The work force
and resources the West Orange complex were directed into the
war effort and the business making phonographs and other
products had wait.
The disruption the divisional policy had dissipated 1917;
the years complaints and political infighting were over and
the lines financial responsibility had been established. The lab took over this
function after the fire and planned out four successive
government jobs, introducing control sheets keep track of
o q
all stages production. operated smoothly through the war.
The laboratory's machine shops were also kept busy with
Edison's experimental work.
The many government contracts accounted for most the
capacity the Works 1918 and Mambert soon became anxious
that the war work was holding production the more
profitable phonographs and dictating machines. Between the beginning 1917 and
the end 1919, almost $250,000 was spent Edison's
experiments, the largest amount going the submarine location
project. Yet with the
reduced manpower the lab and the delays inherent in
instituting new organization and new methods, there was
O I
little possibility speeding production. Before the fire most planning for
manufacturing was done the divisions.
In the long absences the "old man," Charles Edison governed
28
.XII-16
material orders.
Although the administrative staff was greatly reduced,
the management TAE Inc
