variety different materials were tried recording surfaces:
resins, gums, waxes, asphalt, and solid fatty acids and their salts, such stearic
acid. worked a
table next Aylsworth’s Building insulation and inorganic incandescent
filaments.H. Sperling, "Jonas Aylsworth: Leif Erickson Interpenetrating Polymer Networks," unpublished
manuscript Edison National Historic Site.
116 Aylsworth was important Edison that was prepared pay him whatever wanted.116 The requirements for record compounds were demanding. Aylsworth joined Edison’s laboratory 1887 after studying
for one year Purdue University.C.
115 Byron Vanderbilt, Thomas Edison, Chemist, (Washington, D.: American Chemical Society, 1971),
pp. Frank Dyer Aylsworth, August 1910 (in DF
1910, WOL-Employees). His work was
of the greatest importance the Edison phonograph business. returned the West Orange laboratory in
1894 and thereafter was closely involved Edison’s search for the perfect
recording medium., pp.
During the early part the twentieth century, Aylsworth was charged with
finding harder compound for the disc records which could stand the
diamond stylus. worked Buildings and 1891 he
moved Edison Lamp Company factory New Jersey and supervised the
production cellulose filaments.113
113 Ibid.
The material had able hold groove few thousandths inch deep
and maintain over numerous plays. Aylsworth spent years developing these
substances and testing their performance phonograph cylinders. 60-75. graduate Rutgers College, Marshall joined the
Edison laboratory when first opened 1887, after leaving his job chemical
testing laboratory the New York, Erie, and Western Railroad.
114 L. During this
period was not paid weekly like the rest the experimenters but had special
contract with Edison that paid him fixed yearly amount.David Trumbull Marshall. 118-22. Although worked Building his main place work was
his house Orange, where had fully equipped laboratory. also worked the machine shop and probably served some time in
the lamp experimental room the second third floor Building left the
laboratory 1890.116
44
. The material
had soft enough take the impression indentation the recording stylus
but then made hard enough hold the analog signal for adequate reproduction. Marshall described
him quiet plodder and his lack supervisory duties the laboratory might
indicate retiring personality.114 Aylsworth’s forte was the waxes and resins used in
recordings.
Jonas Aylsworth. Edison
supported expenses the lab Aylsworth’s house
