VII- 3
electrical manufacturers during the 1890s was engage
individual inventors under contract carry out research in
their area expertise. They were naturally concerned
with the cost this kind industrial research but
appreciated that failure control the new metallic filament
g
lamps would more expensive the long run. would be
staffed trained scientists. Walter Nernst, chemist, designed lamp which
outperformed the Edison lamp. Westinghouse supported William
Stanley's laboratory and retained Elihu Thomson a
consultant, addition their contract with Edison.
The focus GE's industrial research laboratory was
. The threat completely new
lamp with increased efficiency and brilliance forced into
action. The
development some revolutionary new lighting technologies in
the scientific laboratories Germany helped change this
strategy research under contract. The years "research for hire" had come to
an end. German scientists were
exploring the incandescent effect certain ceramics and
searching for metallic filaments with higher melting point
than carbon. While built
up their own laboratory Schenectady the first years of
the twentieth century, the support Edison's laboratory
decreased approximately $25 per week, which was more than
a token payment. Under constant pressure from Charles Steinmetz, the
management finally decided establish research
laboratory investigate new lighting technology
