Although development work on
this system was carried out the West Orange laboratory and.VI- 2
the Schenectady machine works. The impending union with
Thomson-Houston removed the need bring out a/c system
because Thomson-Houston already had proven one the market. The Edison General
Electric Company was unconcerned with the delays developing
high voltage technology because wanted avoid expensive
investments new systems, especially those which made
existing inventory obsolete. His
eagerness design new a/c high voltage system played part
in delaying its production because all other work was
2
stopped while the "old man" finished the drawings. All the projects which involved cooperation between
the laboratory and machine works suffered from long delays.
Amalgamation and agreement had replaced competition and strife
in the electrical industry.
The problems coordinating the research effort West
Orange and the manufacturing Schenectady proved the wisdom
of setting Edison's own manufacturing facilities next his
laboratory.
When Edison General Electric finally prepared to
introduce alternating current system 1890, Insull advised
Edison that they should withdraw from the "battle the
4
systems" before this was done. Edison was trying too many
things once and his work suffered from the usual delays.
Even the high voltage municipal lamp, invention which Edison
favored and one which had repeatedly promised the
utilities, was not delivered time
