Part Of: Notebook Series -- Pocket Notebooks

[NP120-F] PN-19-10-07 (1919)

The dated entries in this pocket notebook are from October-December 1919. The book was used by Edison to record ideas about business matters, experiments to be tried, and other tasks to be performed. Some of the items have been crossed out. The book was probably used in both directions. On the last page is a list of twenty-six projects that Edison was either working on or contemplating. The list serves as a rough index to the book. Among the projects mentioned are an improved Lalande primary battery, a starter battery for the Ford automobile, an increased-capacity A4 storage battery, a chalk telephone amplifier, and a method of processing lithium ore. Also included are various phonograph-related improvements such as a varnishing machine and a blank power loading machine for disc records, an adapter to play competitors' disc records on Edison phonographs, molded cabinets, and a cheaper Ediphone record. In addition, there are numerous notes and drawings concerning diamonds used for phonograph recording and reproducing. Several entries labeled "Amberol" indicate Edison's continuing interest in improving the quality of his Blue Amberol cylinder records.

Among the business-related entries are a list of manufacturers of phonograph cabinets, along with their daily output; comments about the Brunswick-Balke-Collender Co. and other competing phonograph companies; notes on recording artists and musical pieces; and statistics on defective Blue Amberola and Diamond Disc reproducers that were returned by customers. Also included are remarks regarding the finances of the Edison Portland Cement Co. and references to inventions to be patented. Among the Edison employees mentioned in the book are Charles T. Dally, William Walter Dinwiddie, Elmer E. Dougherty, William Dykeman, Stephen B. Mambert, William H. Meadowcroft, John V. Miller, William J. O'Dair, Frederick P. Ott, and Ludwig F. (Louis) Ott. The pages are unnumbered. Approximately 150 pages have been used.

Courtesy of Thomas Edison National Historical Park.

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