Historic Structures Report, Part I: Main Laboratory Building (Bldg. 5)
Speiden NR. 1959. Historic Structures Report, Part I: Main Laboratory Building (Bldg. 5). Historic Structure Report. U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service
Building No. 5 is the Main Building of the Edison Laboratory group and was built along with buildings Nos. 1, 2, 3, 4, and 6 between July 1 and November 24, 1887, on which date they were first occupied by Mr. Edison and his team of research workers. From this time until Mr. Edison's death on October 18, 1931, a period of nearly 44 years, these buildings were used as what Edison sometimes called his "Invention Factory." This was the first laboratory built, completely equipped, and adequately staffed to solve all of the problems connected with invention and development. Here the first motion picture camera was invented; and here, on October 6, 1889, the first motion picture, synchronized with sound from a phonograph record, was projected. The primary architectural concern for the building in this report is the replacement of the tin roof, which was found to be deteriorating quicker than expected, leaking water.
- Type
- Published Report
- Authors
- Speiden, Norman
- Date of Issue
- 1959-10-28
- Publisher
- U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service
- Units
- EDIS , NER
- Keywords
- laboratory, masonry, roofing, Thomas Edison, tin roof
- Subjects
- CRIS-HS: 000274: Edison Laboratories - Main Laboratory