During the war, Americans had been unable buy
phonographs, and many other consumer durables, because the
factories were devoted war production.
The war years had brought increased sales and profits to
the Edison enterprise. The Phonograph Works
had correspondingly increased its prices the Amusement and
Business Phonograph Divisions. The increased demand and output the war effort
had caused period sharp inflation.
The labor force had grown around 4000 the first decade of
the twentieth century. The steady flow government contracts had
provided jobs for increasing number workers West
Orange, and the booming phonograph business kept them there. There was rapid increase size
during the War, with total number employees around 10,000 by
war's end.XIII- 1
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
THE DECLINE AND FALL THE PHONOGRAPH. The decade of
1899-1909 saw 250% increase over the previous decade, while
. Demand soared after
the war when American industry returned peace time
production. There
seemed upward trend phonograph sales. Table 13-1 shows the wartime prosperity
and the boom that came immediately after the cessation of
hostilities. This was not matter great
concern when profits were high and demand increasing. The industry
as whole had increased its output considerably
