ABSTRACT
British/American inventor, born in Dalston, near London. He went to the U.S. around 1870 as a representative of J.P. Coates, the Manchester thread manufacturer. He decided to remain in America, working for Thomas Edison from 1871 as a machinist and laboratory associate. He and Edison worked closely in telegraphy experiments during 1874-1875, then in developing the “electric pen” (mimeograph machine). The Edison establishment at Menlo Park, New Jersey, was planned by Batchelor and Edison, and he became the “keeper of notes and designer of prototypes” there. In 1877 the first project was the telephone, which was greatly improved beyond the stage reached by Alexander Graham Bell-the Menlo Park work made the modern Bell System possible, and created the mode for long distance calling.
