Dickson, clearly shows the wooden
dividing wall between the main part this building and the back room (at the
north end).340
The work this laboratory the 1880s was centered two projects: insulation
for electric wires and the cylinder record for phonographs. The Dickson photograph does not
show any balances that room, but does show vacuum pump which was
probably associated with experiments incandescent bulbs the development of
electroplating techniques—in vacuum-for records.
The interior Building was much different from the building now associate
with chemical experiments. The walls both rooms are bare brick and there no
indication any wall cabinets for chemicals. Two large racks chemicals, which must have been
over six feet high, are joined together form chemical store the north end of
the main room (figure 16). It
encompassed the mixing, heating, and electrical testing numerous combinations
of chemicals.
340 NPS, "HSR-Part Chemical Laboratory, Building Edison NHS," pp. 5-6. The
requirement fireproofing meant that each batch had tested for heat
resistance and this dangerous exercise would best attempted under an
extractor hood. Figure 16, photograph W.L. The rear room might have been private experimental room for
Edison-something was determined have his new laboratory-or might
have been reserved for measuring equipment. would have required facilities heat numerous batches of
heavy tars and resins and electrical apparatus measure conductivity.
341 See correspondence among TAE, Samuel Insull, and Alfred Tate, May through July 1888 DP
1888, Electric Light-Edison Machine Works, D-88-35.K. The insulation project
was part Edison’s electrical research and was transferred from his temporary
laboratory Harrison West Orange soon the new laboratory opened.341
99
. During this period the walls
between the front and back room, now called the balance room, were sheathed
with wood panels (figure 17).
339 Fessenden, "The Inventions Reginald Fessenden," Radio News (August 1925), 156. Despite the efforts many experimenters, was difficult meet
the requirements cheap, non-conducting, waterproof and fireproof
insulation.Building Period 1887-1900
Although the drawings produced the architect Taft indicate that Building was
divided into two spaces, the plan produced Fessenden shows divided into
three equal parts.339 Note that this map was drawn long after Fessenden’s
departure from the laboratory, and the evidence provides should used
cautiously
