Edison's electrical research West Orange had two basic
goals: improvement the system through research and
development, and engineering aimed lowering the costs of
generating electricity." Its
successor, the Edison General Electric Company, also emphasized
the importance the technological resources possessed. Its
prospectus 1889 stressed the links between Edison's
laboratory and the technical staff the Siemens Halske
Company (the holders Edison lighting patents Germany),
and claimed that "the regular exchange laboratory and
manufacturing experience" gave the new company vast
advantage not heretofore possessed.2
tour the facilities "for the sole purpose impressing upon
them that whatever improvements are made the Edison system
that their company will receive them any future time. matter how much
money you are making never for instant let on
.
Edison had illusions about the competitive nature the
electrical industry and saw increased economy the means to
dominate the market. one is
safe this cold commercial world that can't produce
as low his greatest competitor." The West Orange
laboratory stood the center technology that had spread
out both sides the Atlantic. Edison dreamed time when electric
lighting would universally used and knew that the price of
the light had come down before appealed mass markets. letter central station manager,
Edison elaborated his mission cutting the costs electric
lighting:
Try everything you can towards economy
