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Edison on Innovation: 102 Lessons in Creativity for Business and Beyond
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Edison on Innovation: 102 Lessons in Creativity for Business and Beyond

by Alan Axelrod
February 2008
Intermediate to advanced content levelIntermediate to advanced
192 pages
4h 1m
English
Jossey-Bass
Content preview from Edison on Innovation: 102 Lessons in Creativity for Business and Beyond

8.6. Lesson 70: Redesign

In August 1869, Edison was hired as superintendent of Laws's Gold and Stock Reporting Company of New York City. Samuel Laws had pioneered telegraphic gold and stock quotation in the financial capital, and he was very successful at it; however, looking over his shoulder, he could see the upstart Calahan's Gold and Stock Telegraph Company gaining on him. There was a good reason. Whereas Laws offered only an indicator device, Calahan had a full-scale printer.

In response, Laws designed a printer of his own, but he ran afoul of the patent Calahan had secured. Edison stepped in to redesign the printer primarily to overcome the obstacle of patent conflict. In the process, however, he genuinely improved the device by simplifying ...

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Publisher Resources

ISBN: 9780787994594Purchase book