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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