This department grew into the
Engineering Test Service department. did not have the same close relationship with Edison enjoyed
by Hutchison. Kennedy graduated from the Alabama Polytechnic with degree
in electrical engineering.M.; see Laboratory notes.277 He
was dismissed the end 1920.278
W.
The Engineering Test Service department functioned testing facility for
amusement and business phonographs, records, and diamond points.H.Constable worked designing phonographs and working out the steps their
mass production. His expertise
was soon applied the West Orange laboratory where was quickly placed in
control kinetophone filming: certainly wasted lot the old man’s money
making rotten pictures first.
280 Ibid. Harvey.
278 Memo 1918, WOL-Experimental Work; Monthly Record Reports, Engineering test Service
department, 1918, WOL-Experimental Work."279 Kennedy developed improvements to
kinetophones, film projectors, and film cans. Kennedy Papers, University Alabama Tuscaloosa Special Collections. F. This
department had heavy work load which probably justified this large staff
through the mid-1920s.280
80
. the time was hired Edison was chief
engineer for the American Talking Picture Company New York.
In 1917 went with Edison Long island carry out anti-submarine
experiments and left his employ soon after. testing department had been created around 1914 carry out
neutral tests, which were supposed the unbiased evaluation piece of
work someone who had connection it. experimented with film lighting.
Edison, Inc. Hutchison thought that the job chief engineer had evolved from
engineering and experimental work primarily clerical and administrative tasks,
complaining that ’’seems resolve itself into issuing engineering notices on
screws, nuts, bolts, gears, etc.
277 See his history the Engineering Department, undated and unauthorized, 1919, Thomas A.
W.
During his tenure chief engineer, Constable fought unsuccessful battle
against the steady erosion his power and his independence action. Povah had replaced him 1918.
A. Harvey was the first director the new Engineering Service department.”276
276 MRH TAE, November 1913 (in 1913, WOL-General).
279 Recollections, A.S. Kennedy. had an
assistant and staff nine people
