The lab provided
basic engineering services for the electric light companies in
testing and redesigning electrical equipment, and, the other
end the spectrum, carried out Edison's flights fancy into
flying machines and pyro-magnetic dynamos.
. During the late 1880s the lab was
working 70-100 experiments time, some were large and
costly like the work phonographs; others small such the
experiments preserving meat and fruit.11-24
technological breakthrough the influx funds push their
development. the balmy days of
"research for hire" the laboratory could hired erect an
ore milling plant, with capacity 1000 tons day, be
39
completed ninety days. was forced serve many
different types customers, from reckless venture capitalists
to the core corporate America. boasted that have always got something new
underway" and one such project the early years the lab
O Q
was the kmetoscope. Yet much the effectiveness
of the laboratory depended the performance its staff, who
needed resourceful and flexible their leader.
Here was laboratory that could several different
experimental directions one time, and usually did! had to
be all things all people. meet these needs, Edison
designed laboratory that could innovate with speed and
flexibility, creating structure that facilitated
communication and cooperation
