Edison treated the years experiments
at the lab investments carefully chosen areas of
technology, and any new experimental direction was determined
by the store experience and expertise the laboratory.
The development alkaline storage battery— Edison's
first experimental project the twentieth century— was built
on the strong foundation years research on
electrochemical cells. The
failure Ogden did not even tarnish his reputation— the
vitascope had reaffirmed the American public that Edison was
still the "Wizard" capable producing amazing new inventions. The pressing requirement power
source for the phonograph led experiments both
non-rechargeable primary batteries and rechargeable storage
.VII-29
material one America's greatest industries.
The air failure that shrouded the ore milling venture
led more cautious decision-making West Orange the end
of the century, yet Edison's laboratory kept much wider
technical horizon than the new industrial research laboratories
that were directed into proprietory technologies achieve
corporate goals. Edison's experimenters had much wider choice
of options follow because they had covered much ground in
many different areas. The end this dream might
have broken lesser man, but Edison took the dissapointment
with his customary good humor; had other irons the fire
and was, usual, full ideas for new projects. The years of
the electric light would have paled against the wealth and
power his ore milling business
