Memories Of Menlo Park - 4
Among other now well-known men who came to us and assisted in various kinds of work
were Messrs. Acheson, Worth, Crosby, Herrick, and Hill, while Doctor Haid was placed
by Mr. Edison in charge of a special chemical laboratory. Dr. E. L. Nichols was also with
us for a short time conducting a special series of experiments. There was also Mr. Isaacs,
who did a great deal of photographic work, and to whom we must be thankful for the
pictures of Menlo Park in connection with Edison's work.
"Among others who were added to Mr. Kruesi's staff in the machine-shop were Messrs. J.
H. Vail and W. S. Andrews. Mr. Vail had charge of the dynamo- room. He had a good
general knowledge of machinery, and very soon acquired such familiarity with the
dynamos that he could skip about among them with astonishing agility to regulate their
brushes or to throw rosin on the belts when they began to squeal. Later on he took an
active part in the affairs and installations of the Edison Light Company. Mr. Andrews
stayed on Mr. Kruesi's staff as long as the laboratory machine-shop was kept open, after
which he went into the employ of the Edison Electric Light Company and became
actively engaged in the commercial and technical exploitation of the system. Another
man who was with us at Menlo Park was Mr. Herman Claudius, an Austrian, who at one
time was employed in connection with the State Telegraphs of his country. To him Mr.
Edison assigned the task of making a complete model of the network of conductors for
the contemplated first station in New York."
Mr. Francis R. Upton, who was early employed by Mr. Edison as his mathematician,
furnishes a pleasant, vivid picture of his chief associates engaged on the memorable work
at Menlo Park. He says: "Mr. Charles Batchelor was Mr. Edison's principal assistant at
that time. He was an Englishman, and came to this country to set up the thread-weaving
machinery for the Clark thread-works. He was a most intelligent, patient, competent, and
loyal assistant to Mr. Edison. I remember distinctly seeing him work many hours to
mount a small filament; and his hand would be as steady and his patience as unyielding at
the end of those many hours as it was at the beginning, in spite of repeated failures. He
was a wonderful mechanic; the control that he had of his fingers was marvellous, and his
eyesight was sharp. Mr. Batchelor's judgment and good sense were always in evidence.
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