The machine could not absorb the shocks of
transportation and often broke down after being shipped. They were locked into a
cycle innovation: product development, manufacture,
marketing, feedback, and then more development— the phonograph
had continually redesigned eliminate its "bugs. member experimental team remembered that
they worked "night and day" during this time."
Edison acknowledged May 1889 that there were still
. One document
shows that during one experimental campaign 1888, over 40
changes and improvements were carried out, ranging from
changing the number threads the cylinder moving the
location small screws; many the small design changes made
the machine easier and cheaper manufacture.
Similar problems occurred with the toy doll mechanisms— the
dolls would "talk" perfectly when tested the laboratory but
would out order and useless the time they got the
customer. The phonograph mechanism turned out highly
sensitive dirt, and was quickly discovered that shavings
from the wax cylinder fell onto the machine and gummed the
works. The laboratory
staff were finding out that mass production complex
product needed attention detail.IV-16
the factory would grind halt after few days operation
for the machine demanded continual adjustment would break
down.
The laboratory staff worked feverishly through 1888 and
1889 remedy the growing list operating problems with the
phonograph
