Because most the large machines were their present locations 1906, the
shop can interpreted from that time, even with 1915 furnishings plan. McGarvey, New York Appraisal Company, "Inventory and Appraisal," 1920; "Edison Laboratory,
Inventory taken October, 1913. several cases the person who compiled the earlier list improperly described
particular machines misattributed them reading the dealer’s plate instead the builder’s." The 1920 appraisal lists each machine maker, type, and general size
(swing bed length for lathes, stroke for shapers, table dimensions for milling machines and planers, etc.Building Heavy Machine Shop, First Floor
The largest tools the heavy machine shop have been place since the
laboratory opened 1887. The gross
numbers lathes, milling machines, shapers, and other machines match fairly well but the descriptions of
some specific machines not.
The furnishings listed below were selected reflect the shop’s appearance during
the early years World War Structural modifications, including stairway
that was added 1914 and replacement wood windows with steel frames and
sash 1915, preclude furnishing the space earlier date.)
Most the machines, listed some detail the 1920 appraisal, appear the 1913 inventory.636
636 J.
A comprehensive set large format photographs taken April 1914, 1916
architectural drawings Building and detailed 1920 appraisal and sketch
plan the machine tools are the principal evidence for this plan. Small benches and stools appear have been moved
270
.637 Benches and cabinets can identified earlier photographs and
compared with those photos taken part the 1939 inventory confirm
their existence and location. The shop divided functionally, with the heaviest machines in
the center aisle, where they can served the crane-way.
fi37 See Photograph Albums (catalog 547), (catalog 548), and (catalog 549), and the E-Card files. Given this
appearance inexperience carelessness, the 1913 inventory should used advisedly. October
1913, inventory helpful, but contains too many errors completely
reliable. Smaller lathes, shapers, and drill presses are scattered throughout the
space with the largest drill presses along the cross-aisle near the west end the
shop.
E-Cards were company-initiated museum cataloging system begun after Edison’s death. Large lathes line the
south aisle and milling machines are clustered the eastern end the north
aisle.C.
Shop furniture and machine accessories were inventoried for the first time in
1939. Smaller machines were rearranged the early years
of this century but beginning 1906, historic photographs, floor plans, and
inventories show remarkable degree continuity the arrangement the
shop’s equipment.
There were number significant changes the management structure of
Edison’s laboratory during the second decade this century, but they had
relatively little impact the physical appearance the heavy machine shop
