The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-03-05
He MADE THE n rHoNoGRApn.
John Kruesi, Who Was Buried on Feb. %,
Was One of Edison's Best Assistants.

John Kruesi, Who Was Buried on Feb. 20,
Was One of Edison's Best Assistants.
The man who made the first monograph was
buried at Schenectady on Feb. %. He was one
OF the little band OF men who worked with
Thomas A. Edison at Menlo Park and through
whose skill and faithful assistance were devel-
oped the many inventions which gave to Edi-
son the name Of the Wizard" 1t was in those
days that Edison used to become absorbed in
the development OF an idea. work at it without
rest or sleep for two or three days and nights
and keep all those about him busy at the SAM
time. He would call in an organ grinder from
the streets to keep his men awake or resort
to some other such device. and when
the strain was finally over, charter n boat and
take all hands down the bay on q fishing ex-
cursion, Among the most tireless Of the mon
about the Wizard" about that time was
John Kruesi. the man who made the first
photograph. The idea had come TO Mr.. Edi-
son as an inspiration a few days before while
he was experimenting with a telephone disk.
The disk was not inclosed. and there was a
sharp pointed pin on the back of It. As Mr..
Edison spoke against the face OF the disk. its
vibrations drove the pin into his finger.
II the disk has power enough to prick my
nnger.'' thought the Wizard. lit has powor
enough to make q record which can be re-
produced"
A few days later he called Kruesi to him, and.
putting into his hands a rough sketch OF the
monograph. explained what the thing was 10
do. and told him to make It. 1t was a roll
machine. the roll covered with tinfoil to take
the record.
Kruesi made the machine and brought it to
Mr.. Edison. Edison set 1t going and spoke
into IT,:
Mary had a little lamb,
Its fleece was white az snow.
Aud everywhere tlat Mary went
The lamb was sure to go.
Then he started 1t to repeat his words. ex-
pecting at the best but a hoarse murmur in an
swer, He was almost wed when he heard his
words actually repeated in clear tones by the
little machine. That machine Is now In the
Patent Museum at South Kensington.
Mr.. kruesi remained with Edison and became
eIsef ri nj iiE PSF'a anG II im rs lss6 fe wSenP tS sst E 81 sss
machine works were removed to Schenectady.
he went there as, assistant general manager
General Electric Company was formed and the
WaSl eon!Pa 5iniGs Of Mr. The fru sgGT BECAME sS%I seSsSs1
manager Of the works. Il was under Ills SUPER!
vision that the Schenectady works. the largest
and most complete, Of their kind, in the world,
death Mr., Kruesi was the chief mechanical en-
gineer Of the General Electric, Company; OF
the original Edison band OF workers only three
were absent from the funeral. These were
T. {. Martin, editor OF the Electrical Engineer:
kRhtssr T StIsr anssGid H1d e. det u SSGhGIs seT,b al of
Mr., Kruesi WAS a native of Switzerland. and
was born in 1s43. He came TO this country in
Machine Company at Elizabethport, In June.
1872. while Edison was making Gold and stock
Exehange Telegraph Instruments in a Newark
first Of his ,workmen, 70 be transferred from
commercial 10 experimental work when Edi-
REIMBURSEMENT q lis IDEAS IL is7S 9has AZ sR Sop
J was w Greene street. Newark -