One dealer
26
reported that 188 dolls were returned out 200 sold.
The toy doll was too complex device ensure the level
of reliability required commercial product.
Despite the strenuous efforts the laboratory, the talking
doll could not made work. Frequently, phonograph that worked perfectly in
. Yet
continual failure the engineering effort led the
abandonment the venture the end the year, manufacture
ceased, and Edison dissassociated himself from the Talking Doll
Company. The problem lay the design the small
phonograph movement inside the dolls. This was important project
for Edison's manufacturing strategy for half the capacity of
the Phonograph Works was devoted dolls 1890.IV-15
talking doll proved popular toy and orders soon
outstripped supply. The fragile needle
assembly would not stay the fine groove the wax record
and consequently most the dolls failed work properly,
steadfastly refusing talk for their new owners. The recorder/reproducer
assembly had handled carefully and lowering onto the
cylinder needed deft touch avoid damaging both assembly
and cylinder. Reliability
was also the chief problem with the business phonograph. The
feedback coming back the laboratory indicated that the
phonograph was still too delicate for office use; its operation
required level precision and manual dexterity that came
easily the hands trained telegrapher, but was usually
lacking the average business
