He often found opportunities the familiar areas of
electrochemistry, electromagnetism and electromechanical
machines. The role R&D the Second Industrial Revolution, as
conceived Edison, was not completely oriented towards brave
new technologies and great new industries: The West Orange
laboratory was place where "old devices and articles" could
2Q
be quickly and easily improved.
Surprisingly, the bulk the innovations suggested Edison
were directed product improvement. The great
investment the chemical facilities the laboratory was
expected generate returns the search for artificial
substitutes for valuable materials, such silk, ivory, and
rubber.
Edison was fascinated with materials and confident that
he could find, make, cheaper alternatives. saw that R&D could be
used reduce the cost manufacturing many existing
products, ranging from metal wire plate glass.11-17
While some the experimental projects suggested
would, successful, "change the entire motive power and
lighting the world," other inventions were oriented more
immediate commercial goals: offered valuable improvements in
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the production butter from milk, for example. Edison had built expertise these areas and
was quick apply them wide range problems. His
. The research
of his laboratory was directed into finding more
efficient— and therefore cheaper— ways doing things,
especially reducing the cost manufacture
