H. Mambert’s goal was strict financial
accounting and relentlessly pressed each manager for exact financial
information about costs, purchasing, payrolls, and accounts payable and
receivable.established the rear Building Dinwiddie would have been based there up
until World War when was transferred Edison’s special experimental
project reduce surface noise the new Diamond Discs. This was vital experimental
project because the fate Edison’s Diamond Disc hinged removing the
annoying surface noise that increased with playing time; even loyal Edison
phonograph customers were switching other makes because this problem.90
Dinwiddie died suddenly 1920. Edison thought that Mambert was the most valuable man he
ever employed, revealing that "Mambert’s methods and showings have now
enabled borrow very large sums, give good standing, and the banks have
confidence. was promoted 1916 to
vice president and financial executive. Mambert’s employment with Thomas Edison, Inc. His opportunity came year
later when was made assistant Charles Edison. The
power and influence Mambert’s financial executive grew and 1916 ran his
own empire from Building portrayed himself the means translate "Mr.
93 Robert Conot, Streak ofLuck, (New York: Seaview Books, 1979), 422; Report R. Allen the
Efficiency Department, April 1919, Records the Financial Executive. Wilson, January 1915, Record Manufacturing
Division Records, Box 17."93 Mambert also had his uses tool reduce costs the
38
.
Edison’s policies relative Management, Labor and Sales" into action.H.
91 C.
Stephen Mambert. began
in 1913 when joined the company cost clerk.
The gospel efficiency American business was led Frederick Taylor and
his associates who attempted apply scientific principles increase the
productivity the worker the shop floor.H.
He was transferred from disc record production around 1917 and assigned help
Edison with his experiments surface noise. Conscientious and ambitious, Mambert
gained the attention Edison senior and was soon promoted the post of
efficiency engineer and given the job overhauling the laboratory organization.92 His
usefulness was probably more liaison with the financial community than as
an efficiency expert.
90 The Phonograph Corporation Manhattan C.91
Mambert was soon given his own department cost clerks and accountants. Wilson [Division heads?], December 14, 1914 (in 1914, Phonograph); Stephen Mambert to
Edison Storage Battery Company, January 22, 1916 (in 1916, Battery, Storage).
Dinwiddie continued associated with disc record experiments after the war.
92 Mambert Report, Financial Executive memo 3497, March 1916, Financial Executive records
