I believe the smashing the egg is attributed to Filippo Brunelleschi, a Florentine architect (1377-1446), when he was trying to obtain the commission to design the dome of the Duomo (cathedral in Florence). He smashed the egg to demonstrate to the judges his particular method of dome construction.
I believe the obvious part of (attributed to Edison) was also repeated in a 1950's television interview by Walter Chronkite (interview by Chronkite, not smashing of the egg).
Slashdot Mirror
I believe the smashing the egg is attributed to Filippo Brunelleschi, a Florentine architect (1377-1446), when he was trying to obtain the commission to design the dome of the Duomo (cathedral in Florence). He smashed the egg to demonstrate to the judges his particular method of dome construction. I believe the obvious part of (attributed to Edison) was also repeated in a 1950's television interview by Walter Chronkite (interview by Chronkite, not smashing of the egg).