" While the resources the
laboratory were being wasted product that would never
achieve any commercial success, the competition was moving
forward lower priced machines and extensive advertising. The crucial
element the design was the arrangement the
recorder/reproducer. Nevertheless, Holland and other Edison engineers
devoted much time this project.XI- 8
Yet trying transmit telephone messages the phonograph
acoustically, via amplifer the telephone and sensitive
recorder, was patently unpractical the average business
office. ^
Holland's work the lab also involved long-range
development totally new dictating machine. The great advantage this format was that the
machine was better protected from dirt and abuse from the user. the other hand, the
Dictaphone Company was able keep the $60 price tag for
many years. The
Edison dictating machine was always more expensive than the
Dictaphone, because the years improvements and new features
had gradually increased the price the Edison product from
the $60s the $80s and $90s. considering
the design for new machine, Holland started reviewing all
the previous ideas for business phonographs. There was probably nobody in
the Edison organization who could dampen the ambition and the
optimism the "old man. Many designs had been considered,
including one Hibbard which all the working parts except
the recorder/reproducer had been placed beneath the level of
the base plate.
