These men played the roles
of both engineers and experimenters, applying themselves the job hand and
moving from basic research production engineering with ease. This company was
responsible for running the factories built around the laboratory and for
administering experimental work. They still
worked small teams and were expected adaptable, shifting and out of
each project needed. What
Edison had once called "the best lab ever" was now settling down the mundane
task supporting the Edison product line. Fleming, July 24, 1916, Letter Book 113, 302 (LB113302).
The successful move into mass production phonographs, cylinders, and storage
batteries led the construction several new factory buildings West Orange..
Yet new direction labor policy had begun the turn the century when
employees with specific skills and formal education were sought instead the
89 William Meadowcroft A."69
The laboratory that once had world wide reputation for developing completely
new technology now acquired the patents and skills others.occupied and more were being created new buildings, such Building 24. This
period marks one the peaks experimental activity Edison’s laboratory.
The increasing load administering Edison’s large business organization led to
the construction administration building, next the east end the
laboratory Lakeside Avenue, and reorganization the business organization.P.
32
.
Thomas Edison, Inc. the other hand the daily work some
experimenters, such George Werner and Walter Dinwiddie, shows that little
had changed the Edison laboratory from the 1880s. Routine production engineering
gradually replaced the great experimental campaigns that characterized the
laboratory the nineteenth century.. Although the great fire that ravaged the West Orange
complex December 1914 was watershed the history Edison’s business
affairs, did not touch the laboratory nor did alter process change which
had started with the creation the Engineering Department around 1911. Jonas Aylsworth
and Daniel Higham, for example, worked independent inventors under contract
to Edison for much this period.M.
Period III: 1915-1931.
This evolution function brought change the make the laboratory staff. Edison’s secretary William Meadowcroft reported 1916 that the
laboratory’s work was directed toward support the Edison product line and
"there comparatively little mere research work done here. was formed 1911 the first step bringing all of
Edison’s various businesses under one corporate head.
Increasing numbers professional engineers and administrators were added to
the payroll.
