Olson sat several manufacturing
committees, and chief draftsman was important member
of the laboratory. The new policy gave the chief
draftsman control the drafting process and the power to
schedule drafting work orderly manner.X-25
that had assumed more importance the twentieth century. The drafting department had been independent the
Engineering Department, but after the reorganization was
placed under the jurisdiction the chief engineer. The
laboratory was subject the same reorganization that had
changed the administration. The formation central Drafting
Department reflected the centralizing policies TAE Inc. The
destruction wrought the fire the Phonograph Works,
combined with the increased demand for drawings and blueprints,
forced concentration the drafting effort the main
laboratory building (Building 5).
The emphasis manufacturing resulted increase in
.
Olson had begun his work for Edison tool designer and .
was more team player than independently-minded Otto Weber
whom replaced. Werner Olson was given control the new department. This replaced the
initiative one man working his own the Phonograph
Works. The drafting service the
Works was combined with the laboratory's drafting department
and the new organization was housed the main laboratory
building. Edison's
exalted position had always justified his own draftsman, yet
the reorganization drafting gave Edison's personal drafting
40
to the main department
