was
originally partitioned off into experimental rooms.
This plan designed furnish the shop appeared 1914-1915, but it
makes attempt address both characteristics the second floor shop—the
fixedness the north side and the changeable nature the center and south
aisles. may argued that this fluidity was lingering
manifestation the flexible layout for the entire laboratory complex that Edison
envisioned 1887.1890 and
1900, and 1904, 1906, and 1914.649
848 See figures 116, 117, 118, 119, 121, 123, 124, and 125.
Furnishings the south side are somewhat sparse, because our understanding of
what happened there and when happened still comparatively vague. The emphasis moving machines and acquiring replacements to
furnish the north side appeared through the first two decades this century. By
completely enclosing the 1918-20 tool crib and coat rack, reconstructed room 5
298
. Most the walls came down
sometime between 1906 and 1913 and the space was gradually filled with
additional machine tools. 1913, the core shapers, engine lathes, and other
medium-duty machines had been established the center the south aisle.
648 See figure 122.647
Assembly, and perhaps some experimental work, took place odd assortment
of tables and free-standing benches the southeastern comer.
The most noticeable proposed change the reconstruction the plank partitions
that enclosed room There plenty evidence for accurate work, including
figures 124 and 126 (taken April 1914), figure 125 (January 1915), 1916
floorplan (figure 4), cleats that once supported the partitions still attached the
ceiling, and examples similar construction elsewhere the second floor.646 The south aisle another matter.
Later plans and photographs suggest that the arrangement machines and
benches the south side the second floor shop remained fluid through the
1920s and 1930s.648 One the old
experimental rooms, room near the elevator, remained intact through 1916.Building Precision Machine Shop, Second Floor
The arrangement machine tools the north aisle the second floor precision
shop largely unchanged from that shown photographs taken ca.
647 "Edison Laboratoiy, Inventory taken October, 1913“ Edison NHS collection.
849 Figure 129 shows the interior; the exterior appears figures 124 and 125
