Even when the laboratory was busy selling itself a
commercial undertaking that offered R&D services for hire, it
did not lose its independence.
The lack outside funds placed Edison more firmly in
control the laboratory and inexorably led more
adventurous experimental campaigns. Edison had rely more and
more his own money finance the West Orange laboratory. directed the research effort and controlled the
work the laboratory irrespective who was paying for the
research. The services the lab did not come
cheaply and Edison's customers found very difficult to
control the work the lab, subsequent chapters will show. Although Edison the
businessman was eager sell shares his R&D projects, his
laboratory was his operation and expected have the last
word.11-23
had draw his financial reserves support his ambitious
plans perfect the phonograph. was his laboratory and he
was determined make the most any new technology developed
there. Many the projects undertaken
by the laboratory were done for Edison's personal financial
interest, such the experiments electrically driven rock
drills the development torpedo motor for the
Edison-Sims torpedo the 1880s.
Edison made the important decisions about what projects
the laboratory should follow. Offering its staff and resources
to anybody who could pay for them still left the initiative
with Edison and his staff. Edison always kept some ideas for new products (and
carried out small scale research) reserve— waiting for
