had put the laboratory work pay its
keep, finding many ways making money addition the work
of research and development. Much the work the
West Orange facility was also carry-over from his activities
in Newark and Menlo Park.^ The lab performed variety services under
contract outside companies.
This practice had begun his Newark days, when Edison's
workshops carried out diverse mix research, design,
manufacturing, and repair services.
The overriding goal the research laboratory, in
Edison's mind, was make money. Dick the mimeograph and the
American Bell Telephone Company supported experiments in
telephony.B.11-20
funding and develop new strategy finance the lab: research
for hire. This business strategy evolved
from Edison's need find outside sources finance for the
laboratory. These ranged from continued work
on existing technology such telegraphy, financed part
by Western Union, surveys into completely new areas. For
example, the Parrot Copper company paid Edison examine the
. The lab these early years
carried out wide range tasks and was truly multipurpose
facility. For example, the lab still carried
out research work for A. His West Orange complex was a
commercial undertaking and subsequently Edison used his
laboratory generate income any way could,
energetically courting many kinds customers for services
offered his new laboratory
