1907
William Gilmore was running the Edison enterprise through the
managers each department. Many the operations were widely dispersed
about New Jersey and New York, and the management far flung
units, like the newly constructed film studio the Bronx,
33
were free become law unto itself.
The administration had grown steadily from 1900 the
wake the boom phonograph sales.VIII-20
problem for the management the Edison enterprise for there
was urgent need shape his sprawling industrial empire
into organization that could carry without him. Edison
had filled many vital positions within his companies: chief
executive, inventor, chief engineer, and financial manager. His authority extended from the
administration building into the laboratory and Works." The complicated
legal and financial relationships between Edison's companies
meant little organization and few clear lines authority in
. had slowly evolved
into organization that could run the Edison enterprise in
the absence Edison himself, but the ramshackle nature his
diverse business operations prevented truly efficient
administration. He
instructed his subordinates "to act intelligently and wisely
32
without disturbing bothering Mr.
Each these functions had delineated and filled with a
professional manager who could maintain day-to-day operations
of his department the "old man" were not around. Edison." The goal the
administration was keep operations running smoothly while
Edison busied himself the laboratory
