XIII- 15
because the "old man" was reluctant enter business where
the patent situation was complex. Miller
Reese Hutchison was typical the men who thought that a
fortune could made radio. was afraid that moving into the radio would
be "going against the boys wireless. Edison did not see his way
clear develop product without considerable conflict with
other inventors. His opposition radio
was based both commercial and technical considerations, in
the same way that opposed alternating current for its
economic and technological drawbacks. His small company was also
typical the many drop-outs the industry. Edison's
stubborn opposition radio was not unusual the phonograph
industry for all the leading companies opposed radio and would
not let their stars perform the air." ^
Radio soon began cut into the sales pianos, sheet
music, and phonographs, but Edison labeled passing craze
and would have nothing with it. Radio promised to
be the great new consumer technology the twentieth century,
and many inventor-entreprenuers were attracted it. Edison doubted that
radio had commercial future; was unable see its great
market potential and hear its sound. Edison judged the
radio musical instrument and not the great
communicator, and was convinced that the speaker the first
. told Charles stay
away from the "radio gang crooks" and predicted the imminent
demise the chaotic industry, where many small companies had
9f
t
entered and were struggling for survival
