^
The development new insulation involved close
. Edison owned 90% the stock of
the Edison Machine Works, but his friend and associate, Samuel
Insull, had insist prompt and accurate billing for
experiments carried out the laboratory. knew that the accounting
techniques used West Orange favored Edison, and that the
longer the delay billing, the more likelihood Edison
adding other (non-related) experiments the bill. also insisted bills being
presented promptly and regular periods, and argued that no
other concern the United States would "dare" business
in this manner. Edison
responded assuring Kruesi that the problem would solved
in the new West Orange laboratory, which had facilities "to
." order to
reduce the costs the Machine Works, Insull asked the lab to
return all scrap the Works. 2
settle anything short time. The longer the search for better insulation went
on, the more stressed the working relationship between
laboratory and Machine Works.2
retardant, and flexible. This was easy task. Numerous
materials were tried but few could successfully fit all three
criteria. Insull
complained about the high prices used billing, which were
about twice the normal cost for materials, and commented that
"some the charges are simply outrageous."
This search proved long and difficult. Insull knew all the
"old man's" financial ploys, having devised many them while
he was Edison's secretary
