His duties and role the organization were
diverse. When the European
affiliates the National Phonograph Company were troubled
with low price competition, number very cheap machines
were sent the West Orange lab, and Dyer reassured them that
the Engineering Department would put work design a
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competitive, low priced cylinder machine.
At first the Engineering Department consisted Schiffl
in the laboratory— this reflected the old system the
function residing with the man rather than position.
The need develop new phonograph technology, both
business and amusement fields, led search for phonograph
engineer 1910. Newman Holland was chosen for the job and
joined the West Orange laboratory March 1910. had fifteen
years experience the design electrical apparatus,
including five years Western Electric, where had worked
in the original design section and rose head experimental
laboratory Chicago. Holland devoted his time the
business phonograph, probably because Edison was concentrating
. His main duty was redesign phonographs make them
cheaper and easier manufacture, for this was the central
function the Engineering Department. But
in 1910 the post Chief Engineer was created, and was the
first fill it.VIII-41
decided put the Engineering Department onto the laboratory
payroll because was expected that the new department would
be producing patentable designs and improvements the
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phonograph
