When Edison was testing filaments he looked for materials that did not melt easily when heated. He also discovered that he wanted materials that had a high resistance. Resistance is a measure of how well a wire prevents the passage of electricity through the wire. In order to increase the resistance of a metal wire, Edison created coiled filaments, so a longer wire could be used in the same space. (Longer wires have a higher resistance.)

Platinum is a rare metal, with a very high melting point (1772¾C) and a high resistance. Because platinum is rare, Edison was concerned that he might not be able to obtain enough for his lamps.