The Edison enterprise lost
skilled managers, such William Maxwell, that could ill
afford lose. The weekly wage a
mechanical engineer was fixed $35-$40— the same amount as
fixed scale wages for laborers, electrician's helpers, and
derrick men. Edison
still maintained his personal staff muckers, but they were
there his pick and carry work rather than challenging
experiments.^ Bureaucrats and clerks could earn more than the
men who actually did the engineering work laboratory and
Works. still employed professional chemists when
needed, and many were trained German universities. Several senior
executives left their own accord find better, and more
secure, positions the 1920s.XIII-26
to fill the requirement for skilled workers. fact there was little need for them in
the mundane daily work the laboratory the 1920s.^
Edison's prestige could longer offset the low wages
and job insecurity and attract first-class men the West
Orange laboratory. was greatly reduced Edison organization that
survived the phonograph depression 1921. Several
product engineers had academic credentials, including Dr. Gibbs
. The great purges
had cut deep scar the organization. The very low wages
of West Orange reduced the flow highly skilled machinists
and engineers the laboratory. added Edison's
reputation for firing men whenever there was slackening off
of demand, and probably encouraged many the professional
C O
staff look elsewhere for employment
