The high ceiling and large open spaces made this floor suitable for function that
Edison had considered when planned the laboratory-an exhibition hall show
off his latest inventions. The commercial promotion invention was an
important element the business innovation.
Exhibition and demonstration space was important Edison the new
laboratory. was expert manipulating the press provide
free advertising for his work.48 possible this demonstration took place the third floor. Edison wanted bring the
products his laboratory the public’s attention and also needed attract
capital from financiers.one sketch done Notebook N-87-00-00.3.
48 Charles Batchelor diary, catalog 1337, November 11,1887, 27.
Work motion pictures did not commence until 1888 after the main laboratory
building was completed. Edison’s sketches
for the new laboratory included projection room for lantern slides, but there is
no evidence the finished laboratory included special room for that purpose.
47 Drawing Notebook N-87-00-00.
24
. The enclosed area, whose exact purpose unknown,
abutted the south wall, Lakeside Avenue. 1886, Bell and Tainter demonstrated talking
machine using wax cylinders.
Although many details Building remained unfinished, Edison exhibited new
model phonograph members the National Academy Sciences November
11.
It appears that the third floor was divided two floor-to-ceiling partitions which
ran north south and divided this floor into three large spaces. Within the
westernmost room (also known the music room), Edison established recording
studio shown figure 132. The windows behind and the right
of the piano player overlooked Main Street.3 these rooms are assigned the third
floor, but contemporary source located them the second floor.
Building Third Floor
This floor remained empty when work began the laboratory November 1887. Experiments improved commercial talking machine required
such areas, would the future development motion pictures.46
48 Dickson and Dickson, The Life and Inventions Thomas Alva Edison, 295. Edison knew that had move quickly recover
the lead this race develop commercial technology sound recording.47
The most pressing job for Edison his new West Orange laboratory was make
up the ground lost Charles Sumner Tainter and Chichester Bell improving
the tin foil phonograph 1877
