By 1882 Edison had established the first commercial power station, and began providing light and power to customers. In 1887, he established an electrical research and development center in West Orange, New Jersey, where he continued to work on electrical inventions and to developing technology that led to the first (silent) motion pictures. He concurrently worked on developing, then improving the phonograph, and recording equipment. | By 1882 Edison had established the first commercial power station, and began providing light and power to customers. In 1887, he established an electrical research and development center in West Orange, New Jersey, where he continued to work on electrical inventions and to developing technology that led to the first (silent) motion pictures. He concurrently worked on developing, then improving the phonograph, and recording equipment. |