lomaatl Cavtcnru mpeM*
A SELECTIVE MICROFILM EDITION
PART III (1887-1898)
Thomas E. Jeffrey Microfilm Editor
Gregory Field Theresa M. Collins David W. Hutchings Lisa Gltelman Leonard DeGraaf Dennis D. Madden
Editors
Reese V. Jenkins Director and Editor
Mary Ann Hellrigcl Paul B. Israel Robert A. Rosenberg Karen A. Detlg Gregory Jankunls Douglas G. Tan-
Sponsors
Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey National Park Service, Edison National Historic Site New Jersey Historical Commission Smithsonian Institution
University Publications of America Bethesda, Maryland
Thomas A. Edison Paj
Rutgers, The State Univ endorsed by
National Historical Publications and R 18 June 1981
Copyright © 1993 by Rutgere, The ! All rights reserved. No pan of this publication including any ponioi be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in ; mechanical, or chemical, including photocopying, recording or systems— without written permission of Rutgers, The State University The original documents in this edition are from the archives at th' New Jersey.
ISBN 0-89093-702-S
BOARD OF SPONSORS
Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey
Francis L. Lawrence Joseph J, Seneca Richard F. Foley Rudolph M. Bell
New Jersey Historical Commission Howard L. Green
National Park Service John Maounis Maryanne Gerbauckas Nancy Waters George Tselos Smithsonian Institution Bernard Finn Arthur P. Molella
EDITORIAL ADVISORY BOARD
James Brittain, Georgia Institute of Technology Alfred D. Chandler, Jr., Harvard University Neil Harris, University of Chicago Thomas Parke Hughes, University of Pennsylvania Arthur Link, Princeton University Nathan Reingold, Smithsonian Institution Robert E. Schofield, Iowa State University
CORPORATE ASSOCIATES
William C. Hittinger (Chairman), RCA Corporation Edward J. Blouslein, Rutgers, The Stale University of New Jersey * Cees Bruynes, North American Philips Corporation Paul J. Christiansen, Charles Edison Fund Philip F. Dietz, Westinghouse Electric Corporation Roland W. Schmitt, General Electric Corporation Harold W. Sonn, Public Service Electric and Gas Company Morris Tanenbaum, AT&T
•Deceased.
FINANCIAL CONTRIBUTORS
PUBLIC FOUNDATIONS
National Science Foundation National Endowment for the Humanities National Historical Publications and Records Commission
PRIVATE CORPORATIONS AND INDIVIDUALS
Alabama Power Company Amerada Hess Corporation Anonymous AT&T
Atlantic Electric
Association of Edison Illuminating Companies, Inc.
Battelle Memorial Institute The Boston Edison Foundation Cabot Corporation Foundation, Inc.
Carolina Power & Light Company Consolidated Edison Company of New York, Inc.
Consumers Power Company Coming Glass Works Foundation Duke Power Company Entergy Corporation (Middle South Electric Systems)
Exxon Corporation Florida Power & Light Company General Electric Foundation Gould Inc. Foundation Gulf States Utilities Company Idaho Power Company International Brotherhood of Electrical
Iowa Power and Light Company
Mr. and Mrs. Stanley H. Katz Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. McGraw-Edison Company Minnesota Power New Jersey Bell New York State Electric & Gas Corporation
North American Philips Corporation Philadelphia Electric Company Philips International B.V.
Public Service Electric and Gas Company RCA Corporation Robert Bosch GmbH Rochester Gas and Electric Corporation
San Diego Gas & Electric Savannah Electric and Power Company Schering-Plough Foundation Texas Utilities Company Thomas & Betts Corporation Thomson Grand Public Transamerica Delaval Inc. Westinghouse Educational Foundation Wisconsin Public Service Corporation
PRIVATE FOUNDATIONS The Alfred P. Sloan Foundation Charles Edison Fund The Hyde and Watson Foundation Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation
132
A Note on the Sources
The pages which have been filmed are the best copies available. Every technical effort possible has been made to ensure legibility.
PUBLICATION AND MICROFILM COPYING RESTRICTIONS
Reel duplication of the whole or of any part of this film is prohibited. In lieu of transcripts, however, enlarged photocopies of selected items contained on these reels may be made in order to facilitate research.
1891. Phonograph - Edison Phonograph Works - Accounts (D-91-47)
This folder contains routine financial records of the Edison Phonograph Works. Included are monthly statements, time and payroll sheets, and memoranda of daily shipments and weekly billing statements to the Edison General Electric Co. One summary payroll statement for the week ending April 15, 1891, has been filmed as a sample.
Summary of pay roll for week ending April 15th. 91
Batea a/c §137.98 Machy & Tools 23.67 T. A. Edison 72.77 New Phonograph 47.93 Eur. & Fix. 51.95 General Expense 420.54 Edison Mfg. Co. 5.27 Wax Cylinders 71.85 Phono. L. & M. 21.02 Iron Foundry 70.55 Brass " 51.00 Brossa 10.90
Total , _
985.43 ..
^ ^ /C&-c£- ^ jfs
‘\/L~ < ,y ^ 01
A_
1891. Phonograph - Foreign - General (D-91-48)
This folder contains correspondence and other documents relating to the commercial development of Edison’s phonograph in the United Kingdom, Germany, Mexico, and Russia. Included are letters about the presentation of the phonograph to various foreign dignitaries. Among the correspondents are Julius H. Block, Edison’s phonograph agent in Russia; Josef Hofmann, the Polish pianist; and Sherburne B. Eaton, Edison’s attorney.
Approximately 70 percent of the documents have been filmed. The following categories of documents have not been filmed: routine requests for phonographs and information about the phonograph; other routine business correspondence.
[FROM GEORGE CHARLES SPENCER CHURCHILL]
interest from working the Phonograph X brought over with me - I think myself that with some modifications it will be quite suitable for business purposes - The cylinders at present' are however too short to contain an ordinary letter, and the Phonogram I am to-day sending you is really quite a short letter, and it would be difficult to condense many of the business communications one has to make into so short a compass; there would therefore be verjMgr^T difficulty and time lost in changing cylinders, and if it would be possible to make these cylinders longer the instrument would be very much more practical. - You are making, I know, a new form of instrument with cylinders of narrower diameter and also longer - I wish you could let me have one of these instrument’s when you have got the patterns finished, as I should greatly like to put one into work here and really see whether it cannot be used habitually for my private dictation purposes —
One ought to have a spare stylas and planer with these instruments as in case anything went wrong with the little sapphire heads one would be completely stopped -
The only difficulty in using the instrument that occurs to me is the question of correction - I do not see how this can be easily overcome-
In dictating letters sometimes it is necessary to male corrections', and these of ..course are not practicable in a Phonogram - The instrument 1 Jiavc is a remarkably good one, and in fact speaks so loud ay putting a paper cone on to it the voice can be heard as from a person on the o tner side of the room - 1 am using it haoitualiy for dictating letters to, and my Clerlt takes them off afterwards - TJie planning of tae cylinders is rather a lengthy affair, but this I mean to leave to him to do later - I hope you will be able to let me have one of these new pattern instruments, for another thing is ‘that these^cfii^rs at prn rtrral I fine very brittle; I suppose it is the excessively cold weather wc nave had for over two months,but I dont know, I find they crack sometimes without any reason.
Believe me,
Yours very truly
j—.
[ATTACHMENT]
FROM
©UJKE ©F
iV.y Dear Edison.
NOTABLY THE ON!
Cutting is alsc
PL IME NT MY PHOI. ONLY A MODERATE TO SEND ME ONE INSTRUMENT WILL
jfourgrgtthtttt.
M: A R. U. B 0 R. O U! G Hi ,
LENHEIM,
WOCmSYOC
I >USH YOU A VERY HAPPY HEW YEAR & E'lERY SUCCESS IN ALL : YO UR ENTERPR I sj YOU SPOKE TO ME OF FOR IRON ORE SEPARATION WHICH OUR FRIEND ROBERT MUCH INTERESTED IN. I AM SENDI NG YOU A LONG TYPE WRITTEN LETTER TO. SUP I GRAM AS THE OYDINOERS ARE TOO SHORT TO CONTAIN A LONG LETTER 4 1 HAVE I OUAHTITY OF CYLINDERS WITH MY INSTRUMENT. I AM MOST ANXIOUS TO GET YOU
jf /'our nfv PtTTccw Phonographs to carry oh experiments with as tkes I
BE Fee RCTTCR coo nooprqpoHOA NOE i, IT is THIS purpose pQR WHI0H ThE j
OOOOS, WOODSTOCK
[ATTACHMENT]
Phonograph kill be most extensively used. For dictation t.iere is not so much gained
\ O/'ER SHORT HAND '/.RUING AS THERE ;YILL BE FLEASURE IN HEARING THE VOICES OF OU'R FRIENDS
OVER ONES AFTERBREAKFAST CIGAR INSTEAD OF HAVING TO CURIE THEN. FOR THEIR GAD HaSowRITI OR READ THEIR TYFEWRITEN PRODUCTIONS AS A COLD COMFORT FOR THEIR ABSENCE. IT MAY SlAVE OCCURRED rn VDII THAT mil »'T> ■ nr r-r ,1 nv mt ONLY OF ABSENT FREINDS IN A FUTURE GENERA TION BUT ALSO THAT THE ART. OF WRITING LOVE PHONOGRAMS WILL BECOME ONE OF THE PLEASURES OF YOUTH. 4 .WILL ALMOST ABOLISH THE DISTRESS 0 F TH E SE • YO UNG . SO ULS III ANOTHER AGE .AND WHERE -AFTER ■MATRIMONY; IF T HE : A B SE NT - BE T TE R HALF 1S AFT TO CARP 4 GIRO AT HOME-WHY. WE N HOT PUT HER PHO HOGR AMS 0 N . T HE CYLINDER AS WE AFE OBLIGED TO LISTEN. TO HER SHARP TOUMGE HOMILIES WHEN-i/.E A.JE AT • HOKE. i’.ITH THESE HOMELY REFLECTIONS I REMAIN YOURS AS ALWAYS
'NCERELY
JmPORT OF JMaCHINERY, jiARDWAT^E &C.
TRADING FIRM
J. BLOCK.
REPRESENTATIVES FOB RUSSIA OF:
Fairbanks & 0°, H. Disston & Sons, Ilf. fi B, Douglas, Eclipse WM Engine IT.
WYCKOFF, SEAMANS & BENEDICT,
COVENTRY MACHINISTS C» La
(Cycle.)
Joseph Perkins & Sons. nr. Redditch Willem
iillciiJfilliliiSea.Uaiili. il*. (7$ ^ * J fjtUs* } ^ ^ / /
* “SSsfT" **m* WW* IA1 » i » «aJ*4; • “<
A. C. WELLS & C V !* f! 1— ’tA J*V
bear $irs-
€K r g &
ft* 3.
fa reason l^aaBwa^ing. k^jr& interesting favor of Astober * 1896, only now, is the tjeslre 00^^ noylng yp u w*th a fetter, after having gathered sufficient intarastt#: material for an Answer.
In devoting my time with the phonograph entirely for mttedie^ records your news re overcoming all difficulties was most stifling 'tp me & 1 ajti now dreaming of the time when it will be my lh*k to see & heat this nSw1 wonder.
I was Also glad & satisfied to learn, that the Effnpebors gift had at last reached you safe & sound-.
And now re the phonograms sent* Should they have turned out ^interes¬ ting I wou Id be but too happy to forward some more, which 1 -have been gathering. Amongst the new ones there is a very interesting vooal one. The chorus of 500 students of the Moscow University have
TRADING FIRM
J. BLOCK.
REPRESENTATIVES FOB RUSSIA OF: ■
Fairbanks & C°, H, Disston & Sons, W. & B. Douglas, Eclipse Wind Engine G°.
COVENTRY MACHINISTS C° Ld
(Cycles)
Joseph Perkins & Sons. nr. Redditch
Willcoi 8 Gibbs Sen. liacb. P. Seidel & Naumann,— Diirkopp & Ci.
Jmport of JVIachinery, J^ardwaf^e &c.
^IZoacou/*
Sl.-^clciabuttj,
Th. A, Edison Esq.
Jlloscow, £t.-petersburg, y/arsaw & Ekalherinburg.
Wc use „A. B. C. Code" 4-th Edition,
7 / 19 Jan 91 189 189
#2.
A'(iL..ur:iLiwC' sung a rU8sifan national song , which I recorded
_ a*;'u‘ _ _ & consider very fair. I had it reproduced to
them through a funnel & their enthusiasm was the moB.t powerful: I ever witnessed. I believe Professor Stolietoff sent you a cable same night & the students intended to send you a similar oable signed by a good number of them. I dont know whether this took place. I had to leave for London & .just returned, so that I had no time to hear thdorfcsults tbfrtheir plane. They did not know how to thank me for acquainting them with your wonderful Invention. Before leaving I had shown It to over 1300 students & now have promised to show it to the rest of them (another 1700). Professor Stolietoff further promis¬ ed me to assist me in my next lecture for the Imperial Teohnloal So¬ ciety. The first leoture turned out suoh a suooes8,that I have been
asked to repeat It & this time it will be a more ooraplete thing. There is one more favor I have to ask of you & this Is the funnel question. I have been frequently asked to go in for ORCHESTRA re¬ cording & have until now held back for the simple reason, that I
TRADING FIRM
J. BLOCK.
REPRESENTATIVES FOR RUSSIA OF:
Fairbanks & C°, H. Disston & Sons, l S B. Douglas, Eclipse Wind Engine C”,
(Pumps) (Wind .Motor*)
WYCKOFF, SEAMANS & BENEDICT,
COVENTRY MACHINISTS C<> L* Joseph Perkins & Sons. nr. Redditch
Jmport of jMachinery, JIard waf^e &c.
- -
J. BLOCK f BLOCK Moscow, pi.-peten .
“^o^o.o, Jan 7/19 91
Willcn ft (libs Siv. lieh. IT. Th. A. EdisorfEsq. . #3.
Seidel & Neumann,— Durkopp &C!.
(K"o,|« v.p„, uKh,0 could not obtain the correct dimensions & shapes
^ f0r ^e best suitable funnel for suoh purposes.
I would feel exceedingly obliged to you if you would send me a rough sketch of suoh a funnel. For piano I was trying the shape of a parabola, but without success, probably due to the rough way it was made. .
My surprise was great when I was told in London, that they do not goln for vooal redords.
I am sorry to' aay I could not learn anything new In London, though I had the pleasure of meeting Col. Qouraud for the first time there. Hi® news was not very hopeful & I oould not learn of any definite moves there. Things seemed to look very muoh like 2 years ago.
Excuse please my long ohat. I did not Intend to take up so muoh of your valuable time.
Hoping some day to be of assistance to you believe me t^be
sCOPiED*
TRADING FIRM
J. BLOCK.
REPRESENTATIVES FOB RUSSIA OF:
Fairbanks & 0°, H. Disston & Sons, IN. 8 B. Ooiiglai, Eclipse Wind Engine O’.
COVENTRY MACHINISTS C» L4 Joseph Perkins & Sons. nr. Redditch
Wlllcoi a Gibbs Set. UacB. IT. Saulel & Nanmann.— Durkopp & 05.
JmPORT OF JVIaCHMERY, jplARDWAF^E &C.
/Address |Tiuty»s
J. BLOCK J BLOCK
Moscow, fsL-pcteraburg, yJarsi
§l.-^Eclcrsfemt|.
January 8 / 2o
A. 0.
f$y
N. J.
Tate Esq
I (Kcrotine V.pe, Ltftb:.)
I «<=• Orange
/ J Dear Sir;-
Please accept my thanks for your kind information & enclosures of November 17. I was absent from home for some considerable time & this delayed answering your favor promptly.
In listening this time to some reproductions IN London given by one of the former type of phonographs I was struck with the absenoe of the noise, ususally heard & caused by the reordlng point In r^., cording. I oould not get a satisfactory explanation there & since <*8 the principal objection mentioned by most, oan you not give me the explanation how this has been avoided?? I would^reatly indebted to you if you- oould explain this. I was the more astonished to find this in London, since the same lady toMme, that they do not go in for recording **a vooal performances,)^ being good enough for re¬ production, i was rather astonished to hear this, since I have aohi^- ved some marvellous results in that line.
Thanking you beforehand for any lnfoimation I remain yours trulv^L
EATON & LEWIS
\t;‘l
'A':-'
///(■■ ' ///re.
A/'. A, ■/’/,./, ray m
/far ■ArrA Feb. 2 . 1891 .
Thomas A. Edison, Esq., Bear Sir:
I beg to say that Mr. Connery and I have this day gone over his draft of the proposed Agave contract. We find several things which require joint discussion and Mr. Coonnery, his associate, Mr. Clarke, and I propose to visit you at the Labora¬ tory next Wednesday .theT IIth inst. at 2.P.M., to settle the whole matter.
If you find you cannot keep this appointment will you kindly give Mr. Connery and myself at least two days notice, sending Mr. Connery notice at Llewelyn ParK.
Very truly yours,
TRADING FIRM
„J . B L O p-K V ,
Fairbanks & C°, II. Disston &'.S»ns';
i/. S i Douglas, Eclipst Wind figiie v.
WYCKOFF, SEAMANS 8. BENEDICT,
Willcoi a Gibbs Sen. Had IT.
Seidel & Naumann.— Diirkopp & C",
• O'l i;.* ;j of odd- , nrnri.ni
J importers of jVIachinery, J-Iardware &C. *■ 0V,ji 1
1891
1S9
In reply to your favor of Aiihvortlicli Hires Goelirten 1
Mr. Glushanowski has addressed
you in a matter, which, as far as I know, is unique in its way.
The gentleman besides holding a very important position is wonder-
fihlly able * competent in a various branches of science & art & has given me some very good hints in regard to experiments with your phonograph . This is one of the many instances whore your phonograph would have been put to a practical test in the right way, Mr. G. expressed his willingness to return the apparatus after a certain time; I could not part with the one you gave me, because I still continue to demonstrate sma same * anothervery big lectttre will take place on the 4*b. Prof. Stolietoff has prepared some micro-photographs of some of the sounds .which, with various il-
lustrations of yomr wonderful apparatus will be throw on the screen, during the lecture.
I have some very interesting new phonograms, which, if the last ones gave you any pleasure, I shall gladly forward to jou.
Vory faithfully yours
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EATON & LEWIS
/-P/Pi/tV EqUITABLE BUILDING I
■S&U’ _ March 6. I89t MW
Dear Mr. Edison:
I beg to report, as folloi
Re’ Connery Agave Contract, hurried up and had this document ready e promised to call last Saturday. He did not, but calldd yester¬ day. V/e went over the contract and agreed on all disputed points but one. In due time we shall probably refer that one point to you for decision.
At Mr. Connery's requester • him last week Friday.
Re English Phonograph Patents. I explained to Mr. Selin; - man why it is that you cannot execute the assignment which the English lawyers sent over. He then stated that he was satisfied thth something else. I then e xplained to him that the said other thing would not be satisfactory to the English lawyers, and would possibly not give them what they required to bring the suit on.
Mr. S. now wants a full assignment, and the E.U.P.Co. will simul¬ taneously grant a return license to you for dolls &c. That plan does not meet with my approval, not yet at any rate. I must have the English patent law investigated before I can consent to it.
That will cost money. Your contract provides that the E.U.P.Co. shall pay all expenses of this kind. I am not disposed to go ahead until they agree to do it. Out of regard to your interests I shall do my duty by the E.U.P.Co. but it will be ice cold. If ’
I make it too cold, please give me instructions and they shall bo promptly obeyed.
TfComas A. Edison, Esq,
offuin.
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EATON & LEWIS
(/%> llj% EQUITABLE BUILDING I
.s'l&e/’ /jf.-r/y March 28, 189 yeffl
Re Connery & Clarke Agave Contract. Please find enclosed three like copies of this instrument. Execute all three, and have the date filled in at the top of the first page and on the back, then hand them to Mr. Connery when he calls, and let him add his own signature and get that of Mr. Clarke, to the three copies. Ask him to then leave one copy with Mr. Clarke, keep one copy himself, and hand me the third copy. The copy which
lie hands me I shall in due time give to you, after making an office copy for my files. By pursuing the above course each one of the three parties to the agreement will have a copy duly executed by all three parties.
Hoping the above will be satisfactory, I remain,
!
1891. Phonograph - Foreign - Edison United Phonograph Company (D-91-49)
This folder contains correspondence and other documents relating to the business of the Edison United Phonograph Co. Included are documents about the assignment of Edison’s English phonograph patents to the company and items about the technical development of the nickel-in-the-slot phonograph. There are also letters about the presentation of a phonograph to the president of Chile. Among the correspondents are G.N. Morison, secretaiy of the company; Jesse Seligman, a New York investment banker who helped organize the company; and Sherburne B. Eaton, Edison’s attorney.
Approximately 50 percent of the documents have been filmed. Most of the unselected items are meeting announcements and letters of transmittal and acknowledgement. Also not filmed are several untranslated French-language letters addressed to Stephen F. Moriarty, a few routine business letters, and duplicate copies of selected items.
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Thoms Edison, Esq., Dear Sir:
fevnrnf +>,a ^nd the E.U.P.Co. Referring to your valud
favorof the 20th mst.., I -beg to say that there is only one clause in the contract of March jl, 1890, between you, Gouraud and the E.U.P.co. whereby any money is payable to Gouraud as matters now stand. That clause is the third section of the said tripartite agreement, and provides that within eleven months from March II. 1890, the Board of Directors of <-he E.U.P.Bo. shall determine what compensation, if any, shall be paid to you and Gouraud, or either, for the assignment made in the said agreement of all of J°ur ^1S riehts, profits, percentages and royalties relating to Phonographs. The fourth section of the said agreement provides that whatever compensation is awarded to either you or Gouraud shall be ivided equally between you, after deducting the expenses incurred by Gouraud in taking out and maintaining patents, the same in any event not to exceed §25,000. B 1
to the matter, E.U.P.Co. may b
I mention the above merely to call your attention thinking that possibly a meeting of theBoard of the e called to take action on it.
!..^V "
/
New York City, ffan.3I, 1891. Ol
. Tate: '\i\
/7 X have this day written the E.U.P.Bo. about the en¬
closed „.mat, ter, but i asmuch as they are pretty slippery people X think^it would be well for Mr. Edison also to write to them as suggested at the end of the enclosed letter reque- ting them to noti f y me ,
Please send back the enclosed letter for my files and
oblige,
Very truly yours,
S.B. Eaton, p A.G.M.
.
-^p .^4^.
^ sr^e&ftu. *Y -&£. S'£'Srs$C-~^y^y&./£,
^ ^ ytU^^V- <Xj£&
4r
Re Compensation to Gouraud for 805 Phonographs. I beg to report as follows on this matter;
(1) One of the agreements of March II, 1890, between you^Gouraud^and the Edison United Phonograph Companyj pro¬ vided that the Board of the E.U.P.Co. must determine v/i thin eleven months ( if at all) whether any compensation should be paid to you and Gouraud on account of these phonographs. The Executive Commit¬ tee met today and pursuant to your request I was present to look aft a* your interests, owing to Mr, Insull's abse nee. It was dis¬ covered that no quorum of the Board could possibly be obtained
by the Ilth inst., when the s aid eleven months expire. With the usual neglect of business, the officers of the Company had not taken this matter up early enough.
(2) The talk which took place at the meeting today showed that every member of the Committee was opposed to paying anything. It was the general belief that you did not in¬ sist on anything yourself, and that your o wn view:, was that both you and Gouraud should waive all claim. Mr. Moriarty who was present stated that he was convinced from recent correspondence with Gouraud that the latter would be satisfied to adopt your view. Inasmuch as the contract provides that the matter should be left to the Board, and as a quorum of the Board is not possible by the Ilth inst., and afilall the members of the Committee were of opinion
(in which I did not concur) that inaction, that is to say doing nothing, was a sufficient performance of the obligation of the Com¬ pany and would give the same result as would be given bya formal action of the Board to the effect that nothing whatever should be paid to you and Gouraud;- the Committee adjourned without doing anything and without putting anything on record.
(3) Colonel Gouraud sailed today for N ew York iioriar ty says he is ccsning on account of family matters. In view
of the informal disposition of this matter,, as above- stated, he may probably revive a consideration- of the subject when he reaches here. But of course you do not care whether he does or not, for it is distinctly understood/ and I impressed i t on all hands today, th.t you were to have one half of whatever is allowed to Gouraud( after patent expenses) if anything, anrl that the money is to be paid directly by the Company to you instead of the entire amount being paid to Gouraud with the expectation that he would hand one half of it to you. They understand that you are to get one-half and thfc the Company is under apersonal obligation to hand it to you direct¬ ly.
(4) The forego i ng contract further pe-cite's: the fact that Gouraud had collected money from agents under six certain agency contract, and provides that as regards five of thorn (excluding Brazil) the said money should be paid "immediately"
by him to the E.U.P.Co. That was eleven months ago? At the me et- ing today I xxb asked whether this had been done. They sent for Secretary Morison, and President Cochrane was also present. It turned out that no demand had ever been made on Gouraud for this money, although eleven months had passed, and that he had never paid any of it. I promptly characterized this slack way of doing business as tipical of the way all the business had been carried on by the. present officers. They were disposed to resent this but the facts were against them. I further stated that Mr Jnsull had with equal justice made similar complaints before.
(5) One of the foregoing six agency contracts related to Brazil, and the fbregoing agreement recites that Gouraud had received five hundred pounds from the Brazil agent. He always claimed that for certain peculiar reasons he ought to be entitled to keep this money in hi6 own pocket, while I always maintained thfc. if he did so, you ought to have your own share of it. Under the foregoing agreement these two questions are loft to the arbitra¬ tion of the Board of Directors of the E.U.P.Co., viz: whether Gour¬ aud shall retain this Brazil money or shall turn it over to the Company as he has obliged himself to do touching the other five agencies, and whether, in case the Board decide that he may re¬ tain it he shall pay a part of it to you, and how much. There being no quorum of the Board present today(in fact it was a meeting of the Executive Committee and not of the Board ) this matter was not acted on. But we must not forget it. I shall send a copy
of this letter to Mr. Insull in order that he may bear this point in mind.
(6) President Cochrane interviewed me at the end of the meeting about Eaton & Levis' bill of March 27, XS90. It
is nearly eleven months since this bill was presented. The Company has never even acknowledged the bill. I told Mr. Cochrane that the officers of the Company ought all to be discharged for not aft ending to business. I stated that in addition to the complaints which Mr. Insull had heretofore made here were two other iruatters, viz: this bill and the above matters relating to monies payable by Gouraud, to the Company r.vhi ch had not even been asked for by the latter. Mr. Cochran finally stated that he would talk our bill over with Mr. Seligmann and that I should hear from him.
(7) To sum up, the question of paying you and
Oouraud anything on account of the 805 phonographs is practically ended. But the question of yourgetting some part of the five hun dred pounds of Brazil money is still to be acted upon. The time
limit of eleven months does not apply to the Brazil matter. Mr. Insull will no doubt bring that question up at a Board meeting after his return.
Hoping the above wil be satisfactory, I remain,
1;
■ L
Dear Mr, Edison:
' * sen* you at Orange , thinking you would be back there
today a lengthy report of what took place at the meeting of the Executive Committee of the E.U.P.Co. on Saturday, relating to
l °-al“ touol»«e the 865 Phonographs. I now learn from „ ,L\t“e tljat ycm w111 remain at Schenectady several days lonrer No doubt Mr. -jate will forward to you my said letter- G
Very truly yours
, . .
-i
>ew York C W, Peb^istl . i <Lj y thinking you would be back there
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Dear Mr- Edison :
I take this opportunity of congratulating you upon the success of the new phonograph. While im¬ provements will, no doubt, be made frm time to time, still I think the present machine is such that it can be recommend¬ ed and will be used largely for commercial purposes.
I would thank you to name some day when you could come here to meet some of the Directors, in order to talk over matters in reference to the future. In doing so, I wish you would make the appointment a few days ahead, so as to have our Philadelphia friends with us.
I have stronger hopes than ever of our future suc¬ cess, and it should be the aim of all of us to work in per¬ fect harmony, to bring about which I shall do everything with¬ in my power.
Yours, very
to
Mr. Thomas A. Edison,
Orange, N. J. '?■
truly,-
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Dear Mr, Edison:
New York City, April 7, 1891.
of
E.
T find that it is a fact that I drew evory description, with one trifling exception,
. P. Co, All that the other lawyers did was to v. and make a few rough lead pencil suggestions- o
every agreement relating to the look over my n the margin.
If you go you will speak a word in good chance’. however, J lawyers! bills.
to the Seligmans' Friday night, I hope favor of my firmls bill, if you get a suppose the talk will hardly extend to
Very truly yours,
« ■ m
We send you by Express this day 31 copies of petitions cmd specifications and 29 copies of drawings used by your American patent attorneys for United States patents on inventions made by you. lVe send you these in order that you may inform us at once upon which of the said inventions you think it advisable for us to take out European patents*
Of course , patenting in Europe is exceedingly expensive and we do not desire to go to expense upon any of the inventions which you do not consider of importance *
Kindly lot us have your answer with all possible speed as your American attorneys are desirous of taking out the United States patents at once and the same must be done simultaneously with the taking out of patents in many European countries*
Please return us the copies petitions , specifica¬ tions and drawings* They are petitions, specifications
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and drawings in cases Nos . 841,, 84p, 859, 861, 862, 865, 866 , 868, 869, 878, 879, 881, 882 , 883, 884, 885, 886, 887, 888,
889, 890, 891, 892 , 893, 894, 895, 896, 899, 900, and peti-
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tions and specificati on scanty' "i n 906 and 907,
Yours, truly.
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MILLS BUILDING.
Your '-favor Of 7th Inst 16 duly to hand with enclosure, from William E, -’flurfis for which htebOpt OUr thanks . V/E; haVd no know¬ ledge of the ns quest of the President of Chili for a Phonograph and enclose you <a jfopn of reply, that we should maki -were Wo answer¬ ing Mr. Curtis letter, from your Hatter we get the impression that perhaps it would be more .agreeable for Ur. Edison to reply to this letter himself, but should die wish us to db -so If you will kindly advise us we will forward the reply as $er enclosed copy referred to.
youra Very Truly
u A ./4,
Secretary.
[ENCLOSURE]
fauMu*
j!M d S'famv.
William E. Curtis Esq Bureau of the American Republics Department of state Washington, U. S. A.
Dear Sir:-
Your favor of May 1st has been kindly referred to US by Mr. Edison, and in reply we control the disposal and rights , for the Phonograph, for all countries except the United State's, and Canada and have no knowledge of the request of his Excellency the President of Chili for a Phonographhand would hfe ‘plb&'Sbd to hear from you further in regard to the matter.
Very Respectfully Yours
Secretary.
[ENCLOSURE]
I understand that you have arranged to comply with the request of the United States Minister at Santiago, and send a phonograph to the President of Chili. I have a letter from Chili, requesting that a cylinder should go with the instrument, bearing a message from Secretary Blaine. I would like to ask you hovr this could be arranged.
very truly yours,
• J/f'Httt.) {f/r/ivt/i,
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A, 0. Tate Esq
Private Secretary
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Orange, N. J.
Dear Sir:-
We are in receipt of your favor of May 19th with ■en'cTosures as stated we will write Mr. Curtis that we have .hot yet decided to supply machines for South America/hnd it would not he possible to comply with the request for a Phonograph to the University of Chili at present at least etc. We have received a letter this morning .from Maurice Simon & Allain 83 Rue Chariot jfehis France, with a .note at the foot conveying his best regains to Ur* Edison.
Soul's very truly
7.,/,: JC„.r,, .....
Secretary.
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MAY 261891
. W-mirsggT"*^^
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ry)
to' Thomas A. Edison V. R.
Orange*
Hear' gfi'r !“■
At & iheetiing hi1 ihd Sbdrd 6f fldrebtbrs bf Edison United Phonograph Uoritpany held Thursday Way Vth 1891 it was Resolved that this Company borrow <$26000} Twenty five thousand dollars, from
three parties as foliowp*
International flraphophono Company 12500.
Thomas Jl. -Bdi son s25t),
fleorge JJ. Ooupaud 6250.
Jfindly remit US your oliepjc for (§6250.) gix thousand two hundred &. fifty dollars, on regent pf Which^wo will take pleasure in forward¬ ing- the Comply ^ Npt? fpr the remount.
yours very truly
4d-,.
d: /< ;
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Mr . Thomas A. Edison,
Orange, N. J.
Dea r Si r :
I have your two letters of May 27th, and, in reference to the application of Mr- E. Douglas Archi¬ bald, think it would he well for you to reply to him that you have referred the same to the Edison Ifni ted Phonograph Com¬ pany for action*
As to the application of Prof* Barker, I suggest that it be referred to the Foreign Committee, with a recommend dation on our part here that they should grant the applica¬ tion as soon as the new machines are ready for de livery*
I return you herewith, letter of Mr* Archibald, with the account of the message received from Sir George Grey, as also letter of Professor Barker*
Yours, truly > .
[ENCLOSURE]
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We have been sending backward and forward through the mails the little cylinders in the small mailihg box to Europe, and three of them have just cofee Mbk to ud this fnorhihg, one of them is very badly broken indeed, ano^v is slightly cracked on the end and the only remnant of the third i* the top of the bOxWith the tag attached, we have sent these cylinders to you as we conclude you would like to know how they carry. We will continue this forwarding backwards and forwards for a time longerand will give them a second trial. We cannot imagine how it is possible to break the Cylinder the way) one of these is broken.
Yours very truly*
•Secretary.
phonograph dictation.
mshmr
iia.
(y*/M?(y ’c; n, mot.
It
Major S. B. Eaton,
Edison Building, Broad Street,
New Yoifc City.
Dear Sir:-
At Mr. Edison's request I send to you herewith forty- _two_blank assignments of patents, which were sent to him by the
M30|ffSraPh COmpany* for execution. I also enclose lette^/ith relation thereto received from the Secretary of the United Company. Mr. Edison objects to executing these papers without knowing what the patents are which he is asked to assign.
Yours veiy truly.
Private Secretary.
[ENCLOSURE]
Thomas A. Edison Esq Orange, N» J.
Dear Sir:-
Enclosed we hand you 42 blank assignments of patents and would thank you to kindly affix your signature to each one opposite the seal, filling in the date. This must be done before a notary public who must sign as witness in hi3 official capacity. Also you will notice that the word London, England., has been stricken out and the words Hew Jersey United. States of America substituted, -alst> the article "The" has been stricken out in two places. Will you kindly put your initials in the margin opposite each change; also opposite any other changes particularly the numbers of patents at the t6p where changed. We would esteem it a favor if you would kindly give this your very earliest attention and forward the documents to us as soon as signed. The assignments are required to be recorded before we can take proceedings to prevent the use of
our machines in Australia, by others.
y rpatont
These assignments were drawn by Mr. Kingston your Australian ^agent
and approved by Mr, Hardingham your English patent -agent.
Yours very truly
iS. «■» v O
Secretary.
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MILLS BUI LDI N<
4. 0. Tato Esq Secretary
Orange, ‘N* J«
bear Siri1-
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Ml ...
Referring to oar conversation on -Saturday in regard to the jfpur new jaadhinete whibh y6h ’stated you wohid kipdJLy direct the Phonograph Dorics Vo Ship to us, ,.we thinjc p? negleot.pd to request you tp Jcin^Ly £ayp them -packed ready -for shipment , dhd marked for ,our JfyxeS&i tJommittteij London, anil 'ahlpjoed to this office at your early sofiMsMehie-*
•yours, -very truly,
-C:
Secretary.
Dear Mr.
Kdison:
Hew York City, June I?!, I89i .
1o+. „ A8aicnment of 42 phonoe raph patents. The annexe letter will interest you. Dyer & Seely have not a sinEle or,Q of
Yoif ou^ht *T S°mf0dy mU8t SO to the expense of getting them You ought not to assign lypatent without first seeing it. Am I nght? /
[ENCLOSURE]
44 EDI!
Jv
Coiir-ar'y ,
[ENCLOSURE]
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•* EDIg0]M -I- OjOTED * PPPG^JPJl + COMPLY, *■
EDISON HOUSE,
Northumberland Avenue,
All Zellers to he addressed to the Company. Charing CrOSS, W.C.
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New York City, Aug. 7th, 189 j.
+ h,n +„ m8fnS 0able t0 Gourau<i and ask him to send for
this transfer immediately . Ask him to cable when he sends it
act inte11^ icently without it, and the whole thing is ’of enough importance to cable about. The E.U.P.Co. ought t^beJr tha
l5“e- - -
Very truly yours,
S.B.Eaton p A.G.M.
recently assigned certain English Phonograph Patents to the Edison United Phonograph Company, X beg to submit the following:
(1) Gouraud wrote you under date of July 24,1891, that he had assigned to the E.U.P.Co. “the five English Phonograph patents standing in his name"; also that he enclosed a copy of said assignment, wherein your rights with regard to Dolls, and Speaking Figures and Clocks were guarded. He did not in fact enoDse the Baid copy of transfer, whereupon Mr. Tate cabled him on the 10th inst., to mail them at once and to cable on doing so. So far as I have heard Gouraud has made no response.
(2) I advise that you write a sharp letter to Gouraud calling his attention to his omission to enclose copy of his assignment of the said five patents, and to his omission to pay any attention to your cablegram, and that you ask'thim to imme¬ diately forward you the said copies of transfer of said five patents. Until you get it I cannot tell whether your rights are properly guarded as regards Dolls, &c .
(3) 1 further advise that you write Gouraud that he had
;
no right to transfer these patents to the E.U.P.Co., but that it was his duty to transfer them to you and leave to you the matter of transferring them to the said company. I think that you ought to instruct him that in case there are any other patents in his nam0 °yj^hG name 0f any agents* 110 transfer should be made without^ written authority. You ought to tell Gouraud that you are also surprised at hisfconduct in this regard and give him to understand that it must not be repeated. Also ask him to inform you specifically whether there are any other Phonograph patents in England or in other countries whatsoever standing in his name, of your inventions.
(4) My experience in dealing with Gouraud satisfies me that the only way to handle him is with a cluh. A vigorous use of a club will bring him to time, but nothing less will.
Very truly yours,
pihy /yr-xysi/ eS/ ao-x^yt^ ,
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[ENCLOSURE]
*fr”‘ EDISON ./+ OjMFl'ED + Pfl©P©^PJI -I* COjPTTO *•
EDISON HOUSE, .
Northumberland Avenue,
All Lrtters to he whlrexml to the Company. Charing CrOSS, W.C.
COPT SETTER PROM Messrs DYER * SEELY NEW-YOHK to EDISOH UNITED PHONOGRAPH Co: NEW-YORK dated I 4th July 1891.
Dear Sirs,
In repl;
to state that none or yet been issued. *
yet been issued. We might state- that it haB hitherto been^tfae practice v.B-r5SIe+i»e-for®ign £a?Sa ~ that is- the "long termed* countries filed before the issuing of the corresponding United States Patents, but the Oases should not.be filed in the short termed countries until* after the a corresponding United States Patents have issued. You will see therefore ^ that your London people can proceed with the fi ling of Case 96 in the long term countries but you should let us know so soon as the foreign Cases have been filed in order that the United States Oases are not necessarily , delayed from issuing. !
Yours truly,
(Signed) DYER & SEELY.
?A
New York City, Sep. 3, I89X.
Dear Mr. Tate:
*55 :Ms£“2sr * i«~
Please *««.*», lett„ „„ wit„.
Colonel George E. Gouraud:
Dear Sir:
Your latter of the I3th ult . was received with en¬ closures. I regret that you and Mr. Hardingham assigned these patents without first getting my consent , and really do not think that you had any right to do so. I note that you retain the righfJ’ for dolls &c. in yourselves^ and I shall soon send you a form of assignment transferring them to me.
Please do not assign or allow to be assigned any other patents or inventions of mine without first getting my *%■
witten oonsent.
Kindly acknowledge receipt of this letter, so that 1 X may know you received! t, and oblige,
Very tmly yours,
^OPc
-187/ C
My dear Mr* Edison .
Socris*.
I have been trying for .s ante - time ’ to have, , you come to the office of the Edison United Phonograph Cb* , for the purpose of consulting with you as to the affairs of the Company and other matters, but have always been informed that you were unable to find time to do so* Your interest , jointly with ours and that of our friends, ts so very large that I do hope that you will find time to pay a Utile more attention to the affairs of this Company* J am desi rous O f having a meeting at an early day next week* Will you be good: enough to appoint a day and hour agreeable to you. So that $ can inform our Philadelphia f Heeds and the other id motors to be present*
Trusting that this may meet you in good health, i- '
hh\ Thomas - A* Edison,
Orange, N, <&
&*r$, . — r>
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MILLS BUILDING.
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;
MILLS BUILDING.
Thomas A. Edison Esq
Orange, N. J.? ^ V^C
Dear Sir:- #“ ^ SS 1G3i ^
Ans'd'ZjL'ffi ~2-<£^ia *>j/
We wish to have our Mexican Patents iss^d as soon as possible, and have written Messrs Dyer & Seely as follows:
“Will you kindly confer with Mr Edison in regard to the application for the Mexican Patents CASES #84, 85, 86, 87, 88, 90, and 91.
We would like to have thase patents issued atonce as well as the later Cases„your kind and prompt attention will very much oblige.- We would be obliged if you would kindly give this your kind attention.
Cjcly. 2-6 1S3 /
Your s very truly.
Secretary.
•l/foutai tir/u-rw; Hr.U,
$. yi.7ftwtJe»S tlUrrtrf,
ILLS BUILDING.
JHomaa A;/‘>;Edi&oh Estf- Orange, N. J.
Dear Sirs:-
We beg to submit to youa eritioism received from our Foreign Committee in which you may feel sane interest, they write as follows
Automatic Phonographs • -
SLOT ATTACHMENT Our expet suggests that as theyeare so many coins ^enny and foreign) much worn by usage, the lever that opens the circuit should be of full sizevviz- full width of slot channel to admit of a coin half thickness of fhll size coin working it, other levers in proportion. Could it be so arranged that the slot attachment would return coins which might b# below haXf size as above? The Automatic machines should be supplied with Lock bolts to save time.?
nWe quote from a letter from our Foreign Oonmittee dated September 9th as follows^*
•Our expert reports that the sfaeek that takes plane at the begining of the cylinder by the diaphragm aim dropping, is not only dis- sgreeable to ths listerner but also yerjr detrimental to the record
1
-
[ATTACHMENT]
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[ATTACHMENT]
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L: pc- '
MILLS BUILDING.
Jesse Seligman Esq., Mills Building,
New York City.
Dear Sir:-
At a meeting of the Board of Directors of Edison United Phonograph Company, held in the Mills Building, Friday September I8th, 1891, the following resolution was adopted, to wit:-
Mr. Seligman stated to the meeting that he expected to sail for Europe in a short time, and the policy of this Company was discussed, as outlined ahd adopted by the Executive Committee at a meeting held April 24th, 1891, and adopted and approved at a meet¬ ing of the Board of Directors held May 7th, 1891.
On motion of Mr. Dolan duly seconded it was resolved that this policy be adhered to, but that a copy of said Resolution bo handed to Mr Seligman with full power in the conduct of the matter.
We therefore beg to hand you copy of said Resolution and to advise you that our Board will be pleased to accept your kind suggestion to give the matter of the fulfillment of the said policy adopted for foreign countries, your personal attention while abroad, and we
hereby give you full power to act for this Company in the premises, Approved Yours very truly
Thomas Cochran (Signed.) G. N. Moris on
President. Secretary.
[ENCLOSURE]
f
Extract Srora Minutes of Meeting of Executive Commitjte held Friday April 24th, 1891,
Colonel Gouraud was called upon to express his views a i after consulting with others in rwgard to exploiting the Comp jap Company's business as follows
That Phonographs: should be sold only to Companies formed fori the principle countries of Europe and so forth, and that thes(i» Companies should be restricted in the Agreements from selling1 Phonographs within say two years of the date of their formation in order to prevent Phonographs sold to them being so dispose|d of as to find their way into other parts of this Company's j territory.
He further reoommended that the first Company to be ibrmed should be for the United Kingdom of Great Britain, That prior to the issue of suoh a Company to the public, whether by way of public issue or private placing of the shares, that the !
whole country should be mapped out into agencies, to cover j
speoifi* distroits; an agent to be appointed in every town, anl the consideration of such appointment to be an agreement by the
Agent in each case, to be responsible to the Company for the
purposes
rental of a minimum number of Machines, both for Commercial
A
and amusement purposes, as regards the Blot machine. And that simultaneously with such appointment of Agent, a payment should be made of a given percentage of the Baid minimum rentals.
That at the same time the agent should bind himself to pur- ihape within say the first year of his agreement, a given number |! of Phonographs, at a given price,, provided the policy of the i Company be so determined within that’ time as to provide fbr the sale of Pho nog raphs out r i ght . That at the same time each ageJt should give an estimate of the number off- machines, he thinks he thinks he can sell in his territory within that time; this
[ENCLOSURE]
latter provision would, only be important as showing the aggrj- gate amount of business which the total number of agents thus appointed would indicate as probable for the parent Company, j These agency contracts should provide, as regards first ! delivery of Machines, so that all the agents thus appointed j should be supplied with some minimum number of machines, the ! same time or as nearly so as possible; and deliveries should j he so arranged, so that no machines should pass from the eon-* trol of this Company until the sale of our rights to the Bn Bnglish Company was finally effected. Generally speaking it jis thought desirable that these new Phonograph* should be controlled by this Company, until companies are formed for the principle countries, in order to prevent maohines being improperly used, to the prejudice of this Company’s interests.
The Committee concurred entirely in these views.
(Signed.} G. N. Morieon,
Secretary, j
|
[ENCLOSURE]
EXTRACT FROM MINUTES OP MEETING OP BOARD OP DIRECTORS OP EDISON UNITED PHONOGRAPH CO: HELD THURSDAY MAY 7th, 1891
On motion of Mr Dolan seconded by Mr. Edison it was Resolved that the General policy of this Company in regard toj exploiting its business, and introducing its Phonographs into! Poreign Countries, as outlined and duly recorded at a meeting! of the Executive Dommittee held Friday April 24th, 1891 be ank is hereby adopted and approved by this Boardo
(Signed. -
G. N. Morison.
Zaw'lCffi'ce.'J
44-
Oct. 2, 189 i.
Thomas A. Edison, Esq.,
Dear Sir:
Referring to Colonel Gouraud's letter to you of tho I7th ult. explaining why he assigned your certain phonograph patent to the Edison United Phonograph Company, he states that "everybody" was of the opinion that this act was indispensable for the protec¬ tion of the Company's interests. Either Gouraud or the E.U.P.Co! here is wrong about this, for the latter informed me in writing that they were instructed from London that these patents need not be assigned for the protection of the Company's interests touching the suits in question.
However, is it worth while to write Gouraud again? You have entered your complaint and he has acknowledged the receipt of the letter, and has justified his action as well as he could.
He will not repeat the act, so 1 suggest that we drdip the subject, if agreeable to you.
Very truly yours.
EATON & LEWIS
_ , — , T Y EDISON BUILDING J
#&CEIVed
OCl 8-1391 , ^/'i'«,^'/'/'^ Oct1 6, 1891,
teV - - - 7#
Thomas A, Edison, Esq,,
Orange , New Jersey. ^CEI
OCT 8 1891 ,
Dear Sir: Ant'd- 9/
Referring to your favor of the 29th. ult., enclosing copy of a letter which you had received from Colonel Gouraud, in regard to his Assignment of certain Phonograph Patents to the Edison United Phonograph Conpany, I beg to state that I have prepared the necessary forms of Assignment by Colonel Gouraud and Mr. Harding- ham to you of the right for dolls, toys, toy figures and clooks under the above named patents. I have this day written to Colonel Gouraud with these two Assignments, and have asked him to have the same executed and registered in the Patent Office, and also send certified copy to me for your files.
When this is all done, your rights as to dolls etc, will be fully protected.
Trusting this will be satisfactory, I remain
Very truly yours,
[FROM THEODORE SELIGMAN?]
C£ or B| POST OFFICE |§|g||| TELEGRAPHS. 6 rV?
jjjiwi| Foreign and Colonial Telegrams. ^ ’
Dated from L DE FRANKFURT MAIN. 108 20 26/ 10 7 10
®»1he . /Orn/ at b. m. "
Service Instructions
Bocoived by me"l _ Z . -A .') Telograi
on Instrument J ,Ur
Sent or sent out at; , _ Ty
TO
= MORI ARTY/ PH OHC^, . v -J3w L 0 N D 0 N'.'.f; f A TH E.R . 1HE.RE.: W A NT S. f _
yOU TELEGRAPH } ANYTH I NO' NEW'/ HAVE- SENT YOU DRAFT /SYNDICATE 'A&REAIWENT APPROVED for; PR I NT! NC THEODOR + •
"RS-CEI ^ ^ w^w(EDISoN
::^,s i
euoe™s mus^ca// riP-v
/^' ^y>^_j)ac . 7 , 1891.
Thomas A, Edison, Esq,,
laboratory, Orange, New Jersey,
Re Assignment of Colonial Patents to E. U. P, Co, Referr¬ ing to the 42 Assignments to the E, U. P. Co. of Colonial patents, which you executed at the laboratory last week, Mr, Meadoworoft delivered to me your message to the effect that I Bhould deliver the same to the E, U. P, Co. only on the execution and delivery by them of the licenses to you to use these patents in connection with dolls etc.
I find that the documents which you executed reserve to you the right to use such patents for such purposes. The language of the documents is as follows:
" "Now I , the said Thomas Alva Edison, by this Assign¬ ment under my hand and seal do hereby assign the said letters "Patent with all rights therein contained, except the right "to use the same in. or in connection with dollB, toys, toy "figures, and clocks, to the said E. U. P, 66-,, their success¬ ors appointees and assigns".
Inasmuch, therefore 6s the right has been reserved by yovtj there .will be no necessity of taking back a license from the
E. U. P. Oo., in, fact they could not give you a license, as -the night to use the patents foh dolls etc, does not vest in thetn,
I have therefore to deliver to them the 42 Assignments executed by you.
Trusting the above will be satisfactory, I remain
1891. Phonograph - Foreign - Frazar & Company (D-91-50)
This folder contains correspondence and other documents relating to phonograph sales agencies in China and Japan. Included are letters about the shipment of phonograph supplies to China and Japan and an agency for nickel-in-the-slot phonographs in Japan. All of the letters are by Everett Frazar, Edison’s phonograph agent in China and Japan.
All of the documents have been filmed.
^T1NQ
FRAZAR & CO.. SHANQHAE, FRAZAR & CO.. YOKOHAMA, CANADIAN PACIFIC RAILWAY
AND STEAMSHIP LINES.
New York, Jan’y 7th, 1891.
/oj ifr?/' ^
A 0. Tate Esq. , Orange. Dear Sir:
c-
-L
"7
</ - ' • •
tP > "
You will recall a quantity of about, 2,000 blank cylinders which I secured and shipped out to my China house. Now, to my gory great surprise, they write me saying that, as these cylin¬ ders areof a larger size they will not fit the brass holder and are, consequently, of no use.’ In view of this, they think that the Edison people should take them back and refund cost, freight and charges. Will you kindly say what you would propose to do in such a case? This is the first intimation E have had the cylin¬ ders were made of different sizes, and you will appreciate what an annoying position we are placed in, after all this trouble and expense. I sincerely hope that you can help mo out in thiB as the Shanghae house look to me for an adjustment of the matter, and the fault is in no way attributable to us, as the goods were paoked at the Phono. Works and not opened until received in Chine,
Tours very truly,
|
Representing: FRAZAR & CO., SHANQHAE. FRAZAR 4 CO.. YOKOHAMA, CANADIAN PACIFIC RAILWAY , AND STEAMSHIP LINES. |
EVERETT FRAZAR, 124 WATER ST. - _ - , . NSW YORK, Jta’y 12th« 1891. |
|
yr~ V .V • • ' A. 0. Tate Esq. |
|
|
^ 0 r a n g 4v^Da" slr: Referring \o Will you please as suggested, eu |
e. to your favor of the 10th inst. re. phono, cylinders express to thiB offioe the 25 extra rubber shells, |
|
^ ^ purposes. |
Yours very troly^-~^rx |
|
- |
REPHEJjcNTINQ:
FRAZAR & CO., SHANGHAE, FRAZAR & CO., YOKOHAMA, CANADIAN PAOIFIO RAILWAY
AND STEAMSHIP LINES.
EVERETT FRAZAR,
124 WATER ST.
New York, Jan'y 2lst, 189&.
Thomas A. Edison Esq. i Orange.
Dear Sir:
Some time ago I saw one of the phonograph slot machines in the Astor House, and, upon advising my Yokohama house of the na¬ ture of this instrument, they Bay that they would like one for use in the hotel at Yokohama and have sent me as a sample the Japan¬ ese nickel ooin which would be used in connection with same.
Will you please tell me where I can procure one of these machines and arrange to have it made to conform to the coin herewith, and oblige. I would also like to know the net cost of 8ame«
Yours very truly,
FRAZAR Sc 00., SHANGHAE, FRAZAR Sc 00., YOKOHAMA, CANADIAN PAOIFIO RAILWAY
.AND STEAMSHIP LINES.
(JAPAN AND CHINA AGENCIES.)
EVERETT FRAZAR,
124 WATER ST.
New York, Jan’y 21st, 1891.
A. 0. Tate Esq.,
Orange.
Dear Sir:
Referring to my recent letter regarding the shipment in Sept, of about 2,000 blanks to Shanghae, I have a further letter of com¬ plaint from my Shae. house which would seem to indicate that the
25 shells which you recently advised were shipped with the above, did not come to hand,- at least I am led to suppose so as no men¬ tion is made of anythirg but the cylinders. Attached you will find a packing ticket returned by my house which shows that the goods were put up by Mr. E. lyon and checked by Mr. A. Bray.
You recently stated that without doubt the shells went forward. Will you do me the favor to question both these men and see if they can substantiate this? Unfortunately, as I did not receive
any invoice or shipping list and the goods were not unpacked here I am not in a position to s ay whether or not the Bleeves wont .,
Do you not think it might be well, in view i>f the possible non¬ receipt of them to send a few in addition to the 25 recently sent to Yokohama for forwarding? My Shanghai house adviseB that.ow- Ing to the trouble with these cylinders, some of the phonographs already sold, but not paid for, are o toning hack to their hands, which means trouble and loss to us*
Your early reply will oblige,
Yours very truly,
[ENCLOSURE]
From EDISON PHONOGRAPH WORKS
/ C / *
OEAHGE-
READ THIS NOTICE.
Examine packing carefully, as in most cases where shortage is reported, the missing articles are subsequently found in the packing.
THE NORTH AMERICAN
f • O. Box 3593.
PHONOGRAPH CO.,
3Vew York City.
representing:
FRAZAR & CO., SHANQHAE, FRAZAR &. 00., YOKOHAMA, CANADIAN PAOIFIO RAILWAY
AND STEAMSHIP LINES.
EVERETT FRAZAR,
124 WATER ST.
New York, ^Tan'y 23rd, 1891.
• A. -0. Tate lEsq. ,
Dear *Sirj
I have your favor of the 22nd inst. regarding tte shells shipped tq BhangJiae, y I note your statement that you explained this matter in your letter of the. 10th inst. This is not the point; 1 had in mind when speaking to ypu over the telephone. , We ought to have had particulars regard/the sleeves, not on Jan'y 10th
■ but away back in Sept,, when the shipment left here. I had not forgotten about your letter of JTan'y 10th, but had covered it in my last mail to Shanghae. The /whole trbuble has been caused by
■ lack of proper advice :at the .Start.
/ Yours very truly,
Representing:
FRAZAR & 00., SHANGHAI FRAZAR & 00., YOKOHAMA, CANADIAN PACIFIO RAILWAY
AND STEAMSHIP LINES.
EVERETT FRAZAR,
124 WATER ST. <
New York, Peb*y 28th, 1891*
A. <J* Tata Ea^.
Private Sec'y. 0 ** a_n 6,a*-
BesrSirj
J-iiaya to thank; you for your favor of Jan‘y 26th in answer to mine of the 21st idem* wherein I made application for a nickel in the slot machine (phonograph) to be sent to Hokohana and note that Mr. Edison is unable to fill this ordar^at present, at least* Wi?.l you kindly return to me the nickel sent in my letter * that 1 may use same in case I open up this business* aa I expeet to, with Mr. Seligmann?
^ Y
Yours very truly,
.ytirvMX May 5th, :
My dear Mr. Tate:
My Yokohama partner, Mr. Lindsley, is put to hiB wits end to
supply a call for a lot of phono, blank cylinders and he writes me on April 15th begging that Mr. Tate will let him have a few hund¬ red of same packed in a box and sent to my Office, to be expressed out as soon as possible. Will you, therefore, please have 500 blanks packed in one box and sent to my office privately as booh as you can and I will forward same. Please do this as having sold a limited number of phonographs to people in Japan we oannot do such an unmercantils thing as to refuse to Bupply parts requi¬ site to make the machines of practical use* -We oannot, of course, accept any excuses whatever in such a matter and I know you will appreciate our position*
Believe me,
A
A. 0* Tate Bsq«, Orange*
Representing:
FRAZAR & CO., SHANQHAE.
FRAZAR & CO.. YOKOHAMA, CANADIAN PACIFIC RAILWAY
and steamship lines.
/ v- t C ^ -j
A, b, T«te iBeq.,
Orange.
DearSir;
EVERETT FRAZAR,
124 WATER ST.
New York,
Hay nth, J891.
'ST/tHy
//*,/- / j fyyi fCt'< C-ts-e.>-it*£
v ifc Ufcc^f-
yi*C'£piAsts<^ .
Referring to my previous request for 500 blank cylinders;
I would like to increase the quantity to 1,000, as, without theses in hand the phonographs already in Japan oould not, after * while, be used, I learn that you may be tack at thj laboratory tomorrow and trust you oann arrange to ship at am e, as they will have to
i® *° "“f1*1 wlthln the next t»o or three days to connect with be ^de w! TJZ0aarf l°f *U1 ttnders^an<i that unless this Jhi^t J!d , ,Uu helpless w^th our machines. Pie we telephone a
and X will give shipping instructions. ^ri —
FRAZAR & 00., YOKOHAMA, CANADIAN PAOIFIO RAILWAY
AND STEAMSHIP LINES.
EVERETT FRAZAR,
124 WATER ST.
New York, June 11th, 1891'.
A. 0. Tate Esq., /
Orange.
Dear Sir: /
Will you please ship at once to the "Dora Forster, » East Oentral Pier, Atlantic Basin, Brooklyn, the balance of the phono¬ graph cylinders recently ordpited by Yokohama? 1 enclose blank re- wi?t which please have fill/d put and return to me after delivery Vou will not require ship’s/permit as J will send ohe diroot*. Kindly ship at once, and oblige,
1891. Phonograph - North American Phonograph Company - General (D-91-51)
This folder contains correspondence and other documents relating to the business of the North American Phonograph Co. Some of the documents pertain to a note for $68,575 owed to Edison by Jesse Lippincott, president of the company. Other items concern a proposed suit against the company by Edison and the Edison Phonograph Works; a controversy over the exhibit of phonographs in Canada; and the payment of taxes owed by the company to the State of New Jersey. Many of the letters are by Thomas R. Lombard, vice president.
Approximately 50 percent of the documents have been filmed. The following categories of documents have not been filmed: routine business correspondence regarding sales and service; routine circulars to local sales companies; letters of acknowledgement; duplicate copies of selected documents.
0RBIGB 0K
JPhe ^©Pfeh Jlmepiean IPhQrpgpapfy G©.,
and Jesse 1. Iiippin<§©fefe, §©le Iiieensee ®f. fehe
Jlmephsan Spaph®ph®i^e G©.,
160, 162 & 164 BROADWAY,
•IHe-w TJork, ...... . Jan. Oth. _ ISC) 1.
Thomas A. Edison, Esq., Orange , N. J.
Dear Mr. Edison,
7„, 7 n°te t0 you for $G8>5?5. and interest from
October 1st, 1889, comes due this week. I would like to net -L°™ h/-° \exberi:d ib until the 10th of dmmcppy J^I would no d£?J+inaVe bten SJ1 a P°sibion bo have made a very large re-
lt’ ij JJ had nob heen for the 'injunction obtained US Preve™bing us from selling phonographs. This fimrfc hanUJU IJut J'he Norbh American Phonograph Company in mmnV 7 d bJ\ey owe me about bhe womb of this note, it reduction. **’ °S 1 hQVe Said’ b° make a considerable
hha *Wiy does notMaj. Eaton join hands with Mr. Bush « 'lon°f bhis suit? Mr. Tomlinson is the ott^2/°rJ:hly.0bher Slde‘ and pled bheir case in court the °bbf.!l By ths.way there is no longer any reason, so far
verfectlv i°V rf*2?y tn bhe TomHnson suit. V/e are
you please.111 * 9 V°U should 9° ahead on that as soon as
Mni y°U 9ive Mr* Lombard a memorandum to
Toth. no > and bhe sbook opbion b0 July
out ir,siafo7tmZ%*?Ptntng m h°alth md
TO SHERBURNE B. EATON]
2 &>* ^J<
k-*
_ I,
rr
(jii- to#-*
^ HZ.
_ -~Jr Z? (<Tok - U^.» — °)
^2 ed^ 0
r^>zj jtu- ^/|'tr
Uu*. ,ee
e>-0 ^JbJ T^CT <&._«&*=* «*'*~^<>
•f :rr~£? ril
(D
J«. c^U^tte &— ^fT^(
?C X^AJl
. ;fcr — “jtx^ ■flJS*:
^ eitzzzu^^
y Li^*- -te-rr-^^JL 'JL~ '
-
t ^tow. ^vv ^^tr
Ik"°- ,
r .at 1/1 AT T
Now York City, January 11,1891.
Rear Mr. Edison:
.. Re Lipi>incott Note. T^is Mote was die vesterdav
^n:r5^;aid^Prt.:as^^3 a~ -
^ ShOT0':1 ne **** of the^th InTu To
•" copy! wherein you consented thereto. I already had a
Pm- +i>o * a- A™ 1 t0 take the naw Note at once, v/ithout wait inr fwti secu^tT3,8 ^ agroomont as to old ac counts f
7th n t,'”ifCT,I-maiWOn0:i in your instructions to me of the
I tJTtl TT lnSlSt 0n their makinS .the agreement before
t 11 th® th % '!,e val1 not oxtend it to July I inless the said agreement is all fixed up before March Ibth?
I thought from our talk on Thursday that I was to he llh TWte fy^ion I have done) and not take the new Mote
iilZT, IT, relatinc t0 the
for Bush and I STt t^ f°*
roster dav in vour °f H*A‘P*0°* 1 forfeited this stock
O y behalf, and notified Bush and Lippincott by lot-
X’ut^o".13 i mJU?.
. . . Please excuse r rinted signature. I shall not be
hie tjG revise this before it is mailed. I send a copy to Mr.
Very truly yours, S B. Eat on.
].!> v, ,, f. c . ~h "Xp , a* ~ 'z~er
l' f
Q- X ^ k
lk*
C X fO •■ <. CK , '-'C <?- • T-v«.
. ; . , . rU • '
^2. . p>. r> •<■ • "Nr < f? - xJ • •" • w
^ <3u C
w’> X:t£A.x
T
\/\J. • : C:^ V'-^V; . f- "I '
Vptf- ^ .... j
J! ;\] ^ '■•* v> : v . x
4% wsj'w <M: **P u"t:
2-4
New York City, Jan. Thomas A Edison, Nqq.
j Re Lippincott Note. By invitation, I met
■; Mr, Lippincott and Hr. Bush at the latters office today, and the following took place:
•i (1)1 told Mr. L. that you would not carry out
what you wrote him in your letter of the 7th inst. about /> extending his Mote; because you had since seen the con- _ tracts of August 6th, 1388, with the graphophone Co., £c I told him that you. must have better security, and that " until it was all arranged satisfactorily you would not extend the Mote.
(2) Mi?. Bush stated that he personally told / you about the obnoxious contracts with the Graphophone 1 Company, when they were made. He says he remembers it 'jV“' distinctly. He states that he told L. afterwards that he had told you about these contract, and that Lippincott expressed his regret, because he wanted to tell you him- v self in order that he might make proper explanation when - telling you. L. States that he afterwards talked the matter over'with you. They both state that the ob- noxious contracts were re ad to Mr. Insull who was then acting as yovir authorized agent, and that he expressed his regret at the provisions allowi g the Graphophone Company to agquire your patents, & c. Lippincott and
Bush are very positive of the above, absolutely so.
(3) Much to my surprise Lippincott showed me a lead pencil addition placed at the bottom of your letter to him of the 7th inst. He said you wrote it there when he saw you at the Laboratory on Wednesday last, the 21st inst. You did not mention this at our conference on Wednesday night. The said mem. is as follows:
"Phono. Wks. account to be made up to Jan. 1891 "according to contract. Experimental account same- "notes given for sa m$ 1.2 and 3 years 5 p.c. secured "by N.Y. & North Amer. Co. stock- Renew Note until "July 1st 1891- all things furnished by factory afte 1st jany.9I to be cash 60 days, but on things paid "for by notes. When we get cash 60 days, credit it on "notes ."
In this mem. you have defined cash to mean 60 days, which was news to me.
Tn vrair 1 #»+.+. n
you promised to extend the note. Your lead pucil mem. made on the bottom of that letter on the 21st inst. is practically a ratification. . There is no doubt that in lav/ they can compel you to extend the note until March I5th. The only ground on which I had hoped to avoid this was because they h ad suppressed important facts from yov. intentionally, viz: the existence of those two agreements of August 6, 1883, with the International Gi-aphophone Company. But this would be poor ground to stand on in view of the fact that Lippincott and Bush will both swear that they discussed these particular contracts with you. Your denial would not counter¬ balance their two posrtive assertions in that regard. Their posi ion would be even more stronger if Insull remembers that he knew of the. said contracts. My advise 3 to y°u is that you cannot, forfeit the collateral securi-
'• thG R-P.Co. Stock) for non payment of the J.ippincott
t'\- Mote, until after March 15. You are bound by your pro-
' mise to extend the note until that time, and you cannot,
" act contrary to that promise for, the consideration was
sufficient t.o make the promise binding, viz: the proposed ^ V~- mutual agreements to adjust accounts.
* usked Mr. L, what better security he could
' |v1 ! sive, in place of the proposed N.A.P.Co, stock. He says
V. ;vj that lie has over a million dollars of stocks in the fol-
lowing local companies:
j; ~ Ohio, Kentucky, Tennessee, Missouri, Wisconsin,
~ j Florida, Georgia, Alabama, Colorado and Utah, Kansas
>< 1 C \ Fast Pennsylvania.
^ Y V. These stocks we -e received by L. as profit in
promotion and they are now h^Ld by the H.A.P.Co. The e — ^ \ was 525»000 in stock in ..the District of Columbia Company
i j but it is in trust along w'itli: all. other stocks. They are
1 ? S. all tied up in. trust,. said, his.. people would not be
v* willing to give you the machines as collateral security,
^ ^ nor the renewals. He said that he could give some stock
. ■* .J} J in ihe Hew York Company, but- not much.
^ $
N> Ns
:k;^i (®) ]je says that the. total amounts due you and the
w°rks will not altogether amount to $I5q000. He wants
X
^ , you to hurry up and submit those accouK'firT'''- A -LV!!16 tliereof are Finally fixed, hi wi
5 pros * Co . s ,^so/
As soon £
^ ■ . - , will give you
the best security he can, but.-.at the pres/ent he cannot
^promise anything better thari.H. A.P.Co. stock, also stocks in the above local companies,?
_^the New York Company.
some stock in
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(7)1 shall be away tomorrow on business. Pleas ^send me word by Monday what I shall do. Inasmuch as / you oannot sue on w*s Wote or forfeit the collateral untl j after March I5th, it seems to me that you might as well extend the Mote. In that case I would make a new agreo- , ment as regards the security, the same as the old one, vj merely changing January 10, to March 15 . Then J can f' G? an and fix W the accounts . Lippincott and Kush dis- \ \ tmctly state that this will be satisfactory to theip, and * \that they wil1 leave the question of extending the Mote ter March 15 errfcirely to future developments.
i (8) 1. called particular attention to your con¬
tract of August I, I8SS, relating to your experiments.
You agreed to charge no profit for yourself or for any J J of your companies as regards the cost of experimenting.
\ he Ranted me to call the attention of the man who will v \ mak;e yp the accounts to this "revision.
K
Y
4^ Hi
Very j^£uly yours,
1 {
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0FIRIGB 0R
The ^©pfeh Jlmepiean ^heipgpapfy G©.,
and Jesse §. IiippiRG©t&, §©Ie liieensee ©fl fehe
PmepiGan 0paph©ph©^e G©.,
160, 162 & 164 BROADWAY,
IKew TJorlc,_ . vekruary-JL^A 89 1 •
The New Jersey Phonograph Co., Newark, N. J.
Gentlemen: -
Until further notice address all goods and machines to be returned ( except phono graph- graphophones) to us at # 14 & 16 Morris St., Jersey City, N. J. Send phonograjh- graphophones to the American GrajJhophone Company, Bridgeport, Conn., as heretofore. Please see that no shipment is made to the Edison Phonograph Works, unless so ordered by us.
Please acknowledge receipt of these instructions, and oblige, — - - ^ _ _ _ _ _ _ .
Yours very truly,
THE NORTH AMERICAN PHONOGRAPH C(f\
PeK
EATON & LEWIS
Thomas
Dear Sir:
Rejfe rring to Mr. Tate's letter of the 20th ult. asking. for a copy of the proceedings of the North American Phono¬ graph Company in regard to taxes levied upon their capital ' by •■the State of New Jersey, I beg to say that this matter is having our attention. I could send a man to Trent to, and by means of some expense get a copy of the proceedings at once but I hope within a few days to accomplish the same result without much, if any, ex¬ pense. Please know that I am giving the matter attention, and that you shall have a copy soon.
- dur ('■
aw t y/zcc)
/'1 1 ( EQUITABLE BUILDING I
■A'ew 7. 1891. /fy
Will you kindly send me promptly the following j
(1) How much money is there in the Treasur«*y of the Edison Phonograph Company?
(2) Did a certain sum of $5,000, royalty money, paid by the Boston Toy Company, either to you, or to Mr. Lippincott, find its way into the Treasu*»ry of the Edison Phonograph Company?
(3) Has the complete statement made up to January 1,1891, of the Laboratory, been sent to the N.A.P.Co., and has a complete statement of the Works been sent to the N.A.P.Co?
Di<* Mr. Edison write a letter to Mr. Lippincott when the proposed phonograph deal was in progress nearly two years ago, or later, stating that there were no outstanding claims against the E.P.Co,, and that it had no creditors? If so, kindly send me a copy, '
(5) How many graphophones does the E.P.Works own,'' and are they in good condition ready for sale? Did the Berks get them all from the Hartford Graphophone Factory? ^ ^
Is the E.P.Works now refusing to ship back to the N.A.P.Co. phon ographs sent by that Company to the Works for al¬ teration and repairs? If so, on what ground is this done? On this point can I rely firmly on your mem. written on the back of my let er to you of the 5th Inst? I shall assume that I can7
(V) If Mr. ::dison is away, will Mr. -ate kindly attend to this letter on Monday.
J- .
/
(8) I enclose a letter of the 5th inst. fro me to th Mr. I Edison together with Mr. Gilmore's reply. Mr. Edison's comments
appear on its face. I send it to Mr. -pate for his information. Will he kindly return it to me on Monday.
Very truly yours,
^^0-4 W ( EQUITABLE BUI LDING )
.J'nr/Mrf,
-Eab L._9_,_iaaX._ /d
/
Thomas A. Edison, Esq, Rear Sir:
long intervie
Re N.a>P.Co. I beg to report the result of i i with Mfc. Bush today:
(1) We decided to contest in Court the question of paying the State Taxes on the E.P.Co. for two years, about §2,500. Mr. Parker, a Hewark lawyer, who is contesting the tax of the H.A.P.Co., will conduct the fight. It seems that the unpaid taxes of the H.A.P.Co. is nearly §20,000 for three years.
(2) Mr. Bush c?aims that Mr. Lippincott paid §5,000 ^cVof Boston Toy Company royalty into the Treasury of the E.P.Co.
/ Mr. Tate instructs me today that the E.P.Co. has less than §500 in I its Treasury, and owes more than §6,000 for patsts besides §26,000 \ for experiments. Mr. Bush claims that a good deal of this claim \ must date prior to your aliened let- er to Lippincott stating that ' there were no claims against the E.P.Co. Please let Mr, Tate send
4 me a copy of that le ter, also a detailed statement of the receipts
5 and disbursements of the E.P.Co. from the date of that letter until i%noy/. If you wrote on a certain date that there were no claims
against the Company then Lippincott will insist that nothing must I'fee charged against the Company except v/hat. has properly arisen since that date. What I want is a statement showing just, what has arisen since then.
i • / (3) Mr. Bush has the Laboratory aecourfit made up to
{January. It shows about §62 ,000 owed by the H.A.P.Co. Bush :vira4s^g questions relating to many items. I tell him that they will i^dia’Pe -|o lie over until you come back when he and I will go out' to - Laboratory and discuss them, cj 3 5
(A) Mr. Bush promises to give me within a day or pv two a complete list of all the indebtedness of the N.A.'P.Qo. He, "^thinks that they owe the Praphophone Company about §35, 000 A but ■ is not sure. The amount which they owe to Lippincott cannot be' detemined until the latter returns here tomorrow. If I can
fT BUSh showinS what the N.a'p.Oo. owes,
I shall feel that we have struck bottom so gar as getting facts is SS,MrSt ^ and then wf ”
(5) Mr, Bush insists that you oup*ht to ^ViS-n ^ oJmte^PhS Thi°h have alreacly been charged up to them on old ac-\ count Prior to the 1st ult., without exacting therefor a full cash\
wUling to nav ^ ^ W6ek' He SayS that Mr* Lippincott is ,
Paf n ftli tT^£ °n account of each shipment, but not to lay m full, x tell Mr. Bush that you ought not to consent to an ! - th*“S' and that you wiH not. So I suggest that no ship-
•■i f tS a-ter+T r9tUm and We have a J'oint conference
-for me Jo sJJn f disputed questions. They are too important
' cott then v , 6 ^°ne' and prpbably 1 would be harder on Lippin-
^ cott than you would approve of 11 / . v
! mseT
saist "
: themsei I Wou*d that title carry possession of the phonographs
iS? Answer* that would depend upon what title and rights V' the local company had acquired. In order to determine this I^must-- examine thecontracts between the parent company and the local com-'
bSS^n-tJ S P ,?h<L°nly thing which a Shariff could sell would / he right to collect the N. A. P. Company *s share iff rentals ulus • -
local^omna^ie116 W,A,P,Co* to take baok the phonographs whenPthe >■
-tself Hit L toenb ^ WJth them* ffias not «ie local company"./ itself a title to phonographs in its territory of such a nature V
whenever irwSe?to?‘A*?;C°* taking baok and ^^oving them v"
, anted to? If so, the attached creditor would be in' <
p go poaition’ for he would only get whatever rights the N.A. ^
P. Co. had. however, we will think this matter over carefully so as to be prepared in case we think it best to attach! St lust £aPX£Li\rUJba UnWiSe t0 precipitate «» complete riin But o^JhB !+i°f S0 ”*A:P*Co* by begginning attachment proceedings eise maJ pf ’ ** ^ d°n,t get thte first ^. somebody6
. ,.y* , . picase send this to Mr, ate after reading and
„ive him such instructions as you may deemZit^J- Very truly yours.
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February 9th, 1891.
uiA*/
My dear Sir:
I enclose herewith a copy of a letter which was re¬ ceived by The North American Phonograph Company on February 5th.
Thus far, no investigation has been made by The North Ameri¬ can. Phonograph Company as to validity of the claims of The Univer¬ sal Selling Machine Company, but we have deemed it wise to for- ' ward a copy of the notice to all sub-companies, as well as to those who are in any way connected with the operation of the pho¬ nograph in connection with coin-in-therslot machine^
Yovffa very truly,
/I—
To
Thomas A. Edison, Esq
[ENCLOSURE]
ARTHUR C. FRASER ft CO.,
Solicitors of American and Foreign Patents,
Temple Court, 5 & y Beckman Street,
Messrs. North American Phonograph Company, City.
Gentlemen: -
Feb. 5, 1891.
Our clients, the Universal Selling Machine Company, of this city, request us to warn you that the Automatic Phonograph Machines now in use by your company, are an infringement on their patent No. 424,770, granted April 1, 1890, to Alton H. Fancher.
You Are advised to withdraw the infringing machines without delay and to make immediate settlement for past infringement, or such action will be taken as will be necessary to protect the interests of the owners of the patent.
Trusting that you will be inclined to respect our clients 1 rights, and avoid litigation by effecting an early settlement,
We are.
Yours very truly.
Stenographic .
ARTHUR C. FRASER & CO.
0FIFIIGE 0R
The ^©pfeh pimepiGan Fh@i^©gpap^ (£©.,
©Rd Jesse R Liippin©©^, §©le IiieeHSee ©f. fehe
JlmepieaH Bpaph©ph©^e G©.,
160, 162 & 164 BROADWAY,
INew 7J ork, Feb, loth. , _ i SQl.
Thomas A. Edison, Esq. , Orange, N. J.
Dear Sir:-
rtc fc lit j</i
Your favor of the llth. inst. at hand, contents carefully
noted.
Owing to the fact that we have as yet not had a full report from some of the far Western Companies, cannot give you exact information, but beg to say, that phonographs rented throughout the United States amount to about 2,000 all told, of this number about 470 appear to be rented for use with the Automatic Nickel Device.
EATON & LEWIS
1’ vat/tf/cf/yi Equ ITABLE BUI LDIN G )
.yj'cu’ /Jw/C Peb. 19,
^ C . k.
Thomas A. Edison, Esq., " - - -
Dear Sir:
r«r, - V 1 r; - r
2!” ?oteB* ,But' ^her than extend, you had bette r ^Tnish the Party can™ lhl l°*er!'
a Jssf ew- ™
•vs «~-r
»ui .L/ s,«™ S“»‘z?u jsj}“ss ^'ati,r»Mi,
s^vrs’x^r*-""- »a °r -™“*
Very truly yours,
,/
EATON a LEWIS
■/j'/Y/WY/ttYfy { EQUITABLE BUILDING) '
'Ae-u-' 18 9 J /fg_
Thomas A. Edison, Esq,, Dear Sij::-""^"
?'L L
v
, Re L-PP incot i Mat 1 ers . I beg to say that Mr. Bush ionnal demand on me today for an immediate presenta- amount claimed by the B.P.Works as due to it by the
tcA°l Jle •■UlUir' t},at t!;e fleIay in setting the statement of the uks interferes with pending negotiations.
/made anothi tion of th< W.A.P.Co.
tllo . *r,om what Mr* Bush -aid, I think tfcaihhivrttd.aandu '
tiie ZP. shares of Ilomenv/ay stock in tiie E.P.Co., to Mr. rate, to be transferred to him, Bush. If he does. I hope that Ur Tate will tl’ans-°n it. bet him send the certificate right back to Mr. Bush loi safe keeping while he, Tate, consults me as to whether th ..ransfer should be made, and let Mr Tate write to Mr. Bush that -he .rans. er cannot be made until he gets my adirise. The fact is that I do<. not. want that certificate ' it to an outside party like Mr. Bush, if at all to the N.A.P.Co.
■ansferred if we can help It should be transferred
man* * * *. n t0ld *ne that h0 liad a11 his arrangements
oJt J! .,.? I‘ -A-P.DO. into the hands of a Receiver in case you or any other Creditor made a hostile move. I told him that if
after 5'1,e80ntati°n’ *• "***
Veiy truly your
<n k> 6 A I
>
A'P PC
EATON & LEWIS
\ EQUITABLE BUILDING )
.y'Vw . P7 TROT
A . O.Tate, Esq., Private Secretary, Edison Laboratory,
Orange, N.J.
Dear Sir:
I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter of the 24th inst. i.i reference to your testimony before the State Com¬ missioner as a witness for the N.A.P.Co. in re New Jersey State Tax, The same shall have my early attention, and X shall try
to procure a copy of your testimony as requested.
Very truly yours.
i '-C -?
~<-i w e.
Thomas A. Edison, Esq.,
. 23 th. , 18 9X./^?i _
^/U<£
I heg to hand you herewith Certificate No. 29 of the North American Phonograph Co. for 6100 shares of fully paid stock of that Company. These 6100 shares ane those which have been forfeited to you, and now belong to you under a certain ^ree ment between Mr. Jesse H. iippincott, and yourself.dat ed July 30, 1889, and also by a further agreement, dated April 1, 1890, by which the time in the previous agreement was extended, on which the above named 6100 shares of stock could be forfeited.
The time covered by the two * ove named agreements hav¬ ing expired on the 10th. day of January, 1891, and Mr. lippin- ' eott not having conplied with the requirements of the said agreemej the stock has become forfeited to you, and in handed to you in ac¬ cordance therewith. Due notice was given to Mr. Iippincott.
Kindly acknowledge receipt.
Very truly yours.
0FIRIGB 0K
5Phe ^©Pfefr JJmepieaR I?h@ipgpa{Dfy G©,,
and Jesse B. IrippiReQfefe, §@le IiieeRSee ©f. fehe
■% Pmepi©an Bpaph©ph©^e G®.,
160, 162 & 164 BROADWAY,
INew TJork, _ March 6th., -j §9 1
/f
Messrs. New Jersey Phono gyilph Co., Newark, N. J. y Gentlemen:-
V/e bee to notify you that the temporary arrangement made • by us for your holding machines on storaee subject to our order, is hereby revoked, and you are notified to return into our possession all machines held by you in storage subject to our order, sending the phonographs to The North American Phonograph Company, 14 & IB Morris St., Jersey City, N. J. and the phonograph- graphophones to the American Graphophone Company, Bridgeport, Conn.
You are of course at liberty to retain as many of the machines as you wish, but rental will be charged from April 1st. on all not returned into our possession by that date.
Yours very truly,
THE NORTH AMERICAN PHONOGRAPH CO. per*
■ ’
<*< -
0FFIGE ©FT
JPhe ^©Ptefo JlmepisaR E’hei^sgpapl^ G©.,
and Jesse 1. LiippiRG©fefe, g©I© licensee ®f. fehe
JimepisaR 0paph®ph®^e G©.,
160, 162 & 164 BROADWAY,
3fcw TJork. March 10th.a j gg I.
The New Jersey Phonograph Co., Newark, N. J.
Gentlemen:-
V/e have your letter of March 4tli., and beg to say that we will give new parts in exchange for any old worn out parts of phonographs which belong to machines owned by this Company returned to us for that purpose, but will not give credit for them whether new parts have been bought to replace them or not, and when parts have been bought by- you they will be considered as belonging to your Company, and v/ill not be exchanged for new ones if returned, or oredited.
Yours very truly,
THE NORTH AMERICAN PHONOGRAPH CO,
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New York City, March 14, 1891.
Thomas A. Edison, Esq,,
Dear Sir:
Re E.P. Works Claim v H. A. P. Co. I beg to report b slow a long talk which I have just had with Hr. Bush:
Bush called to know why he did not get the account of the Works. He renewed his demand for it, and notified me that his clients were suffering direct injury from the delay. He said he had refrained from serving written formal n6tice of injury, because he did not wish to make trouble. He will call again on Tues¬ day, and insist that the claim be ready then. I shall be out to see you about it probably Monday forenoon.
Bush says that as soon as he gets the ac¬ count, he shall turn it over to Henry A. Piper a well known Public Accountant of Boston. He says that Piper is a man of the highest standing. X told him that we would probably select Mr. Dockerty(?) on our behalf. In that case, these two men will hammer the thing out to¬ gether.
I asked Bush the same old question, viz? how he could pay us even if he had our account. His re¬ ply was as vague and unsatisfactory as ever.
Trask is ill with pneumonia arid Lippin- cott is ill in bed in Boston, too ill to see anybody.
Bush tells me that Lippincott owes the Seligmans $21,000, past due. They hold as collateral 5,000 shares of the parent Graphophone Company ( which cost Lippincott $20 a share) and 2,500 shares of N.A.P.Co Seligman promises Bush that he will not sacrifice the stock, but will peddle it out in small lots if he can get a fair price. Bush is trying to effect another loan with the same collateral in order to take up the Seligmar. loan as they do not care to renew it.
Bush sort of threatened a receiver. X said that probably that would be the simplest way to straighten the whole matter and suggested that we agree on a friendly suit and the appointment of a friendly Receiver. I said this to see what he would say. He then changed his tone and said that he would never con¬ sent to a Receiver, and that tf we or" anybody else wanted! one he would fight it.
9 &'-y’
I
-if i
I • . Bush says that he holds the opinion of
. $ bl5h legal authority to the effect that the N.A.P.Co.
»' 5 *s not insolvent* The main ground on which that opinion
fjNl la reaohed 1S the meaning which they put on the lead pen
r! i !*■ oil mem- in yticr own handwriting which you wrote at the (S \ <lVi bottom of your letter of January 7th to Lippincott. That j mem* was t0 the effect, he claims, that the accounts
*JL i, \ were to be extended one, two and three years. In that * 'I 0 3 view.the <lebt to the Works and to you is extended in law
^ .jj y and is therefore not due. Therefore the H.A.P.Co. is
o 4 VO not insolvent. He states that if we make a hostile move ] Sha11 b0 foucht on ti:is S^ound.
v %j You remember that you made the above mem.
' °n the Lippincott letter without telling me about it.
,r i Probably you did not even keep a copy of it . Mo doubt u v 5 J'ou dld not realize how serious it was. You made the !
< : * ij 3 “f* on Jamal'y 21. The first I knew about it was when ! jjJ J r» U was shown me by Lippincott on January 23rd. I was i CS ,:J surprised and at once wrote you a long letter about it !
< '* i - * 5 ,on that dai'* v/hile ^ere are two sides to the question !
V< V 3 how serious your mem. is, still it is a troublesome j
t » ; ; 7 feature . Your good nature is your ov/n worst enemy. I
Sf . sS k implore that hereafter you say nothing, and particularly j ) ) V write nothing, relating to any part of the phonograph
V jli complication, without seeing me. You are too generous rv g ' It.^? t ough for a lawyer to be confronted with the hand- < writing of his client when it knocks the pins from under
< l . * t
„4„ 4 , RE LIPPINCOTT NOTE. Your aforesaid man.
J J 4- ® written in lead pencil at the bottom of your letter to Lippincott contained these words "Renew Note until July I, 1891". Bush takes the ground that this renews the Note and that you cannot forfeit the security until that time. There is no mistake but what these words are written in your own handwriting. Perhaps our best course is to renew the Note now for a short period, and thus cut off the legal effect of your aforecaid mem. about the Note.
1 do not forget that you claim that your U said Kiem. on the Lippincott letter is void because it
was written under a misapprehension of existing facts, to wit: the intentional omission on the part of Lippincott to tell you about his agreement of Aug. 6th, 1888, with tie American Oraphophone Company whereby they acquired the right to buy your patents, for stock. But Bush and Lippincott squarely contradict you. They both assure me and they say they have additional witnesses to it that “'ey explained this matter to you distinctly. t'us at best there would be a troublesome litigation ifyou were to disown your mem. on the ground above stated. It would be q question of veracity between you alone on the one side, and two or more affiants on the oth «r .
3 r G writt.
Lippi,
Pi-ay , pray, pray, do not make any more promises either v/ith tongue or lead pencil unless you first let me know about it, for they are apt to turn up at troublesome moments. Were it not for that pencil mem. of yours, we c ould forfeit the phonograph stock at will.
RE WORKS AGAIN. Can we safely present our account to Lippincott without waiting for Insull to go over it? I fear that it will be many days before he can attend to business. What shall we do? I shall see Dr Chadbou-n and ask him how soon we can talk business with Insull. To be deprived of his ability and know¬ ledge just at this juncture is the worst blow yet. I shall be out on Monday to talk it over
i
i? p i .... _ | %°\o ' - "
'.ojiy ol Statement from The Edison Phonograph Works to The Jlorth American Phonograph Company.
305.
Orange , N..T. , Juno 30th, 1890
::i Vim NORTH AMERICAN PHONOGRAPH CO. ,
ICO Broadway, New York.
To Ehiao:: Puolqsrapii works, Dr.
Office and Works, Lakeside Av
P- 0. Box 1000.
Checked. Approved
STATEMENT OP ACCOUNT .
Prom Pebry. 22, 1339 to June 30th, 1390.
|
To labor on 7345 Phonographs |
124.94S.SG |
|
|
To materials used in making 7345 Phonographs A- supplies |
||
|
for samo |
91.4GG.31 |
|
|
To general expenses of Pactory from Peb. 22nd, 1839 to date |
81,056.40 |
|
|
To depreciation 5 por cent on above iuema labor & material |
12,644.65 |
/ to rn a nfc |
|
To profit 20 per cent |
62.023.24 |
|
|
372,139.46 |
||
|
Cr. by Cash on account |
361,474.39 |
10, GG5.07
Ho. 160 Broadway,
J7ew York, Oot. 15 th, 15 !
i Phonograph Y/orks,
Orange, IT. J.
Please enter our order for fifty (50) Phonographs por r Six months after you make the first delivery from your
Jo reserve the right to increase or decrease this or- ;/ giving you throe months notice at the end of three months you make the first deliveries. Payments to be made monthly 5 15th. of each month for the previous months deliveries, uo not require any portion of them shipped will accept deliv- ■ your Works.
Very truly yours,
The North American Phonograph Co. By Jeseo II. Lippincott, Frost,
\
Edison Phonograph Works',
Orange, N. J., Doar Sirs:--
Mot/ York, August 1st. 1089 .
• I bog to confirm tho verbal understand¬
ing arrived at between Mr. Edison, Mr. Insull and myself, a few days 3ince, i.e.
That you are to make and deliver to this Company Phonographs at the rate of forty-five (45) per day, for each work- in.1? day, from this date to the first (1st) of January next. Any ordci-3 v/hich wo may send to you for shipment are to be considered as part of this order, and such instruments as v/e do not order shipped, v/e will accept delivery of at the Works. The mac&ines are to bo billed to us at tho rate of §45 each, plus packing and boxing. After you have dolivered three thousand (3000) instruments beginning v/itlr the phonographs originally supplied to us from your 'Works, a minimum reduction of five dollars (fy'j.OO) per instrument is to bo made. Such reduction is to be increased should you find that the cost of production has been so far reduced as to enable you to increase it, and the price,for machines is to be finally adjusted in accordance with the agreement between Tho North Ameri¬ can Phonograph Company and Jabrnt H. Lippincott with Edison Phono¬ graph Works, dated August 1st. ISOS. This order is given with tho understanding that you will at all times promptly execute our or¬ ders for cylinders and batteries necessary to fill the requisitions made on us by our sub-companies.
V/e will pay you on account of this order twelve thousand dollars (§12. 000) per weok provided your invoices equal or overrun
that amount ; the payment for the difference for invoioos for each month to bo made on the 15th. of tho following month.
Tills order is to cancel the ono which \ta gave you on October 15th. 1388.
Yours truly,
The llorth American Phonograph ;j o. per Jesse 11. Lippincott,
Prest.
EATON & LEWIS EQUITABLE l
aaa“~ ^ «>
March-24,_isai. .
Thomas A. Edison, Esq.,
«e -Lippmcott $68,
1 consulted Mr. Kornblower today about your rio-iit to sell tne collateral sec u-ity for th<s note, viz: the E.P.Oo/stock. We discussed tne matter at length. He is oC the opinion that your lead pencil mem. of January 21st, written at the bottom of your letter oi the 7th of January to Mr. Lippincott, operates to pre- 1“ ^ fj’ora selline the stock. He thinks that in law you have
the ”0te t0 '1aly* and that J'ou cannot sell the collateral unoi.L utien*
„ J?? + We.n9xt discussed tne question as to what your pos- n iL Lf ! J ln1“6 natUre °f datna«es v/ould be in case you went on and sold the collateral now, without regard to your lead pencil mem. ne is unwilling to express an opinion on this point until he can examine the authorities. I am to f with him at the nan Associate a conclusion on this matter.
and i
pend Thursday evening i shall then finally reach
.. (3) I am giving you in this letter Mr. Hmnblower ' s
first impressions. He reserves the right to change his mind after examining the authorities and thinking over the subject more fully. Do not, therefore, take tnis letter as our final conclusion. I impressed upon nim how important it is that we should sell this collateral, and you can depend upon our doing the best to find a way whereby it can be done, if possible.
(4) For your easy reference, I enclose a copy of your letter of January 7th to Mr. Lipp incott, and a copy of the 1 »ad pencil addition thereto of January 21. 1 aiso e^lose a ' of
Mr Lippmcott s letter to you of January 6th. Your letter of the /th was a reply to his letter of the eth, asdl understand it.
Your lead pencilmem. of the 21st was written on the bottom of Lippmcott s copy of your dai.d letter to him . f the 6th. There
fore his contention is that these three things constitute a single transaction, and tnat taken together they operate to extend the
payment of the note until July 1st. Whether that is so, also whether they operate to extend the note only to March I5th, also whether they have any le gsl operation whatever are questions which Mr, Kornblower is now considering.
(5) I also discussed with Mr. Kornblower certain ques¬ tions relating to the possible appointment of a Receiver of the North American Phonograph Company in consequence of the claim of the Edison Phonograph Works &c., but no conclusions were reached which are of particular interest to you just at this moment.
You shall hear further from me on this subject within a
few days.
Very traly yours,
[ENCLOSURE]
jan. 8th, I89i.
Thomas A. Edison, Esq.
Orange, N.J.
heal- Mr. Edison:
My note ftc you for $68,575, and interest from October 1st, 1889, comes due this week. I would like to get you to extend it until the 10th of July. I would no doubt have been in a position to have made a very large reduction on it, if it had not been for the injunction obtained against us preventing us from selling phonographs. This would have put the Uorth America Phonograph Company in funds, and as they owe me about the amount of this note, it would have enabled me, as I have said, to make a considerable reduction.
Why does not Maj . gat on join hands with Mr. Bush in the prosec/ution of this suit? Mr. Tomlinson is the attorney for the other side, and pled their cause in court the other day.
By the way there is no longer any reason, so far as we are con- •• erned, for delay in the Tomlinson suit. We are perfectly v/illing that you should go aheadon that as soon as you please.
Will you kindly give Mr. Lombard a memorandum to Maj , Eaton to renew the note, and the stock option to July IOth.
I am slowly regaining my health and expect to be out in side of two weeks.
Very truly yours,
(Signed) Jesse H. Lippincott.
[ENCLOSURE]
Cable Address “Edison, New York".
From trie Laboratory
Phonograph.! Dictation. Orange, N.J. January 7, 1891.
Copy.
Friend Lippincott:
I want the accounts of the Edison Phonograph Works audited and fixed up to January I, 1891, and col latcralfN .A. P. Stock) to secure it.
Also the Experimental Account at Laboratory to January 1st, 1891, with collateral.
Also the settlement of the extra shares which I was to get as consideration for extending note and taking extra risk.
I will extend note until March I 5th to permit this to be
done.
I am already $540,000 out.
[ENCLOSURE]
Copy of pencil addition written at the bottom of the preceding letter by Mr. Edison on the 21st of January, 1891 when Mr. Lippin- cott was at the Laboratory.
"Phono. Works account to be made up to Jan. 1891, aceord- "ing to contract. Experimental account same- notes given for "same 1,2, and 3 years 5 p.c. secure by N.Y. & North' Amer. Co- "Renew Mote until July 1st, 1891-all things furnished by fac- "tory after 1st Jany.9T to be cash 60 days, but on things "paid for by notes. When we get cash 60 days, credit it on "Motes." . .
Hew York City, AprilVtii, 1891.
Thomas A. Unison, Esq.,
Dear Sir:
Re Phonograph Matters. One of the questions submitted by you for my examination was whether you could treat the recent patents and inventions as your own be¬ cause the li.A.P.Cohad not paid for your experiments and patent expenses. T submitted tne question to Mr. Horn- blower, without discussing it with him at all. His opinion is received, ad agrees with mine. T quote from it below:
"I am of opinion that under the fourth clause "of the contract, the patents taken out by Edison "belong in equity to the Phonograph Company irres¬ pective of any question of payments made under the "fifth section. The agreement in the fourth section "appears to be independent and absolute. The "equitable title to trie patents vests in tiie Company "immediately upon tiie issuing of the Let'.ers, and "it would seem that Edison has no right to treat "tnem as his own, his only remedy being to sue the "Company for the qionoys due him under the fifth "clause. "
V/iiile Mr. itornblower speaks only of "patents" what ho says would apply equally well to inventions and applications.
I regret very much that we cannot give you a more satisfactory opinion for in this case justice and the rule of law do not seem to be in harmony. Whether Mr. Tomlinson advised you what the effect of your con¬ tract was vmen you signed it, T do 1 not know. But it is certainly a hardship on you.
Acfclrer ;ft- %•/ (st,
Edison Building, 42 Broad St.
EATON & LEWIS
Zt/Ms c
/ZZ ■ // /.//y/ ( EqUITABLE BUILDING)
\ yl'ctV.&V'/ylWriX 20, 1891.
Thomas A. Edison, Esq., Bear Sir:
Mr. Tate wrote me on the I4th inst. that the letter of the American Uraphophone Company, of March I2th, 1891, received by you and relating to the right of that Company to purchase cer¬ tain stock interests from Mr. Lippincott , had never been acknow¬ ledged by you. There is no need of your acknowledging the let¬ ter, so please give yourself no anxiety in that regard.
Very truly yours
CIRCULAR LETTER.
0FIFIGB 0B
sphe F£@Ptih Jlinepisan E,h©n©gpaph G®.,
and Jesse §. lrippin©®fefe, §©Ie Iiieensee ©f fel^e
Jlmepiean 6paph@ph©ne G©.,
p. o. box 2562 16°’ 162 & 164 BROADWAY,
INew IJork,
D OF KEEPINC THEM
To The Phonograph Companies, Gentl emen; -
Owing to the complication of accounts aris~ ing from the system now in use by this Company of charging • rental on machines to the sub-companies quarterlb in advance , we have decided in order to simplify the system, to suggest the following modi fication, which will be carried out until otherwise provided, with such companies as notify us upon the attached coupon that the proposition is satisfactory to them.
Rental on machines to be payable in equal monthly payments in advance, saM rental to commence for each machine on the first day of -the first calendar month following its shipment by this company to you, and to continue for not less than three months, and thereafter until the end of the month in which the instrument is delivered into our possession, either at the factory or our depot of supplies, as we may- elect .
Yours very truly,
THE NORTH AMERICAN PHONOGRAPH CO.
L i'- Go’
■vj
^ Dear Mr. Edison:
This opinion to see whether he took {{e do es .
Address
rd!son Building, 42 Broad St,
Now York City, April 27, I89j.
from Mr. Bush may interest von. I waited the same view of the matt or ‘that T too k
Please look at your t shares of the N.A.P.Co., which following legend is stamped or Pooperty Purchased".
srtifieate of stock sent you recently, minted on its face
for tile 6,100 and see if the "Issued for
v GPFUGB 0B
5Phe ^®pfeh JlmepiGan E*h©i^®§pap^ G®.,
and Jesse 1. liippine®fefe, §>®Ie Iiieensee ®fi fehe
Pmepiean Bpaph®ph®r?e G®.,
160, 162 & 164 BROADWAY,
3few Tjork, May 22d« 1891 _ i§9
To The Phonograph Companies*
Gentlemen; ~
Hereafter, and until further notice please return all GRAPHOPHONES , as well as Phonographs to us at #14 & 16 Morris St« Jersey City*
Also address AIL TELEGRAMS and MAIL PACKAGES to the came place. Letters can be addressed to us at either Jersey City or P*O.Box #3592 NEW YORK* No goods--. or machines will be considered RECEIVED by us unless addressed as instructed.
Yours very truly,
©FZFZrCB 0F
3Phe ^©Pfeh pmei?i©an fhsipgpapfy G®.,
and Jesse R LlippiR©©^ S©Ie liieeRSee ©5 fehe
Jlmepiaan ®Paph©ph®^e G©.,
160, 162 & 164 BROADWAY,
P. O. BOX 2592. _ „
(Dictated) V -New TJark, _ -j§Q
Thomas A. Edison, Esq.,
Orange, N.J.
My dear Mr. Edison:-
I am in reo’eipt of a note from Mr. Tate, in which he says that you will be Leased to have me bring some of the members of the National Phlograph Association to the laboratory, but wish a few days notic/in advance, so as to be prepared with one of the new PhonograL for inspection?
I beg to say, that Wednesday, ti 18th; test has been decided upon as the day, and we will probabl J arrive about 12. o'clock, leaving at half-past two? /
Trusting that the day and horn-
thanking you for your courtesy, 1 rejnain
fill sult your convenience, and
EATON a LEWIS
Cj[\f jP EDISON BUI LDING
N^U V
JUN 18 1891 W.
June 17,1891..
# Samuel Insull, Esq,,
Dear Sir:
It having been decided at cmr conference with Mr. Edison yesterday that suits should at once be commenced by Mr. Edison and by the Edison Phonograph Works against the North American Phonograph Company and possibly also against Mr. Lippin- oott, for all amounts which are not covered by the proposed agree¬ ment between tin Works and the N.A.P.Co. for selling 1,000 phono¬ graphs, will you kindly send me an accurate statement of these various accounts to form the bases of the proposed suits.
Your early attention to this matter will be appre¬
ciated,
A PC'
.sir, ;%/■’:■
'.'/'tv/?/, //r
PHONOGRAPH DICTATION. C^y/T
< y//fw/aj'
c .> , Ans’fyy...
— - &}/}'}/ jp'&t
Samuel Insull, Esq.,
-June_18,._ 1391.
?/(//?///
Edison Building, Broad Street, New York City.
Dear Sir:-
1 enclose herewith press copy of a letter dated June 17th, from the Secretary of the Edison United Phonograph Company. 1 understand that the McMahon Brothers obtained eight nickel- m-the-slot phonographs and took them to Australia.
Please ask Mr. lombard if his Company sold aw phonographs for use in Australia, and if they did not, ask him if he is aware that there were a number of machines sent to that country. As the phonographs in question are probably the property of the H. A. Pi Co., l think that Mr. Lombard should be informed of the
Yours very truly.
matter.
[ENCLOSURE]
COPY.
EDISON UNITED PHONOGRAPH COMPANY .
Nev/ York, J\me 17th, 1891.
Thomas A. Edison, Esq., Orange, N. J.
Dear Sir:-
We do not think that your question in your letter of May 27th askinc us from whom the McMahon Bros, obtained their phonograph has been answered, and in reply we are advised that one Slot machine was found on exhibition in the vestibule of the Opera House in Melbourne, the inscription on the plate was the North American Phonograph Co., 364.
Yours very truly.
(Signed) G. jj. Morrison,
Secretary.
EATON a LEWIS
r £AV ED
- . 44 (V^/fED
1 juu's»\/<7/
Juljr 2nd, -IS9I.
Samuel Xnsull, Esq., near sir:
Re Proposed Suits by the EPWorks and Mr. Edison against, the N.A.P.r.o. and Mr. I.ippincott. Mr. Tate called today to ask just what detals we require in order to prepare the com¬ plaints in these suits, l told him that I would discuss the matte; with Mr, Lewis, and then write you.
Mr. Lewis and I have concluded that we must have a full and complete itemized list of all the details of the claims against these defendants. Separate suits will be brought for each Plaintiff and against each defendant, consequently in making up the accounts that fact should be bome in mind by you. We "ealize that it will bo troublesome for you to give us this complete list of details, but the other side can compel us to supply it, and the quickest way to get at the final result 4s for us to set forth the whole matter in full detail in our complaint.
We can do nothing until we receive these details from you, so kindly expedite matters as fast as possible, and ob-
>#**•
/f.fr ~ r"~’
JA .
/(.. Ch*U4tJX-'
§f -
/ / / '> ^ &
/O / 0- 2s ?f
//(, /* c[ >
/ff£
; t .; S , i ■/
I \.y- ■£.- (■' 1 -?-l rt'Yt ^ •
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r _____ _ _ t^/LsO-^u^ TTlU
The North American Phonoqraph Co.,
Thomas A. Edison,
aso”™.„kt„k American Qraphophone Co.
Nos. 14 & 16 MORRIS STREET,
JEW YORK OFFICE,
Jersey City,
Aug. 7th. . 7<$Q 1
A. 0. Tate Esq.
Orange, N.J. Dear MR. Tate:-
I enclose a letter received from Mr. Stevenson this was in answer to one of mine, in which I told him that Messrs. Holland Bros, were our representatives in Canada, in answer to an inquiry of his concerning the eohibition of these machines. I wrote to Messrs. Holland Bros . yesterday stating that I had arranged with you for an exhibition of the phonograph in connection with the Edison General Elec¬ tric Co's . exhibit, and that Mr. Miller would go up to show the machines, and that their co-operation would be expected, and for them not to make any other arrangements , that you Them QiVe me bhB details shortly> wMch I would forrvard to
I have in answer to Mr. Stevenson's letter stated prac¬ tically the same thing to him and referred him to you for any information on the subject.
Will you kindly at your convenience, give me the full details of whatever arrangements you propose to make, so that I can forward the information to Messrs . Holland Bros, for the purpose of having them fully prepared when the time comes for the exhibition .
f fr. ■ . o /’fir- '
The' North /Imerican Phonoqr/iph Co.,
Telephone, 80. THOndS /I. EblSON,
4S
<n 3 ™ ny Tn k American Qraphophone Co.
Nos. 14 & 16 MORRIS STREET,
Jersey City, . Aug. . 7th.j$9 . 2
New Jersey Phonograph Co.
Gentlemen:-
^ In response to request of uour Mr.
^Jhl’J71 reg*rd. the sale °f machines, we beg to say, that
to such cZTZf* 9ive permission for the sale of machines
tiaZlAAlSrAA3 may fewest it, under certain res trie- cions ana conditions as follows*-
fPropo?° bo offer for ‘sale through our local com- Pinnn AMd °0«npies from now until the first of January 1892 iiso pna°ni9ryphi °f bhe present types V "W and "T” it !pl50. each to the public.
hZZt, 5? *A SOla wiU Replaced upon it a plate
unde^U eL{AAApZAAAC ripti is ™chine constructed
AA'fAt e\bers Patent as specified thereon, has been sold ?n hcnl™c//J,r!£il°n thatfb not bo be used or exhibited in connection with any coin-slot device; the right to such nZ res?rv1ed bo THE NORTH AMERICAN PHONOGRAPH CO
Taidirnnchiii9nh rAt als0 fith bhe further restriction, that AnddahiVrn/^V hl AA? °nly J°bbhin the State of New Jersd) tnd“ Air it saleff^1 be Made in which the same res trie- Void. h^2 bB recib0d> giving 0130 bhe number of the machine
a fffbher condition of sale, it is reauired that TJP AAAAA ^f^0AN pHf NOGRAPH CO. shall receive payment for f0 iZLWiMS?AhirSy d,ayy fr*m bhe time of its sale of V/™ChJne/d bA0 logal company, and' to secure such payment it may require; from the local company ordering the machine ’ loAthiZAhAVirA3 tb deem ne?essary to guarrantee payment JiU be \ill^AP1°AfA0d: bhe Pri°fs “b 'bhfch these machines AAA «w« billedbo yoUr company is $95. net for types ”M” ”W" and ”T” complete* F.Oim New York or Orange.
in M£lAJL exPf*ss}y understood that this privilege is entire lhiAlAt A?5JAdependenb °f bhe ccnbracb existing between foAthTTima hi* y0U7lSl fna is a special arr augment made ffffbime being', furthermore we do not agree to fill or- f,Z f°AmaAhines f0r Rafter the total Amount of sal eT from all sources reaches 1000 machines , nor do we agree to
The North American Phonoqraph Qo., tclephonc, bo, Thomas A. Edison,
N.J. (2)
Roproduoing Articulate Speed
American Qraphophone Qo.
Nos. 14 & 10 MORRIS STREET,
-.m. .
Jersey City, J2.J,
fill such orders after the first day of January next.
If you desire to sell machines under the conditions and restrictions above recited, you wtllvlease notify us in writing bo that effect, and we wil ijorders for you for such machine?, and will draw on you on day of shipment a draft payable thirty days after date, idhich draft we will expect you will accept on presentation and pay at maturity.
If you make sales from machines you already have on hand belonging to us, we will forward you the plates to be put upon them, which you can have done, you notifying us at once me day such sale is effected, when we will send you bill of sale of the same and draft for payment the same, as If the machine was forwarded from here.
^ be glad to hear from you at once in regard to
Yours very truly.
SA.it/
&
' cJ/tlC
IRCULAR LETTER.
The North ^meric/in Phonoqr/iph Co.,
THon/15 A. Edison,
rpetuming and Reproducing Articulate Speech, and oihor Sounds,
SOI.B UCKNSKK OF TUB American Qraphophone Co.
Nos. 14 & 16 MORRIS STREET,
Jersey Ciftj, J2.J, . Aug, . 8th., _
ATHELY °A C K N O W LE DCINC
SPECIAL^ ATTEfmoN TC
IMPORTANCE OF IF KEEPINC THEM
To the Phonograph Companies.
Gentl emen: -
We beg to call your attention to the enclosed circular and catalogue of the Qonsolidated Electric Storage Co.
You will see that the U.S. Courts have recently affirmed the decision sustaining the Brush Patents on storage batter¬ ies, and that the use by you or your customers of any storage battery not licensed by the owners of the Brush patents ' renders you liable to be enjoined in their use and to pay damages to the owners as infringers .
We are sure that the Consolidated Electric Storage Co. will spare no efforts to make the " PHONOGRAPH ” type of battery equal to any in the market, and at as reasonable a price as any. We shall be pleased to receive your orders for them; as you will see by their circular and by reference to our former circular letter on this subject that we control the phonograph batteries of this make for the U.S.
Yours very truly.
THE NORTH AMERICAN PHONOGRAPH CO.
near Sirs
I have received this day from Mr. Tate a copy
of the published notice of Mr. ^it assignee of Jesse H. I.ippinoott calling for claims to be filed before the I5th prox, and shall attend to it.
Has a similar notice been served on the Edison
Phonograph Works, and what claim have the Works against Mr. Lip- pin cot t?
The North /Jmerkan Phonoqraph Co.,
Tmom/us Fm«;r»N
NEW YORK OFFICE,
A.O. Tate Esq .
AsoIII uc*en™k o» the /J/iericrn Qraphophone Co.
Nos. 14 & 16 MORRIS STREET,
Aug. 20th. 1$0) 2
Care Edison Laboratory, Orange, N.J. Dear Mr. Tate.
I have your favor of the 19th. ins t. in regard to the outfi t for the Canadian exhibition. I have given Walter Miller an order on the Phonograph Works for the machines and appliances as you suggest, to be shipped as we may direct later on, a memorandum invoice to be sent to us, we in turn will invoice these to our agents to arrange for thi Customs there. Anything to be returned thereafter may be credited Id the account.
I note what you say as to the proper disposition of the revenue from the nickel-in- the- slot machines, and will say that it is perfectly satisfactory to me, and I will ar¬ range with out Canadian agents on that basis.
I am very sorry I could not be of service to you in the matter of the little bundle, but trust at some future time I may have another opportunity. With kind regards, I remain.
V'E'-Vivfp
>"'■33 1891 44 Broad St., New York,
UytozrUr. l.J8 J,"B- 32-1891'
X am about ready to begin the suits against the IT. A. Phono . Co. for both Mr. Edison and the Edison Phono - Works, but in order to be sure that I havegojr all the amounts and accounts, will you or Mr. Ware or some other proper party call on me. next Monday for a final discussion of the whole sub¬ ject. I do not want to commence suit unless I have all the claims and have an intelligent understanding of them.
Hoping the above will be agreeable to you, I remain, Very truly yours,
CIRCULAR LETTER,
The North /Iherican Phonoqraph Co.,
Tnon/15 A. Edison,
rpntuntlnf, and Reproducing Artloulnte Spoooh, and olhor Sounds;
Ar;.„HorT,,K /Iherkan Qraphophone Co.
Nos. 14 & 16 MORRIS STREET,
Jersey Ciiy, _ Aug. 31st. _
I READY REFERENC£
To bi s Phonograph Companies.
Centlemen:-
duplicate musical records bu Mr g$ZZ *? tJL* makin9 °f
£** *ha* **PropoSs% tZ*
^ATb^Z^ "2S. /<r
purpose . a.iivered for their account to him for this
3aisonlhL°SaMeCl”¥aht Is irre9u2ar and that Mr.
u s&x & “ «1i r"™ « «
s z%°zrLJ.£°t
S / ?,i u Z‘B - -
Fowrs yer-y truly.
[ENCLOSURE]
Aug. 31st . 1
A. 0 , Tate Esq .
Private Secretary of Tfios. A. Edison, Orange, N.J.
My dear sir
In further reply to your favor of the 18th. inst . and also to that of the 27th., we .beg to say that we have been at somewhat of a loss to know vhat the proper position muld be for us to take in regard to Mr. Edison making and selling musical records to our local agencies .
We cannot see that he has either the right to make and sell the same directly to them, or that they have the right to purchase directly from him; we however having in mind the pleasant relations existing between this company and 1r. Edison and our desire to do everything we can to meet his wishes, and with a view that this question can be ultimately settled together, with such other matters as are to be arranged between us in the future, we have concluded to ' throw no impediment in the way of your doing this business, and will give the necessary order to the works to supply blanks to you for the account of such companies as may re~ quest us to do so for t?ui making cf duplicate records for' them, this however tc be without prejudice tc whatever rights this company may have in the promises.
We. will notify our local companies at once of this fact and shall be pleased to dc whatever we can for you in the mat ter .
We will send jcu with this erders to. the Works, for such blanks as have already been ordered from us by our local companies in connection with this business, Trusting that this will be satisfactory, we remain.
Yours very truly.
THE NORTH AMERICAN PHONOGRAPH GO.
, „ „ , . 27jos. R. Lombard .
(COPY) Vies Presto
*ECEIV££ *
* SEP 1 o ]891 ^
/£*> <?■
*•&#/>_ Sept . . 9, .1891.,
Thomas A. Edison, Esq., Orange, N. J.
Dear Sir :
I send you herewith three Proofs of Claim against the assigned estate of Jesse H. Lippinoott, as follows:
(1) Eor the sum of $68,575, with interest from the 31st day of October, 1890, together with $1.50 protest fees, the amount due on the promissory note held by you.
/" (2) For damages to accrue under the contract of August
If- st, 1888, which I have fixed at $82,500, the amount which was to
%
^be paid you for experimental purposes.
(3) Eor the amount of the bond of $175,000, given you by Mr. Lippinoott in the Gilliland -Tomlinson matter.
Referring to the above proofs of claim (2) and (3), both being claims for unliquidated damages and of a contingent nature, it is my opinion that there is no possible chance of participating in the distribution of the assigned estate upon the strength of than, but I have prepared these proofs merely to put the matter before the assignee in some fom or other. Probably the assignee can get an order from the Court striking them out .
These proofs of claim must be filed on or before the 15th instant. Will you therefore kindly swear to them before Mr. Ran¬ dolph, as Notary, and return them to me at once, as I wish to pre¬ sent them forthwith .
Veiy truly yours,
The North American Phonoqraph Qo., t;„bb, f r Thomas A. Edison,
”• NcwVo.2.602- AN" Z” ucJZ ar rnr. AMERICAN QRAPHOPHONE CO.
Nos. 14 & 16 MORRIS STREET,
NEW YORK OFFICE,
No. 10 WALL STREET.
Jersey City, J2.J, . Sept,lS.bk1$9 _ Z
^£,CE IV££)
• v. . SEP 21 1091
A. 0. Tate Esrj f/
Orange, N.J, '
Dea r Mr. Tate: -
'■I have your favor of the 17th. inst. enclosing the dodger which you say is being distributed in the City of Montreal.
I beg to thank you for sending it to me, and I shall take immediate steps to investigate and to stop any such kind of business being done. I quite agree with you that it is the sort of thing that tends to destroy legitimate business.'
I do not think our agents at Obbpwa are informed of this, nor can I quibe believe that it is pub out with the authority of the Montreal agent, but that some party who has purchased machines has sent it out. Of course if this is .the case it is beyond our power to control; at any fate I shall make a thorough investigation and let you know the result.
Thanking you for your kindness, I remain.
Yours truly .
•s
2. 2. /. &'
The North American Phonoqraph Co.,
Thomas A. Edison,
an"as“k«„kT,,k American Qraphophone Co.
Nos. 14 & 16 MORRIS STREET,
(ferseij City, . Sept, 28tW . 1
A. 0. Tate Esq.
Orange , N.J. My dear sir:-
I enclose you a copy of a letter received by me from our agents Messrs. Holland Bros, also a copy of a letter they wrote to the party who sent out the dodger which you were so kind as to forward to me. You see it was as I suspected put out by a party who owned machines, and had nothing whatever to do with our agents. I trust however there will be no further pause for complaint of this kind. I am very sure that our agents there are most careful in all re¬ spects, and have a high appreciation of the importance of introducing the phonograph properly, and when I tell you they are the men itiho introduced and made the typewriting business in Canada, I think you will agree with me that their business experience should be of great value to us. I remain .
[ENCLOSURE]
Ottowa, Sept 23rd. 1891.
Thos. R. Lombard , Esq,
New york.
Dear sir.
We are in receipt of your 1 etter of the 19th. enclosing a dodger issued by Mr. Urquhart of Montreal.
As you surmise, the dodger was issued by Mr. Urquhart, who purchased from us some months ago four exhibition phono¬ graphs. Mr. Urquhart is not in any way connected with us and has no authority to use our name or the name of the Montreal agency in doing his business.
The writer was in Montreal this morning when your letter reached Ottowa, and on receiving a telephone message conveyirg the purport of your communication and the character of the dodger, he at once wrote a letter to Mr. Urquhart, copy of which please find enclosed.
Before receiving this letter from you, we had made an arrangement with Mr. Urquhart and his brothers to assist our representative at St. John N.B. fair, which opens the latter end of this week. We have taken care, however, that the exhibition there shall be in the name of Holland Bros, and we have also instructed our representative to warn Mr. Urquhart not to adopt any of his " faking * methods there.
Notwithstanding the cheap John character of the dodger which has called for Mr. Tait's censure, we know Mr. Urquhart to be a thoroughly honest young man. We have had a great many transactions with him and can vouch for his integrity, but he seems to think that the quickest way to make money out of the phonograph business is to appeal to the multitude in just such a style as he has adopted in the dodger in question .
We think that hereafter you will have no further cause of complaint on account of Mr. Urquhart' s mado of doing business. Certainly we will thke every precaution that our name and the name of the N.A.P.Oo. shall not in any way be injured by such business methods. We append hereto a copy of an advertisement taken from this morning’s Gazette, which fairly indicates what we think is the legitimate function of the phonograph. We have all along considered the phonograph as a valuable instrument for commercial purposes, and we look upon the exhibition feature of it as merely a temporary matte' which will last only as long as the novelty of the invention endures. If Mr. Edison will persist in producing such marvels of mechanism, he must expect that for a time they will be utilized by people of the show man class, but we regard this show feature of the phonograph as a necessary introduction of the machine to the public and the very best means of familiarizing people with its capacities. Our hope and our intention is to make the phonograph as common a portion of the furnishings of an office as the type-writer has become.
[ENCLOSURE]
T.R.L. ( 2)
hlp0S b0 see you soon in New York bo unfold his views on this subject and he hopes to be able to convince you that he, at all events, is one of those who thoroughly appreciate the vast importance and the far reaching consequences of Mr. Edison's wonderful invention.
Yours faithfully.
Holland Bros.
(COPY)
/
[ENCLOSURE]
A. A. [Frquhnrt Kso.
Montreal,' p, 0„ Mur r.ir:-
Ottawa, Ont. ‘/.P.nd. Sept. 1 , :;i}.
' So, ami a copy .. . , ; fir. Mi son oJ: the :
' our sol i ; ri*ht ».hi
; reeoivoa :
"•lorl>;er" 1
iiortn flrv
i- i.nan
i'.ll'l V.T: h:-.
h!:; oojrijJaint it1...;-; your
lory pur':!
lo.
inol-it!
with ouv principals/ ' n’m' S'!l' intj !cirJ' 1 '-r
Tl’oro is enoui.i: r’or.ey iy. .»„,** nK h.„ , i „,.r l v
"«* «***>* <** «**£; ,
Yours truly,
The North /Imerican Phonoqraph Co.,
NEW YORK OFFICE,
Thomas A. Edison,
American Qraphophone Qo.
Nos. 14 & 16 MORRIS STREET,
Jersey City, 32. J, . Ocb. 17.bh.jm 1
OCT io ]GS1
A. 0. Tate Esq. fws _ ^
Dear sir:-
I have your favor of bhe 15bh. insb. in regard bo bhe machine for Prof. Bovey. I bhink if you will bake inbo constderabion bhe cosb of bhe machine bo our agenbs and Mas add bhe duby, cosb of bran sporbab ion dc, you will find bhab no excessive amount has been charged for it.
My lebber bo you on this subject formerly was intended to convey bo you bhe idea, bhab possibly an arrangement could be made whereby this company could throw off a certain sum from the price of the machine by agreement with bhe parties bo bhe contract. If you will remember I have no discretion in bhe matter, bub must turn over $90. for every machine sold and bhe same must net The North American Phonograph Co. $95. consequently I could nob take anything off this price except¬ ing with bhe consent of the contracting parties. We should be very glad to agree bo any arrangement on that score that would be satisfactory bo Mr. Edison and yourself.
u
fAX’
(mM a- 'Vx’L'j //, 4- ^4 m y 4xj\/d. <? isv 6~4t 4
/1/vvulMsc3 A-a^4&A
«• ‘ t jsus
''hvuidk^y;. ^-\
(%% 'JUL4jiA,b v\^ _
BSCEIV^
November 5th, 1891.
Thomas Maguire, Esq.,
Edison laboratory, Orange, N. J,
Dear Sir: —
I return herewith, letter addressed to A. N. Pierman by Messrs. Holland Brothers of Ottawa. Keep this on file, I may want to use it later.
Yours truly,
Enc.- E. 49
[ENCLOSURE]
Ottawa, Sept 14th , 1891.
A.N. Piennan, Esq,
Windsor Hotel,
Montreal. qt-
Sir,
Your letter of Saturday reo’d. We note that you refuse to give up possession of the phonograph exhibit on Mr. Barney's authority
We do not know Mr. Barney, nor do we know by what right he interferes with property vested in us, and on which we have paid duty and express
Our understanding with the N.A. Phonograph Co and the re¬ presentative of Mr Edison was that a charge should be made for exhib- ltmg the phonographs, the proceeds to go to deftto,the expense connect ed with the exhibit, and the balance to be divided cmmna those inter¬ ested, ourselves included. The entire exhibit was then to revert to us. It is invoiced to us and has been treated as our property up to the present time.
Since, however, you have assumed the right to deal with the exhibit as you please, we notify you that we will have nothing more to do with it: we decline to take it over at the close of the exhib¬ ition or to be held in any way responsible for it unless our entire expenditure is refunded to us.
Mr. Barney must have been aware of the arrangement by which we consented to have these phonographs exhibited in Montreal, and his refusal to allow a charge to be made on the ground that slot devices were not furnished is simply a contemptible subterfuge of which no gentleman would be guilty. Between you and him you oan settle the matter: we have nothing further to do with it but look to the N A P Co to recoup us for our heavy outlay.
Yours truly, , , , , /
NOTE.
Phonograph nor.pa.nias desiring bo return machines nob in use, upon which they do nob wish bo have rentals charged, as per contract, from January 1st, 1891, will ship phonographs to the Edison Phonograph Works, Orange, N* J, and p honograp h-grqp hop tion as to the American Oraphqphone Company, Bridgeport, Conn*, carefully packed and carpi a be in every particular* Please note that the auxiliary parts of a phon- ogrcph consist in a hearing tube, a specdcing tube, an oil¬ can, a chip brush and a cover* Of a phono graph-graphqphone , hearing tube, speaking tube, chip pan, chip brush, oil-can and screw driver* Charges will be made for any part tdiich is lacking up or receipt at the Edison Phonograph Works or American Craphophond Company, or for any part idhtch iqjon infection is found broken or rendered ineffective through carelessness*
Colonies are requested to notify this Office im¬ mediately of exactly how many machines they desire to return , and to receive from us instructions in definite form for each shipment before making sane*
1891. Phonograph - North American Phonograph Company - Subsidiary Sales Companies (D-91-S2)
This folder contains correspondence and other documents relating to the business affairs of various regional sales companies under contract with the American Phonograph Co. Many of the letters are by local company officials seeking to purchase phonograph components or offering suggestions about technical improvements. At the end of the folder is a nationwide list of local phonograph companies. A few of the documents may be partially illegible due to water damage.
Approximately 50 percent of the documents have been filmed The following categories of documents have not been filmed: routine letters from local companies regarding leasing, foreign sales, exhibits, requests for Edison’s portrait, and other matters; routine letters relating to Alfred O. Tate’s role as chairman of the National Phonograph Association’s Committee on Batteries; lists of phonograph serial numbers; documents that duplicate information in selected items.
NEW ENGLAND PHONOGRAPH COMPANY,
THE NORTH AMERICAN PHONOGRAPH CO.
THE AMERICAN GRAPHOPHONE CO.
on. January 8, 1891.
Thos , A. Edison, Esq.,- Orange , N. J.
Dear Sir:-
, When in company with the gentlemen of the local phono-
g aph companies we called on you a little over a week ago ^nf saw , e improvements that you had made in the music diaphragm“md an
if we should ord^on and ™ "ere informed by. you that
coniH x Sm throuSh the North American Co., we
“2? Rtl them* l’ UPOn return Home sent an order for t ese
graph* Comp any^ ll T°r J" t0 the ^rth AmericL Sno-
Mowv, company. --To-day I have received the enclosed reply from the
c°Sed ^roCrLr T°Gtrfph C0‘* ^ 3 n°tice that they have can- M for the same> therefore you see that wo av-e un-
thiough desirod improvements for your valuable instrument
cS we iret x-USSe eSS °f the North American Phonograph Co.
Shat weScan doSwitv7,Ct from/ou? or Y°u give us some idea ’
verv i d th the prGmises in order that we may have the
ss £r-
Your kind reply will greatly oblige Yours very truly,
'V‘"'
General Manager,
NEW ‘ENGLAND PHONOGRAPH COMPANY.
[ENCLOSURE]
( leiil Ii-nii-ii :
Tim Klccli'ic ('lull,
Mew Ydi-lc, l)i*c. .‘iOih, I Slid. IMuuiiigmiil! Co., liinmlwn.v, Xi-w Yni-k.
**X|IITKS lid*. Sdl.TllMl . . I*
muilu In Mr-. Mdisnn with Iris Intent inipmvcr] npplrimccs.
il!< . . tiny ut Iris lulxmiloi-.v.
Also of till, new impmvi-c] m-m'
"",l '"Hi . -| li.H.v il(-siKm.,l I',,,- . .
of music. t
Alsu (If (III- new (licluf i,,n
(linjilmigiii. /
[ENCLOSURE]
(COPY.)
OFFICE Of
The North American Phonograjh 0o. ,
160 Broadway,
New York, Jan. Qth, 1891.
Messrs New England Phonograph Co.
Boston, Mass.
Gentlemen;-
Keterring to your blue order #127, just rec'd, we beg to say that the improvements mentioned therein, and shown to Managers of the loqal Companies by Mr. Edison upon Dec. 30th, have not been adopted by this Company and until sucl- adoption we cannot permit an y improvements whatever to be made or delivered to the local Companies. We therefore beg to can- ° °:(ler< We also oancel slip dated- Electric Club,
order°rk’ e0,30th" 88 U aPPears to be a duplicate of the
Yours very truly.
The North American Phonograph Co. (Signed) per R.Ii.Thomae.
'' /[//im/imtAr/./ - •" (/
W,/rs,»M
’( _ _ _Jan... .
Thomas A. Edison, Esq., Orange, N. J.
Dear Sir,
We are in receipt of a letter of January 6th from the Edison Phonograph Works advising us that the orders must be sent through the North American Phonograph Company, and also one from them saying
that our letter to you had been remailed to them for reoly. You will remember that, this- letter was mailed to you either on your sug¬ gestion or with your assent to the suggestion of some one else. You stated that it would be wise for you -to keep track of Just how many were needed by the sub-comoanies, &c. We shall take it, however, unless we hear from you to the contrary that you do not desire any further duplicate orders sent you.
Very truly yours, >
Dl0’ F‘
(U.^^c i%. 4 Mj.
^ u?
ft A
£>vuvw C ;^r£. 0 O
Dear Sir,
■your favor of ihe 14th at hand.
If wc understand you rightly now, you would desire 1 o have us mail you dunlicate orders for new imnrovements when ordering the same of ihe Morth American Comany. \ou do not exactly say what you desire, but do say 1 hat what we have done in connection with the or¬ ders is what yon wish. The question is, shall we continue this oro- cedure or not?
Very truly yours,
Die. G. F.
jjDic“:t . cr,h^!| lOWA^HONOGRAPH gojVIPANY. ' ~
City’ lowa’ 5—7 3 ft! ~™'
eX^-
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Bocolvod
THE KANSAS PHONOGRAPH COMPANY,
The North American phonograph Company AND JESSE H. LIPPINCOTT, SOLE LICENSEE
of the American graphophone co. Dictated.
Topeka, Kans. July 16-1391.
'Valter Miller, Esq, ,
.Edison Phonograph v.'orks,
Oran,<30 , II, J,
Dear Sir:
On his return from How York Mr. Ott said that you intend¬ ed to forward us samples of some of your duplicate records. It is possible as wo have not received the cylinders that you have overlooked the matter, and we should be very clad to hear from
It occurs to us that you might like one of our automatic slot machine attachments to experiment with. You saw the me¬ chanism in Hew York and will no doubt remember it. It works so , nicely without giving anybody any trouble, is so simple, sndis so entirely independent of tho phonograph itself in its operation, noithor dragging nor checking tho reproduction and putting no work whatever upon the 100-thrond scrow/ that wo should like you to make seme experiments wi th it if you care so to do.
Should you like one of those machines, or rather should you be willing to experiment with it, wo will be glad to forward you one without expense, so that you can see for yourself under any condition^ that you care to impose on the mechanism , whether
it is tho best of all or not.
Yours faithfully,
PHONOGRAPH-GRAPHOPHONE.
PHONOGRAPH.
THE MISSOURI PHONOGRAPH COMPANY,
main Office: telephone Building, room 41,
THE NORTH AMERICAN PHONOGRAPH CO.
ST. LOUIS, MO.,
Milbank, S. Dak., July 23, 1891.
Mr. 0. A. Tate,
Mngr Edison Phon. Works,
Orange, New Jersey.
Dear sir,- You perhaps remember the conversation we had with you at the 5th Avenue Hotel in regard to sending us for the St. Louis Exposition some things for the Exhibition purposes. .we have a nice large space and intend to put in a neat exhibit and hope you will be able to send us a number of things. You will also re¬ member that I handed you a letter from the Manager of the Exposi¬ tion with a very urgent request that you would grant a few things to be exhibited there. I especially desire that you send us two or three large portraits of Mr. Edison, which would be of interest and would very appropriately be placed on the walls. I noticed
some that the New York Phonograph Company have in their office which I more particularly refer to.
I shall be in St. Louis in about two weeks to lake up our work for the coming year-, and I expect to push it vigorously. ' i hope that you will grant the within request. We are bothered a good deal about getting phonographs from the New York Company, and as we expect to get a large number of machines in the near future, we sincerely hope that matters there in New York will assume such
PHONOGRAPH-GRAPHOPHONE. j
THE MISSOURI PHONOGRAPH COMPANY,
Main Office: Telephone building, Room 41,
THE NORTH AMERICAN PHONOGRAPH CO.
J THE AMERICAN GRAPHOPHONE CO.
THE PHONOGRAPH.
a shape that we will not be delayed in getting phonographs as we have been in the past, as it will now become a very serious matter for ourselves as well as for all local Companies.
You may answer this letter direct to me at this place.
Yours very truly.
The Missouri Phonograph Co.
PHONOGRAPH.
I PHONOQRAPH*GRAPHOPHONE.
09esferr^ • Pennsylvania • p^ono^raf)^ . (ompany,
No. MS PIPTH AVENUE,
She ROI^H fjMEI^IGAN Bhonogi^aph ©0.
V. S CLMW™ Wl'pVtsloiM <§HE flMEI^IGAM GlJAPHOPHOIIE ©o. Htum !. G\Ui, SKJBim.
f V..SltPHtU50N.lRtkSU«tB.
Pittsburgh, Pa., August 4th, 1891.
Thus. A. Bdiaon, Bsq. ,
6 ran go , K. J. hear Sir: -
Your circular lottov of August l'sf, together with the half dozon sample records referred to, ftdti teen received, for which please accept thanks. We have tried the records,, and find them to be very good. We are glad to know that you can. duplicate re¬ cords so woll,^ and expect to place orders with you, in the near fu¬ ture. We understand the not cost of one cylinder, with cylinder ljiost came as sample. sen,t us, is, fifty-one cents. If you have a catalogue pf Records, wo would be pleased to have you send us one.
If you have a picture of yourself, we would ask that you plsa^e sand ua one to hangup in our office, mailing ua bill for the same.
; »T^y.
PENNSYLVANIA PHONOGRAPH 00.
~7
jtary.
[ENCLOSURE]
pA^rr- o - C<-u
THE COLUMBIA PHONOGRAPH COMPANY,
NORTH AMERICAN PHONOGRAPH Cl IE AMERICAN GRAPHOPHONE CO.
El V£r)
SEP26 1891
■U/h
n,D.C.
, , A
/ , ' _ “ ■ •" September 25th, 1891.
Gentlemen: - - (■ I
Me forward to your address to-day, under separate cover, a simple device for securing a fixed starting-point on the phono¬ graph.
It is intended to he sprung upon the extreme left-hand end of back-rod, thus preventing the diaphragm carriage from going entirely to the left, and has been found to serve as a nice guage for dictation purposes on the long cylinders. For short cylin¬ ders, two should be used, placed side by side.
When shaving cylinders, the device should, of' course, be
removed.
Y/e shall be glad to have your opinion of the sanple sent you. They are warmly welcomed by our subscribers here, being gere erally pronounced a long felt want.
These can be supplied for 10/ a piece, or $1 per dozen. Yours very truly,
Mr. Saiu'l. IiUHJ.ll,'
Edison General Electric Co. , Ed. Blag., Broad St*,. b»
Secretary.
THE COLUMBIA PHONOGRAPH .COMPANY, ^Jjio riu OTOrl'i'
Of MARYLAND, DELAWARE AND THE DISTR.OT OF COLUMB.A, . j; .f.-Q CJOV -X 0'1
THg NORTH AMERICAN PHONOGRAPH CO.
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' Q . . October 1st, 1891.
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OCT 2 - 1891 c*'
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Mr. Thomas A. Edison, _ £lf)Ar /& LlS^Z Orange, l-l. j.
My dear sir:
In Juno last, when visiting your labratory, I saw and tested a phonograph with diaphragm so sensitive that, although a man standing close by me lieard none of my dictation, he haadd distinctly every word afterward through hearing-tubes.
Such an instrument, (in my judgment, as a shorthand reporter of 17 years experieftee), would serve admirably for the reporting of conventions etc., as there would not be the slightest danger of disturbing speakers or auditors while repeating the proceedings inta the mouth-piece.
Many oases for u. Conxnissioners, referrees, etc., can be and are reported by the commercial phonograph; and, as you know, the last tv/ o conventions of the phonograph companies have boon so reported. But the instrument is not sensitive enough to usd for this purpose except where the reporter has more o.r less control of the body he is reporting. ' T
Uoxt week, in this city, "the Ecumenical Council Will assemble. This is the largest Protectant body in the world, and delegates as well as, newspaper reporters will be present from every civilized country in Christendom. The man \aho has the contract lr for reporting wishes to do the work by phonograph. Knowing well all the conditions, I have, reluctantly, advised him not to attempt the work with any instrument we can furnish him.
But recalling what I have seen and tried in Orange,
I take the liberty of writing directly to you to ask if, as a per¬ sonal matter, you can send two Buch machines as I mentioned, in • charge of Mr. Miller or some other expert, to be used for this special purpose and then returned to the labratory.
Ko other opportunity for such world-wide advertising is likely to occur soon again.} and with the instruments I saw and tested, there can be no question as to the success of the project.
(OVER.)
There should, of course, be two phonographs, for reporting.
two are necessary
Yours truly,
.1031 ,tsl •*
O'fO tn
President.
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THE OHIO PHONOGRAPH COMPANY,
THE NORTH AMERICAN PHONOGRAPH CO. THE AMERICAN GRAPHOPHONE CO.
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[FROM THOMAS MAGUIRE]
**• Tate, Nov. 5, 1891.
Can we supply the writer- of the attached with sensitive diaphragm? if it*s all right, 1 believe Walter Miller could rig one up. M.
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DICTATED TO AND TRANSCRIBED FROM THE PHONOGRAPH.
[ENCLOSURE]
Nebraska Phonograph Co.
S SOUTH SIXTEENTH STREET.
Omaha, Sat Nov. 1891.
A. 0. Tate , Esq.
Sscy. Edison P.Wks. Orange.H.J.
Dear Sir:-
The writer is very anxious to get one of the sensitive diar phragms,such as he saw at the works, during the Convention in New York.
Will you kindly let me know how to secure one of these diaphragms? I want it for personal use, and one to take whispering, and low conversa¬ tion. If you can remodel one of the old diaphragms , we will send
one from here, as we have a number of extra ones, but if we have to have a new diaphragm, we will arrange accordingly. Kindly let us know
as soon as practicable if you can supply us with one, and oblige,
Very truly yours,
Nebraska phonograph Co.
Manager.
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1891. Phonograph - Talking Doll (D-91-53)
This folder contains correspondence concerning the manufacture and promotion of Edison’s talking doll. Most of the documents relate to the business of the Edison Phonograph Toy Manufacturing Co., which marketed the doll. Some of the letters are from stockholders inquiring about the financial status of the company. Also included are letters from Edison’s attorney, Sherburne B. Eaton, regarding the termination of the company’s foreign license because of non-payment of Edison’s guaranteed royalties.
Approximately 70 percent of the documents have been filmed The following documents have not been filmed: a 6-page list of company stockholders, noting Edison’s ownership of 13,475 shares; bills and receipts; routine responses to business inquiries; letters of transmittal and acknowledgement; duplicate copies of selected documents.
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f”om this Company on account of its foreign business, X beg to say that section 2 of the agreement of August 6th, 1889, between you and this Company, whereby you gave a license to manufacture ancl sell for' all the countries of the world except the United States and Canada, provides that quarterly royalties shall be pajd to you, and that unless these quarterly payments aggregate at least §10,000 per year, beginning October 1,1839, you may terminate the said agreement within four mordbhs after the expiration of each year, upon giving the E.F.T.l/ifg. Co. sixty days notice of your intention to do so. But they have the right to pay the royalties at any time before the expiration of the sixty days and thereby to prevent you from terminating their license.
The first guanariteed royalty (estimated at $2,500) was due Jan. 1,1890. The second was due April I, 1890. T^ose two royalties (aggregating $5,000) were waived by you,. The last two royalties, due July I and October I, 1890, and estimated to amount to $5,000 were not waived,- nor have they been paid.
In view of the above default, you can at any timeprior to February I, 1891, give the E.P.T.Mfg. Co. a sixty days written notice that you will terminate the said license agree ment, and unless they pay the royalties ($5,000) within the said sixty days, the agreement of August 6th, 1889, can be terminated.
You may remember that the N.A.P.Co. had a similar guarantee from the E.P.T.Mfg, Co., but owing to peculiar phraseolo gy of a certain resolution which their Board of Directors adopted on June 9, 1890, it is doubtful whether they have the same power now to terminate their license, which you possess. Be that as it
may, there is no doubt but what you can serve the notice tion, and that unless the requisite amount is paid you, license agreement will be ended.
oitt terrains the said
Shall I notify the E.P.T.Mfg, Co. that the agreement will beterminated as provided for
in your behalf in said section
Very truly yours,
Sherbrooke, P. Q. Jan. 27, 1891.
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A. 0. Tate Esq.,
Orange, M. . J.
My dear Mr. Tate: —
I purchased, some time during December, an Edison Talking
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Doll, which I desirod to present to a very warm and strong friend of the Edison Company - in fact, one from whom I have received on their account, valuable assistance.
Much to my annoyance when the Infant was received by him, it failed to say "Mow I lay me down to sleep etc." which had been firmly and mechanically introduced into its system. Of course, this gave him great disappointment, and more so for the reason that he had a little girl about the height and possibly the ageof the aforesaid talking Doll, whom he thought might learn this hand¬ some prayer by hearing the Doll repeat it.
What I should like to do, would be to send this Doll to you and ask that you Use your kind endeavors and have it placed in such hands as will teach it to speak as originally intended.
Can you do this, and v/il 1 you oblige me by giving it your ■>. kind attention, and after being properly repaired, Express it to my home in Brooklyn as per address at foot.
Any expense that may be attached to this', I will gladly send you upon being advised, in addition to which, I will thank you very
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much for your kindness in this oonneotion.
Your 8 very truly,
Mrs. H. M. Francis,
#360 Oates Avenue, Prooklyn, H. Y.
EATON & LEWIS j
Thomas A.
copy (for y i your behal: minating tl on account
EQUITABLE BUILDING )
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Edison, Esq.,
Dear Sir:
Re E.P.T.Mi’f ’g. Co. Enclosed please find a our files of the notice served by me in your name and in f, on the said E.P.T.M?f'g. of Boston, last week, ter- le foreign license of August 6th, 1889, granted by you, of non-payment by them to you of royalties due.
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[ENCLOSURE]
Edison Phonograph Toy Manufacturing Company, B ston, Mass.
Centl anen :
You' are hereby notified that pursuant to the pro¬ visions of the second paragraph of the Second Section of a certain agreement bearing date the 6th day of August, 1889, made and entered into by and between Thomas A. Edi son, of the first part, and Edison Phonograph Toy Manu¬ facturing Company, of the second part, I, the said Thomas A. Edison, hereby elects to exercise the option given me by the said second paragraph of the Second Section of the said agreement, in the event of the non-payment of the guaranteed royalties as therein and thereby provided, and does hereby terminate the aforesaid conti’act and all rights of the said Edison Phonograph Toy Manufactur¬ ing Company, of every kind and nature whatsoever there¬ under, as of the 23rd day of March, IS9I, because of the failure of the said Edison Phonograph Toy Manufaoturing Company to pay the royalties aggregating Five thousand dollars, due under and by virtue of the provisions of said agreement on or before the 31st day of October, 1890 Very truly yours ,
(Signed) Thomas A. Edison.
Dated Orange, N.J., January 21st., 1891.
EATON & LEWIS
</// EQUITABLE BUILDING I
. fur //rr/: Feb. 5, X89I. /f£
A. 0. Tate, Hqq., Private Secretary,
Dear Sit:
Referring to your favor of the 3rd inst.’ touch ing the notice recently served on the E.P.T.Mfg. Co. terminating their foreign license, I regret that it places you in an embarrass¬ ing position. The notice, however, was prepared with deliberation, and wqs sent to the Laboratory for execution. Prior to that notes were exchanged between me and Mr. Edison about it. I assumed of course that everything was duly approved of at your end.
I shall do nothing about the matter until I receive further instructions from you. Meantime the notice of termination will stand.
• Hoping that this is satisfactory, I remain,
Very truly yours,
del Ministero d'lndustr/a a Commeia'o
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Thomas A. Edison Esq.,
Dear Sir :-
Re Proposed Manufacturing of Toy Phonograph - Mechanisms.
Replying to Mr. gate’s letter of the 3rd inst, asking questions about this matter, I beg to say :
(1) On January 21, 1891, a notice was served in your name on the E.P.T.Mfg, Co. terminatir^ their foreign license.
X believe that that notice was valid. If that is so, the said Com¬ pany has no longer any rights touching any countries except the United states and canada. You can, therefore, make mechanisms
for sale in the said foreign countries.
(2) If the said Toy Company should be able to prove eventually the validity of their foreign license notwith¬ standing your termination 4f it as aforesaid, your liability would probablybe only for ai accounting of profits, and not for damages in addition thereto. It seems to me, therefore, that you can safely take the risk of manufacturing for sale in the said foreign countries,
(3) As regards the United states and Canada, my
impression is that pen cannot sen mssh.nl.m, bec.ne, the 0„t„ot relations bet.esn the H.A.P.Oo. and the h.P.T.Mfg. Co. are still in force. I discussed this sc.hat in w letter to yon „f Ta„.
9. 1891. I say that thisis my igprossion. 8y that r to
that I shall have to tab, some time to verify it, „Meh I .h.u „„
ana shall then .rite y„„ ,e.in as regards- the United states and Canada.
Hoping the above will be satisfactory, I renain Very truly. yours,
ark*
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Bear Mr, Edison:
, „„„ , Re,cen*ly you asked me whether the rule of law which
rp!t J "Pin^°“f May 8nd> I889» ws told you would prevent your for- \ ; eC! ant JaCqu6S contract , would not also apply to the
Maitland contract and prevent Maitland from forfeiting it.
Bri„a p *v. "he mle of law was that v*ere time is not the ess- sho-t°delayaCOntm0tS' forfeiture cannot be made on account of
In said opinion of May 2nd, 1889, I find that we called your attention to the fact that ,ihe conduct of the parties, and more especially a letter which yoy signed dated May, 1888,
^lm9+!aS no\the esfience of that particular agreement, r d, ’ tb9 Paoiiliar facts surrounding that case made the particular rule of law applicable. I
p m . >«q p+ • Whether or not simila^ facts surround the Maitland ” ' is yet; t0 be se01?. But I .pent ion this matter in order
to exp.ain m advance why it may be possible that a different rule of lav/ may apply to the Maitland caste.
41 , . Pardon this attempt /to fortify your ocnfidence in
the learning and wisdom of my firm./
Very truly yours,
Thomas A, Edisoi
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The enclosed clipping from the Boston Herald of this date will explain itself . I thought that even at this late day it would do no harm and might do some good if Hr. Edison’s point of view were fairly ■represented to the public.
dr. a . O. Tate,
Orange, N . J.
Dear Sir: —
Yours very, truly,
1891. Sims-Edison Electric Torpedo Company (D-91-54)
This f°lder c?ntains correspondence pertaining to the business of the Sims-Edison Electric Torpedo Co. Included are documents about the speed and range of the company’s electric torpedo and letters about the establishment of a marketing company for the torpedo in Europe. Other items pertain to the unsuccessful attempt to interest Edison in serving on the new company’s board of directors and becoming its consulting electrician. Most of the letters are by Everett Frazar, president of the American company.
Approximately 80 percent of the documents have been filmed. The following categories of documents have not been filmed: routine meeting announcements; documents that duplicate information in selected documents.
Thomas A. Edison Esq.,
Orange,
Dear Sir:
Jan'y 28th, 1891.
a*
Mr. Henry Allen, of 36 Wall St., interested in the European Company being formed to exploit the Sims-Bdison Bleptric Torpedo, informs me this afternoon that he has a oatiL e from Mr. Hayes, in Daria mentioning that parties have cabled you direst asking for in¬ formation in regard to the Sims-BdisonBlectric Torpedo.
Should you reoeive such despatch direct and reply to aeme’i I shall be greatly obliged if you will speak in the strongest terms of the efficiency and working of the torpedo, proof of which has already been placed before you by Mr. Sims and no doubt toy Mr* Insull, from the official and newspaper reports of- its runs .from time to time at Willets Joint.
Asking1 your kind attention th this matter, believe me, dear Sir,
Yours very truly.
Hjjfle ||lei|ti[ic ^orjpeilo
124 Water Street,
QEO. W. CA8PER, Secrete
Jan. 30th, 1891.
v/9,
Thomas A. Edison Esq-. , _ _ _ _ _ / ,/
Ihe Laboratory, Orange.
Dear Sir:
I have your telegram received at 9:30 this morning raading: ""What is best speed officially recorded;’" also your note of yester¬ day’s .date