A payroll for the week ending February 1890, shows machinists work,
including Fred Ott. One newly-arrived immigrant who took job laborer
in the West Orange laboratory was Fred Devonald, who later became the
storekeeper.-Secretary, D-88-20). One particular payroll dated 1890
showed nine laborers. These
men were often found the machine shops carrying out construction or
cleaning tasks various parts the site.
212 Thomas Maguire Alfred Tate, November 19, 1888 (in 1888, Edison, T.210
Many unskilled workers were employed the West Orange laboratory.208
208 1889, WOL-Machine Shop Accounts, D-89-69. Walter Miller an
example experimenter who began his Edison career boy."212
The February 1890 payroll lists experimenters, including Walter Miller but
excluding the Otts. 1888, one of
the clerical staff noted that "our present staff ofjuveniles are excessively
stupid.
209 1890, WOL-General, D-90-64.A.
210 "Complainants Exhibit Work Kinetophone Experiment from February 1889, February 1890,"
Thomas Edison American Mutoscope Company and Benjamin Keith. They worked all
parts the laboratory: some did clerical work the library, some assisted
experimenters and some helped out the machine shop. Sometimes
they are called apprentices but normally they were noted the payroll boys.209
A list laboratory employees who worked the motion picture experiments from
February 1889 February 1890 shows high rate turnover the laboratory,
for many the names are not found the February 1890 payroll and
several machinists who worked this project 1889 are not found in
1890. John Ott, who was salaried, was the chief superintendent
along with two others that rank.The rates pay ranged from cents cents hour and the men worked
from hours per week.
The term "boy" probably referred any young man his teen years.
Every surviving payroll for this period shows the employment boys.211 remained that post until 1903. Dickson and Kennelly were the highest paid, indicating their
66
.
211 Historian’s Note 101.
At West Orange these youths carried out light work, ran messages, and had the
opportunity learn the trade the West Orange laboratory
