Hutchison
believed himself modern man--a modem engineer and modem
businessman.160 Since Donald Bliss also held the position chief engineer until
October 1912, possible that there were two chief engineers during this period
—one for the entire West Orange operation and one for the laboratory. The time clock installed the first
floor Building one example, are the organizational changes made in
the laboratory structure and the new procedures initiated executing shop
orders.August 1912.," is
probably referring his office the administration building. The submarine was especially desirable
weapon because its relatively low cost and the threat posed capital ships. Hutchison represented the force change the laboratory
and was influential figure the whole Edison organization.
1W Miller Reese Hutchison diary, entries for July 16, 1912, through August 18, 1912, Edison NHS. When Hutchison writes "sometimes there are half dozen
men waiting see office while Mr. the decade leading the beginning World
War 1914, many the world’s navies were involved programs build new
ships and develop new weapons.
Bearing this mind likely that had offices the new administration
building built next the laboratory its east side.
By 1914, Hutchison moved onto the second floor Building the coveted office
(room 11) next Edison’s room 12.161
55
. Several laboratory employees
had their offices here.
161 MRH TAE, October 28, 1912 (in 1912, WOL--General).
Hutchison had many friends naval circles and his urbane bearing and outgoing
personality made him the ideal salesman for the Edison submarine battery...
Hutchison was more than successor the faithful Batchelor who had left the
laboratory the 1890s look after his failing health and his investments the
electrical industry.
Despite the excellent work did motion pictures and phonographs,
Hutchison’s value Edison was the area his sales expertise and his
connections with various military organizations--the ideal market for the Edison
submarine storage battery. Hutchison’s main experimental work was
connected with the kinetophone likely that had been housed Building 1
or the special studio constructed for this work the grounds the storage
battery factories.
The fleets submarines under construction all required batteries and thus this
military market had the potential great volume and high levels profit. Wilson and Durand. therefore tried implement new ideas scientific
management, organizational theory, and engineering efficiency into the tradition
bound work culture Edison’s laboratory. Both Wilson and Durand had offices in
the main administration building
