Historic Structures Report, Part I: Metallurgical Laboratory (Bldg. 4)
Weig MJ, Speiden NR, Ingersoll WT, Whittington G. 1962. Historic Structures Report, Part I: Metallurgical Laboratory (Bldg. 4). Historic Structure Report. U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service
The Metallurgical Laboratory, Building No. 4 of the Edison Laboratory complex, was included in the original 1887 complex and, as indicated by the "Historical Data" section of this report, served the Edison's purposes in many ways other than metals research, especially important being its latter-day use for experimental phonograph work and the production of blanks for disc phonograph recordings. Some of the early work on Mr. Edison's search for a domestic source of natural rubber was also carried on here after 1927, as well as experiments and tests on the "Edicraft" line of kitchen appliances. Following the inventor's death in 1931 most of the old machines and equipment then in the building were gradually removed to make room for new "Development Laboratory" activities of his company, Thomas A. Edison, Inc., as a result of which the interior was greatly modified and altered. Only the exterior, therefore, still retains its essential appearance as the Building No. 4 of Thomas Edison's own time. The existing physical state of Building No. 4 and its related utilities systems is such that considerable rehabilitation will be required to restore them to good maintenance condition. From foundation to roof, there is hardly a structural element which does not require either major repair or, in some cases, complete replacement.
- Type
- Published Report
- Authors
- Weig, Melvin; Speiden, Norman; Ingersoll, William; Whittington, Gordie
- Date of Issue
- 1962-02-09
- Publisher
- U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service
- Units
- EDIS , NER
- Keywords
- Boston Ivy, masonry, metallurgy, Thomas Edison
- Subjects
- CRIS-HS: 000273: Edison Laboratories - Metallurgical Laboratory