Edison started an
experimental program find substitute for potash and
eventually found that caustic soda would the job. *
As expected, Edison's engineers streamlined the
manufacture chemicals and soon began increase output. Many of
the chemicals needed Edison's factories were by-products of
the carbonization coal make coke, such benzene,
phenol, toluene, and aniline.XII-13
the resources the West Orange laboratory find way to
make synthetic phenol, assigning about men work the
process. Phenol had some strategic value as
it could used make explosives, and Edison was able to
. The result was better sounding records!
The laboratory staff also found way produce
paraphenylene, which was also needed make disc records.
Edison and his men took great pride the rapid establishment
of phenol plants and their successful operation. A
manufacturing process was devised for paraphenylene and small
plant was constructed the laboratory. The experimental and design stage was concentrated at
West Orange, usual, and the pilot plant was erected the
Silver Lake complex under direction the laboratory, and with
equipment fabricated the machine shops West Orange. The phenol
that Edison produced was higher quality than the phenol
22
obtained previously. These were produced chemical
plants that Edison constructed next the furnaces the
0d
Cambria Steel Company Johnstown, Pennsylvania. His
plants were soon making tons phenol day meet daily
requirement ton day
