Underwood, president the
Underwood Manufacturing Company, offered install his company’s patent
cotton-leather belting for free.H.H. 1887, Edison purchased three Babcock and
Wilcox boilers 219 horsepower. Underwood got the order.
.61 One these was the first piece machinery delivered to
the laboratory, arriving September 19, 1887.
In attempt secure large order for belting, F.
84 F.
Coal was probably kept the space between Buildings and 4. For examples,
see Vouchers 504, 697, and 698.
83 C.
62 Charles Batchelor diary, catalog 1337, September 19, 1887. Thesé large boilers were made order, was
the practice this time, and came with ornamental fronts embellished with the
Edison name.52
The boilers generated steam heat the laboratory complex and drive several
steam engines.63
Two Armington and Sims steam engines, one 125 horsepower and one 80
horsepower were installed the power house (as Building was soon called). This provided the power for lineshafts both the first and second floors. The first prime mover erected was forty horsepower C.
Brown engine, which was installed pit the east end the heavy machine
shop.
The engine had single horizontal cylinder with 11-inch bore, 30-inch stroke,
and ten foot diameter flywheel. Using technique that had worked with other
vendors get unusually deep discounts, Batchelor reminded Underwood that "we
shall have, always have had, large number visitors from all parts the
world. Brown Company Charles Batchelor, May 1887 (in 1887, WOL—Suppliers, General, D-
87-56); Voucher 725, October 1887.H.H.
These ran the dynamos which provided electric light and power the laboratory.Building 6
This structure divided into two rooms, the boiler room (positioned next to
Building and engine house."64
26
51 Contract between TAE and Babcock Wilcox, August 24, 1887 (in 1887, WOL-Suppliers, General,
D-87-56). Underwood Charles Batchelor, October 19, 1887 and Charles Batchelor Underwood,
October 21, 1887 (in 1887, WOL-Suppliers, General, D-87-56)
