Bitzer, Mutoscope, and Biograph

In 1894, Dickson split with Edison.  He went on to found the American Mutoscope and Biograph Company.  While Biograph was a member of the Trust, it (and others) fought with Edison (and others) for many years.

In 1896, Biograph hires a 24 year old electrician from Boston named Johann Gotlieb Wilhelm (Billy) Bitzer.  Bitzer rapidly becomes the cornerstone of Biograph's technical production and produces numerous innovations. 

So, as the 20th century opened, Mutoscope/Biograph had Bitzer and Edison had Porter.  But Bitzer gets something that Porter never got:  a creative genius to work with.

griffith