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These records consist of unbound and bound material relating to plant operations at ESBCo factories and to research and development done on behalf of ESBCo by its own Research Department and by Edison's West Orange laboratory. The unbound items consist of periodic operations reports (1905-1924); occasional research reports (1901, 1914-1923); and graphs showing the performance of batteries used in automotive starters (1922-1930). The bound volumes consist of a research notebook (1901-1903); an unfilled orders notebook (ca. 1901-1902); eight receiving books (1901-1916); an automobile test book (1902); five payroll abstract books (1911-1917); and six plant operations log books (1920-1921).

The following categories of documents have been selected: a sample of reports routed to Edison; reports reflecting Edison's direct involvement in, and supervision of, ESBCo procedures and experimental programs.

The following categories of documents have not been selected: rolling mill production reports and other reports not involving Edison; starter battery test graphs; test books; routine purchasing records; payroll books; operations logs.

The selected records are arranged in the following order: (1) operations reports; (2) research reports; and (3) research notebook.

Records not selected

Unfilled Orders Notebook, N-01-00-00.04

This undated notebook was used by unidentified employees to record order numbers and estimated amounts of purchases. Some entries have been checked off or crossed out. The loose items found in the book date from the period 1901- 1902.

Receiving Books (1901-1916)

These eight bound volumes cover the period July 1901-March 1916. Chronological entries provide information regarding suppliers and items ordered. The entries are initialed, checked off, and annotated to indicate billing dates and order numbers. Purchases include machine work, hardware, chemicals, and other material for research and developmental work on storage batteries and on manufacturing processes and machine tools.

Automobile Test Book (1902)

This volume was used during 1902 and may have been used in previous and subsequent years. Entries by two unidentified experimenters record charge and discharge tests for batteries used in various electric vehicles. Included are data for Baker and Studebaker wagons, as well as a "motor bicycle." There are also entries on "shoes and innertubes" and "accidents."

Payroll Abstract Books (1911-1917)

These five bound volumes cover the years 1911-1917. Weekly entries provide payroll expenses for individual departments at the ESBCo factory, along with expenses for some battery work done at the West Orange laboratory. The first book [Notebook, N-11-01-01.1], covering the period January-February 1911, is by George A. Meister. It includes a note indicating that miscellaneous costs at the laboratory were "rather high for following Reasons: Lab Men on Crane Work, Herter on Submarine Cell, John Ott designing." Another pay book (January 1911-October 1912) by Meister can be found in the archival record group, Thomas A. Edison, Incorporated. The other three books cover the period November 1912-February 1917 and offer a more detailed record of labor costs. They provide information regarding the weekly payroll, the percentages of pay based on piecework and time, the number of cells assembled, and the deduced cost per cell (using the company's A4 cell as a standard). The entries after June 30, 1914, are initialed by Edison. Marginal notations by Edison indicate that he was seeking an expense ratio of $2.99 per A4 equivalent- -a ratio that was seldom obtained.

Log Books (1920- 1921)

These six volumes, each pertaining to a different part of the production process, cover the period September 1920-May 1921. The daily entries in the first five books appear to have been made by the same individual.

—The first book is labeled "Anode Department, September 1920 to." The entries tabulate anode production, the use of nickel, the amount of nickel on hand, the use and reclamation of copper, and the number of men employed.

—The second book is labeled "Chemist's Report - Copper Electrolyte and Nickel Electrolyte." The entries tabulate daily amounts and specific gravities for sulfuric acid, copper sulphate, and nickel sulphate. A comment by Edison has been transcribed on page 34: "Feb 24/21 -- Folsom: next Sat (Feb 26) increase gradually (over a period of one day) the acetic acid until baths of nickel show Three 3 gm/l. Edison." Following that notation is another comment: "Three is O.K. now -- 2.85 to 3.50 limits."

—The third book is labeled "Electrolyte Department, September, 1920 to." The entries tabulate information on pressing and filtering, including amounts and temperatures at various stages, labor, occasional leakage, and the clarity and pH of solutions.

—The fourth book is labeled "Storage Battery -- Record of Shipping Department." The entries tabulate orders, assembly, and shipment of cells, containers, and other material.

—The fifth book is labeled "Rolling Mill - E.S.B.Co. - and Tube & Pocket." The entries tabulate production, scrap material, and labor.

—The sixth book is not labeled. The entries tabulate the number of orders, prices, and profits, as well as orders received for each type of cell.

Starter Battery Test Graphs (1922-1930)

These graphs cover the periods 1922-1926 and 1930, but some undated items may be from earlier years or from 1927-1929. The graphs contain information regarding the test of automobile starters with Edison storage batteries. The composition, temperature, and treatment of cells are detailed along with the number of starts, current rating, voltage, and other variables. Some of the tests are labeled as having been performed at Edison's West Orange laboratory.