Edison Perfected Phonograph

[Dave D]

Edison is shown in this famous photo looking exhausted after working several days uninterrupted on this phonograph. To me, it looks done, Just what did he do during all that time?

[NEFaurora]

Edison always worked on multiple experiments and patents at all the same time with his in-house Laboratory "Team" of Technicians working on multiple projects.

If you are talking about the time or (week-of) the picture taken above. It would all be in Edison's notes of him and his technicians...You'd have to ask the Edison Historical Society in Orange, NJ.. I'm more than sure that you could e-mail them or even the National Park Service which maintains the two Edison Museums in Orange, N.J. and Fort Myers, Florida. I know that there is a 3rd Edison Museum, in Ohio (Actually in the house) where Edison was born, but it's privately owned I think...and has no affiliation with the National Park Service.

)

Tony K.

Edison Collector/Restorer

[MTPhono]

I don't take this photo too seriously. Likely this was a publicity photo and nothing more. The reason I say this is the battery plunger is in the OFF position (up) so he isn't listening to anything. It certainly wasn't a candid moment.

[TinfoilPhono]

^^^^^
Correct. This was an entirely staged / posed photo. There's at least one other from the same session showing his staff.

Edison was an expert at PR spin. The story of working around the clock to finish it may or may not be true.

[Dave D]

^^^^^
Correct. This was an entirely staged / posed photo. There's at least one other from the same session showing his staff.

Edison was an expert at PR spin. The story of working around the clock to finish it may or may not be true.

I am not surprised to hear it was staged. I believe the photo was taken by WL Dickson who did a lot of work with the motion picture camera.
Dave D

[NEFaurora]

Is that Sean Connery standing right behind Edison?!?!?? Man, Sean did get around....Didn't he?? Using Time Travel too...!

)

Tony K.

[phonogfp]

I am not surprised to hear it was staged. I believe the photo was taken by WL Dickson who did a lot of work with the motion picture camera.
Dave D

That's W.K.L. Dickson standing at far left, so he can't take credit!

George P.

[Dave D]

I am not surprised to hear it was staged. I believe the photo was taken by WL Dickson who did a lot of work with the motion picture camera.
Dave D

That's W.K.L. Dickson standing at far left, so he can't take credit!

George P.

By Gosh, you are right. I am reading up on the Kinetoscope and should have noticed that! Maybe it was done with a timer?

[Canuk Phonographs]

These 2 photos are probably my favourite photos and gets me thinking, what was going through Edison's mind. The photos are taken June 16, 1888 at 5:30 am. To the far right sits, Col. George E Gourand, waiting to take delivery of a shipment of the Improved Phonograph back to England. As seen in the attached photo, he must have taken the Perfected Phonograph model as well, to secure patent rights in England. Why would he do that? Because 10 days later on June 28, 1888, Edison sells his invention and patent rights in North America to Jesse H. Lippincott.

Just my thoughts,

Blain