The "leadened collar" EGE prevented
Edison from fully committing his laboratory the "battle of
the systems. But
this did not have. This was the era "big business" and the
"trust. Two years later the
laboratory was just one part large organization and much
of its electrical work was done commissioned experiments:
Edison longer had the power set the direction R&D for
the companies that bore his name. The Edison companies were little
wary the great independent laboratory their midst. thrived competition and
probably would have given his all the fight against
Westinghouse had the full resources EGE behind him. The engineers
and scientists they hired were tools corporate policy who
59
had follow orders." The intense competition the electrical industry was
not good for profits."
The new business organizations the electrical industry
wanted control the pace and direction R&D.V-34
did not like, such the ZBD a/c system. Edison
had enormous prestige the organization, but his
goals— especially his technological preferences— were not
necessarily those the organization. They did not want bear the
costs major assault the long distance transmission
problem and Edison knew this. The policies managers and financiers
in the industry were aimed replacing competition with
. The formation Edison
General Electric was the first step gradual consolidation
of the electrical industry that reflected general trend in
American business
