63 1896 the factory inspectors the
state New Jersey found only ten men work the laboratory and just over
100 the Phonograph Works.62
The West Orange laboratory was hit hard the panic 1893, economic
depression which lasted four years.L. Several employees maintained work benches
in different parts the site; experimenters such Jonas Aylsworth, J. The impact the depression was felt in
Edison’s laboratory phonograph sales remained sluggish and contract research
for the electrical industry was cut back. 1891, the laboratory employed
around men and only 160 employees remained the Phonograph Works—a
significant decrease from 1890 when 500 worked there, although decline in
phonograph sales also prompted reductions the work force.
Gladstone, and Franz Schulze-Berge probably had benches Building and on
the top floor Building Some employees, such W.64
Bearing mind that was common practice Edison’s laboratory move from
job job, and from room room, the placement specific employees specific
parts the site academic best.61
61 Marshall, Recollections ofEdison, 58; Payroll February 1890 (in 1890, WOL—General, D-90-
64). Yet the laboratory photographer and leading figure motion
picture research also had his own room the second floor Building and
also worked special photographic building erected the south the
laboratory 1889.W. Dickson, had two
different jobs two different parts the laboratory. The next year there were workers the
laboratory and 144 the factories around it.
63 Millard, Edison and the Business ofInnovation, table 6.
His first step was reduce the labor force.employee, estimated the number workers the laboratory its early years at
around 50, and the payroll for 1890 shows men work.
29
.
64 New Jersey, Annual Report the Inspectors Workshops and Factories, 1895-1898 New Jersey
State Library archives Trenton, New Jersey. Expanding
operations the Ogden mill led Edison reduce expenditures West Orange.
In the early 1890s Edison embarked what would become 10-year long ore
milling venture the highlands northern New Jersey. This was turning
point the history his laboratory the nineteenth century.K.
62 New Jersey, Annual Report ofthe Inspectors Workshops and Factories, 1890-1891 New Jersey
State Library archives Trenton, New Jersey.1, 132. Dickson was put charge
of the ore milling project and was installed Building 4-the center ore milling
experiments
