Edison had
always wanted monopolize the business duplicating records
but had let the local companies their own recording because
. Recording was becoming lucrative operation
that would repay the time and trouble recording with
profits— was estimated that the New York Phonograph Company
spent $15,000 records the slow year 1891. his original concept a
phonograph industry, Edison had expected profits come from
the sales machines. Sales began
to increase the latter part 1892, moving from 90
machines month sold.
Phonograph sales remained very low 1892 with most
sales the coin-in-the-slot market. Edison energetically
promoted this use direct sales saloons, hotels, and
restaurants.VII-12
The franchisees were become sales agents and receive a
royalty every phonograph sold their areas. His experience the 1890s made him
consider the profit monopolizing the production of
prerecorded cylinder records because demand for prerecorded
cylinders increased dramatically the coin-in-the-slot
business expanded. typical Edison coin-in-the-slot machine cost
$250 outright and could bring $15 day. Edison's goal was sell phonographs
directly from the Phonograph Works anyone who wanted to
1 C
market them. The switch to
an amusement phonograph technology removed the need for the
marketing system built for the business machine; the new
amusement market could reached directly and involved far
less sales support
