The
Edison phonograph organization was ill-equipped survive in
the highly competitive post-war market. Experienced managers
such Nelson Durand, division manager the dictating
machine operation, had anticipated drastic decreases in
prices competition heated after the war. The cylinder business was reported a
"critical condition" early December 1918 because the
price the Amberola was too high. The same problem affected his other
products.
Edison's original plan for the disc phonograph was to
produce machine priced for each pocket.XIII- 4
for the divisions avoid the cost sending outside
contractors.. Despite the many
warnings, the engineering effort West Orange had not been
directed into special low-priced phonograph use price
war erupted.^ The primary battery was
slipping from its dominant position the market because of
its high price. The Edison product was losing ground because of
"our inability maintain our old position.of furnishing
. Chapter showed that
engineering problems forced him pitch the diamond disc
machine the upper end the market. The division manager admitted that had been
unable reduce manufacturing costs keep with the
competition. continuing stream of
improvements slowly increased the price Edison phonographs
and dictating machines..The Engineering Department concentrated on
lowering the price existing models, but the attention given
to this particular problem was too little and too late
