one product reached maturity and then
began its decline, another came take its place. The division function between
R&D and production engineering was finalized during the 1930s
and 1940s: the lab was devoted research while product
development groups worked the operating divisions. R&D still played important part the organization. solvent the 1930s. Building
5 the West Orange complex still contained the personnel and
equipment the research effort until 1953, when modern
facility was built nearby Watchung Avenue. McGraw Edison, was then called, slowly
dismantled the West Orange complex. Today all the factory
buildings are gone except the storage battery plant across the
road from Building The Edison laboratory sits alone, still
giving the mistaken impression that the lab was free standing
.XIV-21
The divisional structure TAE Inc. The new
laboratory was unexceptional, one-story building the
international architectural style. the McGraw Electric
Company. had helped it
weather the storm the Depression and the decline its core
phonograph business.
The Annual Report 1948 stressed that "Research Assures
40
Progress and Quality. The
instrument division matured the 1940s and helped arm America
during the Second World War. The storage
battery and Ediphone kept TAE Inc. contained experimental
rooms and began with only employees— far cry from the
grandiose plans and impressive size Edison's laboratory in
1887."
Charles Edison sold TAE Inc
