unlikely that spent
much time the West Orange laboratory during this period, and retired the
mid-1890s.
Batchelor was experienced factory management and played important part
in setting the first Edison Phonograph Works factory, constructed brick,
adjacent the laboratory complex Lakeside Avenue 1888. had produced hearing aid, invented the electric klaxon horn159,
and was the process developing automobile self-starter and tachometer
for warships when first visited the West Orange laboratory. Bom the north England, Batchelor was sent install
machines the Clark thread mills Newark, New Jersey, met Edison, and
never returned home.
In 1890 Batchelor went extended trip Europe and the western part the
United States.
Miller Reese Hutchison. His neat, well-organized notebooks reveal orderly mind and
a precise hand. They worked together several experimental projects,
staying all night just Edison had done the old days. His domain was
the first floor Building but more than likely that had experimental
tables other parts the laboratory and would have spent great deal his
time the Phonograph Works. quickly
ingratiated himself into the good favor Edison and spared effort in
cultivating the great man.
159 Obituary Miller Reese Hutchison (hereafter MRH), New York Times, February 18, 1944. During the early 1890s appears have concerned himself with
running one the ore milling concerns and travelling.Building First Floor
Charles Batchelor.157 had been Edison’s side since joined the inventor’s work
force 1871. "Hutch" and the "old
man" became inseparable. After the West Orange laboratory opened 1887, Batchelor
was overall charge the machine shops and ran the laboratory Edison’s
absence.158
157 Fessenden, "The Inventions Reginald Fessenden," Radio News 156. According one the laboratory staff, Batchelor was the
"sometimes needed, conservative element the combination," ideal
counterbalance the mercurial Edison who often got involved an
experimental project that forgot everything else.
158 Ibid. master metal working, could handle any job--from
casting parts dynamo fitting the fragile experimental filaments into
incandescent bulbs. Bom and educated the South, Hutchison had
considerable success independent inventor before came work West
Orange. Hutchison became chief engineer the laboratory in
54
