Alfred Muller, William Kent, Thomas Edison and A. Ruce at Edison's Ore-Concentrating Works, October 1891

Summary

During the 1890s, Thomas Edison launched a New Jersey mining operation to address an iron ore shortage. He designed rock-crushing technology and an electromagnetic ore separator to extract low-grade ore from crushed boulders. The final product -- a briquette made of powdered iron ore -- didn't do well commercially, especially after high-grade ore was discovered around Lake Superior. In 1899, Edison left the industry.

During the 1890s, Thomas Edison launched a New Jersey mining operation to address an iron ore shortage. He designed rock-crushing technology and an electromagnetic ore separator to extract low-grade ore from crushed boulders. The final product -- a briquette made of powdered iron ore -- didn't do well commercially, especially after high-grade ore was discovered around Lake Superior. In 1899, Edison left the industry.

Artifact

Photographic print

Subject Date

October 1891

 On Exhibit

By Request in the Benson Ford Research Center

Object ID

84.1.1630.P.B.25261

Credit

From the Collections of The Henry Ford.

Material

Paper (Fiber product)

Technique

Gelatin silver process

Color

Black-and-white (Colors)

Dimensions

Height: 8.25 in

Width: 10 in

Inscriptions

A. MULLER ROYAL GERMAN ARCHITECT / Wm KENT M.E. / Thos. A. Edison INVENTOR / A. RUCE C.E. / PHOTO BY SPENCER MILLER OCT '91

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