"221
R. During the period 1901-1914, the laboratory payroll records
describe Bachman "M.
2a> See Edison Manufacturing Company folders the Document File for examples patents assigned by
Bliss the Company.West Orange laboratory. came West
Orange 1910 and was appointed chief engineer 1911.
Some years later Edison explained that Bliss’s work was not satisfactory "due
perhaps the conditions here, which are rather exacting. Bachman.M" which probably stands for master machinist. Bliss was the first hold the title chief engineer West
Orange. October 1912, was fired.
Donald Bliss.218 Schiff! was tool maker, draftsman, and foreman.
He was become the nucleus new laboratory department, the Engineering
Department, that was take over production engineering West Orange. Later was move the second
floor and work design and development new products.
218 Nelson Durand Frank Dyer, December 17, 1909, "The Ediphone Division TAE, Inc, Records,"
Box 1.
219 His contract stipulated the generous sum $3,500 per annum for five years with commission (in DF
1910, Phonograph-Manufacture).220
He was clearly under lot pressure from Edison who drove him hard and had
little patience with him—Bliss was not hustler.219 worked with
the electric motor department the Edison Phonograph Works possible that
he had his work space the first floor, perhaps the machine shop.
Although did not hold the official title superintendent the machine shop
(this belonged John Ott), supervised the workers the shop the main
68
.
221 TAE Francis Applegate, October 26, 1916, Letterbook 114, 606 (LB114606). This office, the north side the
central hallway, was later used the office the chief engineer. the
other hand, his duties would have involved close coordination with the precision
machinists the second floor and this may have established his office the
second floor, adjacent the machine shop. At
first worked Building probably close the heavy machine shop,
supervising the construction prototypes. was hired work electric motors and regulators had
considerable experience designing electrical machinery.
Part Bliss’s job was production engineering the disc and storage battery
projects, and this meant overseeing work carried out the machine shops of
Building was involved the design and production cylinder
phonographs, primary batteries, and motion pictures addition special jobs
such designing small electric motor for prospective Edison lawn mower and
building complete electric delivery wagon
