The Edison Manufacturing Company

The Edison Manufacturing Company, originally registered as the United Edison Manufacturing Company and often known as simply the Edison Company, was organized by inventor and entrepreneur Thomas Edison and incorporated in New York City in May 1889. It succeeded the Edison United Manufacturing Company, founded in 1886 as a sales agency for the Edison Lamp Company, Edison Machine Works, and Bergmann & Company, which made electric lighting fixtures, sockets, and other accessories. In April 1894, the Edison laboratory's Kinetoscope operation, which was about to be commercialized, was brought under the Edison Company umbrella. In 1900, the United Edison Manufacturing Company was evidently succeeded by the New Jersey–incorporated Edison Manufacturing Company. The company's assets and operations were transferred to Thomas A. Edison, Inc. in 1911.

History

The Edison United Manufacturing Company was incorporated in July 1886 to consolidate the sales operations of the various Edison manufacturing concerns. The company went into liquidation—finalized October 31, 1889—and was succeeded by the United Edison Manufacturing Company, incorporated in New York City under New York State law in May 1889. On May 4, 1900, the Edison Manufacturing Company—evidently the successor to the United Edison Manufacturing Company—was incorporated in Newark, New Jersey, with its headquarters located in West Orange.

From April 1894 to June 1908, William E. Gilmore was vice-president and general manager of the Edison Manufacturing Company. He took over from Alfred O. Tate and was succeeded by patent lawyer Frank Dyer. The passing mention in the introduction (p. 13) of Gilmore having been hired in April 1895 is clearly an error. See also Edison's films were made by the Kinetograph Department of the Edison Manufacturing Company.

Edison's first moviemaking studio—and the world's first—was the Black Maria in West Orange, New Jersey, where production of Kinetoscope films began in early 1893. The Edison Studios productions moved to a Manhattan facility after the turn of the century, and a few years later to a studio in the Bronx. Filming locations around the United States and abroad were used.

The company had the same senior executives as the more profitable National Phonograph Company, to which Edison paid more attention. Edison was also distracted by other enterprises including storage batteries, iron ore and cement, which competed for finance and led to loss of focus.

In February 1911 the company's assets were assigned to Thomas A. Edison, Inc. The Edison Manufacturing Company was formally dissolved on 9 November 1926.

Gallery

The Lighthouse by the Sea - Edwin S. Porter - 1911, Edison Manufacturing Company - EYE FLM38670 - OB 685482.webm, Silent movie with tinting ''Lighthouse by the Sea'' (1911) directed by Edwin S. Porter for Edison Manufacturing Company. Running time: 14:46.
Lord and the Peasant - Die Heimkehr des Reisenden - J. Searle Dawley, 1912, Edison Manufacturing Company.webm, Silent movie with ''Lord and the Peasant'' (1912) directed by J. Searle Dawley for Edison Manufacturing Company. Running time: 8:52
Mr. Toots' Tooth - Charles M. Seay - 1913, Edison Manufacturing Company - EYE FLM44279 - OB 685538.webm, Silent comedy movie ''Mr. Toots' Tooth'' (1913) directed by Charles M. Seay for Edison Manufacturing Company. Running time: 06:35. Mr. Toots miraculously loses his tooth.

References

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Manufacturing companies established in 1889
Manufacturing companies disestablished in 1926
Edison Manufacturing Company
Articles containing video clips
1889 establishments in New Jersey
1926 disestablishments in New York (state)
American companies established in 1889
American companies disestablished in 1926
Defunct manufacturing companies based in New Jersey
Defunct manufacturing companies based in New York City