The laboratory work force was reorganized several times during this period.generalists the nineteenth century. When returned West
Orange after working for the government during the war, Edison was concerned
about the hard times ahead; correctly anticipated greater competition his
core phonograph and storage battery businesses. The professionalization the work force
was widespread the American economy this time.73 Retrenchment continued the financial
33
.72 1921, was estimated that less than 2000 workers remained in
the factories West Orange.71
70 Employee Records, Edison Laboratory Time Sheets, 1918, Box 115. The old work culture which glorified personal initiative and operated in
an environment chaos was being slowly replaced."
73 "Business Activities Mark Jones," Mark Jones Papers, Box 1. the end the
hostilities there may have been many 11,000 men employed Edison at
West Orange.
But this was only temporary prosperity. its place was tightly run business operation. The
old era muckers—experimenters who worked with Edison-and all night
experiments was over. from 1916 1921, first Employment Supervisor and then Director Personnel. Hutchison also notes that Edison "clipped Charles’
wings. There were around 180-190 men work the laboratory
during World War I. Edison responded this crisis discharging thousands of
employees from factory laborers John Constable, chief engineer the
laboratory.
This period marked slow decline after the boom World War 1917
government contracts created many new jobs West Orange and the work force
increased significantly. The
process specialization and bureaucratization can seen the emergence a
new kind employee West Orange, the accountant and financial analyst. During the war there were about 8,000 men the whole Edison
complex compared with about 3,000 the turn the century.
72 Miller Reese Hutchison Diary, January 1921.
71 "The Business Activities Mark Jones," Mark Jones Papers, Box Jones was employed by
Thomas Edison, Inc. the West Orange
laboratory this movement can seen the type man hired the twentieth
century. Lines authority were
constantly being redefined and strict hierarchy was maintained the West
Orange laboratory after 1914. The post-war depression hit
hard 1921.70 After the initial loss workers the armed forces, there
was rapid increase the labor force, covering both laboratory and factory
employees
