" order to
reduce the costs the Machine Works, Insull asked the lab to
return all scrap the Works. also insisted bills being
presented promptly and regular periods, and argued that no
other concern the United States would "dare" business
in this manner. Insull knew all the
"old man's" financial ploys, having devised many them while
he was Edison's secretary."
This search proved long and difficult.2
retardant, and flexible. Insull
complained about the high prices used billing, which were
about twice the normal cost for materials, and commented that
"some the charges are simply outrageous. ^
The development new insulation involved close
. 2
settle anything short time. knew that the accounting
techniques used West Orange favored Edison, and that the
longer the delay billing, the more likelihood Edison
adding other (non-related) experiments the bill. This was easy task. Numerous
materials were tried but few could successfully fit all three
criteria. Edison owned 90% the stock of
the Edison Machine Works, but his friend and associate, Samuel
Insull, had insist prompt and accurate billing for
experiments carried out the laboratory. The longer the search for better insulation went
on, the more stressed the working relationship between
laboratory and Machine Works. Edison
responded assuring Kruesi that the problem would solved
in the new West Orange laboratory, which had facilities "to
