William Gilmore was brought manage the National
Phonograph and the Edison Manufacturing Companies 1894. Dickson
was not the only Edison employee leave West Orange and take
his technological knowledge competing company; skilled men
could command high wages for their specialized knowledge and
many were hired away from West Orange. Edison put him charge his finances and
told him make some order out the diverse operations at
West Orange. 44
with his considerable experience motion pictures. During the 1890s Edison began
to make distinctions between technical considerations and
business decisions. He
had been Insull's assistant Schenectady and had been
schooled the Insull the intricacies the "old man's"
business affairs. Gilmore brought his great energy bear this
. 1894
he left the laboratory join the Latham Brothers. took
his laboratory notebooks with him and provided the new company
.
In place the independently minded men who blended
technical with entreprenuerial skills, Edison hired
professional engineers and promoted the faithful. was finally made chief engineer but
Devonald was only nominal charge the laboratory; Edison
made all the important decisions. The latter were taken out the hands of
the technical staff (who had once been forced wear both
hats) and given professional managers. Fred Devonald
had worked his way through the hierachy West Orange and owed
everything Edison.VII-33
skill inventor who hitched his star Edison's
