Dickson, Edison, and the early film historian,
Terry Ramsaye, have each distorted the record Dickson’s work with Edison.
75
.264 He
moved from Harrison the West Orange laboratory 1887 with the rest of
Edison’s skeleton crew. Dickson claims that Edison had
talked with him about moving pictures while they were working together at
Harrison. A
more balanced view found the work Charles Musser.
254 Pay vouchers show that Dickson was with Edison this time, see Vouchers 224 (July 1887), 432
(October 1887), and 480 (November 1887).
283 See Gordon Hendricks, The Edison Motion Picture Myth (Berkeley: University California Press,
1961). Antonia and W. Dickson worked Building the ore milling project in
the 1890s.
As amateur photographer some skill Dickson soon got himself appointed as
photographer the laboratory-a busy job considering the publicity Edison
generated about himself and his laboratory.263
Dickson was definitely working for Edison the Harrison Lamp Works the
period after the Pearl Street Station was erected New York City.
255 "Deposition TAE," Thomas Edison American Mutoscope Company and Benjamin Keith, p.L. West Orange the mid-1890s was given the task of
synchronizing the sound the phonograph with moving image.
256 "Complainant’s Exhibit Work Kinetophone Experiment from February 1,1889, February 1890,"
Thomas Edison American Mutoscope Company and Benjamin Keith, pp.
As was the practice the laboratory, Dickson was given his own room, his
personal helper—a laborer called Charles Brown-and account number which
he could bill supplies and other labor. The "official" history, approved Edison himself, Terry
Ramseye, Million and One Nights: History ofthe Motion Picture (New York: Simon and Schuster, 1926). Dickson moved into room the second
floor, next the elevator.K. Dickson, "Edison’s Invention the Kineto-phonograph," Century Magazine, 48
(June 1894) Dickson’s published version.256 Dickson left the West Orange laboratory April 1895.255 was assisted several machinists who were
later carry out experiments motion pictures including Eugene Lauste and
Charles Kayser.
100.
See also Charles Musser, Before the Nickelodeon (Berkeley: Univ, California, 1991). 360-61.eminent motion picture historian, Gordon Hendricks, makes the case for Dickson
as the inventor motion pictures
