One dealer
26
reported that 188 dolls were returned out 200 sold. Reliability
was also the chief problem with the business phonograph. 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.IV-15
talking doll proved popular toy and orders soon
outstripped supply.
The toy doll was too complex device ensure the level
of reliability required commercial product. 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. The recorder/reproducer
assembly had handled carefully and lowering onto the
cylinder needed deft touch avoid damaging both assembly
and cylinder. This was important project
for Edison's manufacturing strategy for half the capacity of
the Phonograph Works was devoted dolls 1890. 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.
Despite the strenuous efforts the laboratory, the talking
doll could not made work
