The Social Side Of Edison -6

The Social Side Of Edison -6

It might appear strange on the surface, but one of the reasons that most influenced Edison

to regrets in connection with the "big trade" of 1889 was that it separated him from his

old friend and ally, Bergmann, who, on selling out, saw a great future for himself in

Germany, went there, and realized it. Edison has always had an amused admiration for

Bergmann, and his "social side" is often made evident by his love of telling stories about

those days of struggle. Some of the stories were told for this volume. "Bergmann came to

work for me as a boy," says Edison. "He started in on stock-quotation printers. As he was

a rapid workman and paid no attention to the clock, I took a fancy to him, and gave him

piece-work. He contrived so many little tools to cheapen the work that he made lots of

money. I even helped him get up tools until it occurred to me that this was too rapid a

process of getting rid of my money, as I hadn't the heart to cut the price when it was

originally fair. After a year or so, Bergmann got enough money to start a small shop in

Wooster Street, New York, and it was at this shop that the first phonographs were made

for sale. Then came the carbon telephone transmitter, a large number of which were made

by Bergmann for the Western Union. Finally came the electric light. A dynamo was

installed in Bergmann's shop to permit him to test the various small devices which he was

then making for the system. He rented power from a Jew who owned the building. Power

was supplied from a fifty-horse-power engine to other tenants on the several floors. Soon

after the introduction of the big dynamo machine, the landlord appeared in the shop and

insisted that Bergmann was using more power than he was paying for, and said that lately

the belt on the engine was slipping and squealing. Bergmann maintained that he must be

mistaken. The landlord kept going among his tenants and finally discovered the dynamo.

`Oh! Mr. Bergmann, now I know where my power goes to,' pointing to the dynamo.

Bergmann gave him a withering look of scorn, and said, `Come here and I will show

you.' Throwing off the belt and disconnecting the wires, he spun the armature around by

hand. `There,' said Bergmann, `you see it's not here that you must look for your loss.'

This satisfied the landlord, and he started off to his other tenants. He did not know that

that machine, when the wires were connected, could stop his engine.

"Soon after, the business had grown so large that E. H. Johnson and I went in as partners,

and Bergmann rented an immense factory building at the corner of Avenue B and East

Seventeenth Street, New York, six stories high and covering a quarter of a block. Here

were made all the small things used on the electric-lighting system, such as sockets,

chandeliers, switches, meters, etc. In addition, stock tickers, telephones, telephone

switchboards, and typewriters were made the Hammond typewriters were perfected and

made there. Over 1500 men were finally employed. This shop was very successful both

scientifically and financially. Bergmann was a man of great executive ability and carried

economy of manufacture to the limit. Among all the men I have had associated with me,

he had the commercial instinct most highly developed."

One need not wonder at Edison's reminiscent remark that, "In any trade any of my `boys'

made with Bergmann he always got the best of them, no matter what it was. One time

there was to be a convention of the managers of Edison illuminating companies at

Chicago. There were a lot of representatives from the East, and a private car was hired.

At Jersey City a poker game was started by one of the delegates. Bergmann was induced

to enter the game. This was played right through to Chicago without any sleep, but the

boys didn't mind that. I had gotten them immune to it. Bergmann had won all the money,

and when the porter came in and said `Chicago,' Bergmann jumped up and said: `What!

Chicago! I thought it was only Philadelphia!' "