This lay behind his
opposition alternating current and his devotion low
voltage electric traction. His policy was simple: "The Edison product
must the highest quality. The laboratory's work in
testing, production engineering, and new product development
was the key maintain Edison's standards.
It was the job the West Orange laboratory maintain
Edison's standards.XIV-15
loss public confidence the salutary effects new
technology would hurt his businesses. The product
engineers were instructed maintain Edison's basic policy of
QUALITY FIRST: "It you uphold his standard of
. Every Edison product had meet the high standards of
its maker." was hammered home in
countless memoranda and meetings. The storage
battery case point.
The solid reputation quality goods was great asset
in the long run, even though short-term profits often had be
sacrificed meet Edison's demanding standards. Harry Miller expressed this sentiment perfectly: "If
it wasn't far superior other batteries," told a
29
prospective customer "we would't make them. But Edison was adamant: "We
have get right" insisted, and only then was be
sold." The Edison name
stood for quality. that came while financial
reserves were low— the worst possible time. The recall his first attempt was
an expensive business for TAE Inc. Many other
companies would have kept this product the market while
improving their laboratories
