto.com/how-to-make-magic-lightbulb-425545/

If you or hubby are handy, you can make a magic light bulb. You need a light bulb, an LED, and some batteries.