November 1878
During November, Edison began to pay increasing attention to the system requirements for electric lighting. To aid in his research, he purchased a large number of books and journals related to the subject, including several on gaslighting.1 These last were useful for the comparisons he was beginning to make between the operating costs of gas, arc, and incandescent lighting systems. Edison and Batchelor also made comparisons between Edison’s incandescent lighting system and that of Willliam Sawyer and Albon Man described in Scientific American. They concluded that the latter “would want enormous large conductors owing to the small resistance in each carbon.”2 While considering the issue of cost, Edison formulated an “electric light law” regarding the relationship between the radiating surface of a light and the horsepower required to run it.3 At the end of the month, he designed his first electric meter, which would make it possible to charge customers using his system.
As he considered the cost of incandescent lighting, Edison began to make comparative tests of the three commercial generators he had in his shop: the large and small Wallace machines and the Weston. He also continued to develop his own designs. At the beginning of November his machinists were building the tuning-fork (“harmonic”) generator and at the end of the month they built a new disk dynamo.4
Lamp design continued during November as well. His staff made experiments with all the highly infusible metals as potential burners. One set of experiments that seemed particularly promising involved the use of finely divided metals coated with highly infusible non-conductors he termed “py Page 660 roinsulators.” Edison was so delighted by this design that he arranged a telegraph conversation with his patent attorney, Lemuel Serrell, so that he could immediately file a British provisional specification for it. Experiments with pyroinsulators continued through the month of November. Edison also renewed his efforts to develop incandescent lamps in which the burners were heated by carbon arcs.
On 15 November, Edison finally signed a contract with the Edison Electric Light Company, assigning rights to his light for North and South America, excluding Spanish possessions, in exchange for stock, royalties, and $30,000 for experimental and other expenses. To reassure those investors concerned over William Sawyer’s and Albon Man’s claims of priority, he had previously agreed to a patent and literature search. In mid-November, he hired Francis Upton for this purpose; Upton had just begun working in the offices of the Gold and Stock Telegraph Company after returning from Berlin where he had studied physics with Hermann von Helmholtz. Some of the investors also came out to Menlo Park to see his experiments.
Having concluded arrangements for American rights, Grosvenor Lowrey now pressed forward with negotiations for foreign rights; he hoped to make arrangements with Drexel, Morgan & Company and invited both Anthony Drexel and J. P. Morgan to Menlo Park. Edison’s British patent solicitors noted that press reports there were causing a great excitement about his light, but they cautioned that premature publication of his improvements could threaten his foreign patent applications. In Germany, the December 1877 Scientific American article announcing the phonograph became the basis for opposition to his phonograph patent application there.5 Serrell therefore suggested suppressing any publication until the period for objecting to an application had passed,6 but Edison found it hard to refuse his reporter friends’ requests for interviews.
While the rest of the laboratory focused on electric lighting, Charley Edison continued to experiment with the electromotograph telephone receiver. He attempted to determine the best resistance and amount of moisture for the chalk buttons and experimented with types of containers for them and methods of keeping them wet. He also experimented with different sized buttons and diaphragms of different materials and tried to find a way to reduce noise from the mechanism used to keep the chalk button wet. Finally, he discovered that Page 661 the resistance of the transmitter affected the operation of the receiver. As Charley improved the receiver, Edison began to negotiate with Western Union and Gold and Stock regarding a new contract for it.
By November, Edison, Johnson, and Uriah Painter had become so dissatisfied with the management of the Edison Speaking Phonograph Company that they took over control of the company, with Johnson assuming day-to-day management. They also brought Josiah Reiff in as an investor and director. During November, Johnson began to sell the new allbrass phonographs, but there proved to be a limited market for these expensive instruments.
Edison again hired more staff members during November. Analytical chemist Henry Mclntire became the first college-educated chemist at the laboratory, William Taws ran the new steam engine, John Randolph did general cleaning and other work around the laboratory and office, and Joseph Knight began to make carbon buttons at the end of the month.7 Local workmen continued to construct the new brick machine shop and office buildings.
1. Wilmer & Rogers News Company to TAE, with enclosed list of periodicals, 1 Nov. 1878; list of books, c. 2 Nov. 1878, DF (TAEM 17:358–59. 362).
2. Doc. 1590.
3. Doc. 1577.
4. Cat. 1185:348, Ledger #3:181, both Accts. (TAEM 22:699, 87:90).
5. Doc. 1625 n. i.
6. Doc. 1554 n. 2.
7. Taws to TAE, 22 and 30 Oct. and 11 Nov. 1878; Mclntire to TAE, 25 Oct., 1 and 5 Nov. 1878; Timesheets; all DF (TAEM 16:433; 17:51721, 525, 789–90, 800–2, 811, 813–14, 821, 826).
To Norman Lockyer
Menlo Park N.J. Nov i—78
My Dear Lockyer,
Yours of the 15th ult. was rec’d day before yest’y1 I am just out of bed where I have been for a week suffering from severe cold & neuralgia—
I did not receive Fox’s telegram until the last train had left the Park and consequently I could not get to the City— I was very sorry that you could not find time to come down to my Ranche and see the cattle
Hereafter I will try and let “Nature” have” the cuts first but for heavens sake dont write any articles about me predicated Page 662 on interviews with reporters because those fellows come down here and if I happen to be away they grab hold of the young man who makes lamp black interview him, go back to NY and write a long article making me responsible for the” whole conversation. This will account for some of that balderdash which the English press delight in publishing and then making a guage for me on the strength of it—
Electric Light. Dont buy any Gas Shares it is’nt good to hold now Electricity’ is going to win the day—
Tasimeter. I had 8 of these instruments made but they are gone now I sent Barrett one also one to John Browning to make others by. The others went the Lord knows where— however I am another lot made will send you one.2
I hope you will come over here again (after you have become well smoked up in London) with several other deep and mighty intellects we will take to the mountains for a grand hunt. Believe me, Yours Truly
To Lemuel Serrell
[MenloPark,] Nov 1 [187]8
Dear Sir
Please hurry up with the telephone cases and Electric light— we will attend to the notary part here.1
I have lots more business for you and may crowd you if you dont clear up whats on hand Very Truly
L (letterpress copy), NjWOE, Lbk. 3:471 (TAEM 28:897). Written by Stockton Griffin.
1. See Doc. 1358 n. 1.
From George Gouraud
London, ist Novr 1878”
Personal
My dear Edison,
Combining with Bailey
—The addition of the word “emphatically” in your cable yesterday (“alone emphatically”)1 quite threw me off the track coming so soon after my long and expensive cable correspondence about the Electric Light. I thought you preferred my being meant that I should beb “alone emphatically” in the negotiations. Then I thought alone emphatically as regards combining with other Lights and now, no sooner have my letter and cable to you left the office than it flashed upon me that the “alone emphatically” referred’ to the cipher word “alone” as regards Baileyc I gave you in my letter of the 18th inst—2 My reply however was equally appropriate to both cases.
In the light of your recent advices to me I do not see how it is possible that you can have approved Puskas’s combination on the continent but with that affair I have nothing to do. It has always been a mystery to me why he has combined with Bailey but you may rely upon my going it alone here am Emphatically to your heart’s content.
Hurry forward the “new Receiver” all the same—c
LS, NjWOE, DF (TAEM 19:966). Note form of George Gouraud, preadressed to Edison; note form is electric pen copy. a“London,” and “1878” preprinted. b”meant. . . be” interlined above by Gouraud. cObscured overwritten letters. d”as regards Bailey” interlined above by Gouraud. eSentence written by Gouraud.
1. Edison sent his cable on 30 October at 3:50 P.M. The following morning at 9 A.M. he received Gouraud’s return cable, “Bravo that speaks infinitely your confidence and justifies any delay we will be all ready for you and alone emphatically.” On 11 November, Edison answered this letter by cabling, “Alone emphatically refers to Bailey See your own letter.” DF (TAEM 19:964, 974).
2. Gouraud had asked for Edison’s wishes about cooperating with Bailey on telephone rights in Europe. He reported that Bailey appeared to have entered into an agreement with Puskas and was
now over here trying the same thing on me and I have given him distinctly to understand the following:—
That if he has a Telephone (he talks now of Phelp’s, rather than Gray’s) which is independent of Bell’s, and independent of batteries, and as good for short lines as Edison’s and can show me that he can “get as much money for his alone as I can get or want for Edison’s:” that if he can persuade me, as he professes to believe himself that by combining we can both get twice as much as otherwise, then of course I will see the desirability of combining with him, Page 664 but I was obliged to tell him that the only experience I have had with his Telephone was when he had told me it was “working perfectly” in London and where it happened that it was in an office of a personal friend of mine where I saw it myself and proved that it did not work at all and my friend in whose office it was, said that it had not worked at all except once or twice a feeble sound came through though no practical conversation.
Gouraud asked Edison to consider Bailey’s claims and “advise me fully by letter, and a single word by Cable will be sufficient to know the Essence of your decision. By the word “alone” I will understand that I have “a lone hand” and need not bother myself with him. The word “ together” will intimate that he has something and that I shall await your letter.” Gouraud to TAE, 18 Oct. 1878, DF (TAEM 19:948).
Stockton Griffin to Grosvenor Lowrey
[Menlo Park,] Nov 1st [i87]8a
Confidential
Dear Sir
Upon arriving at the Park yesterday I spoke to Mr Edison regarding our conversation about the Sawyer-Man Electric light, being careful not to say anything beyond what you told me—1 I was astonished at the manner in which Mr E received the information. He was visibly agitated and said it was the old story—ie, lack of confidence— The same experience which he had had with the telephone, and in fact with all of his successful inventions, was being re-enacted. He also referred to the telephone being loaded down with useless encumbrances and remarked that if he had a voice in the matter the electric light should not be so treated—no combinations, no consolidations for him— I do not feel at liberty to repeat all that he said, but I do feel impelled to respectfully suggest that as little be said to him as possible in regard to the matter. He said it was to be expected that everyone who had been working in this direction, or had any knowledge of the subject, would immediately set up their claims upon ascertaining that his system was likely to be perfect— All this he anticipated but had no fears of the result knowing this that the line he was developing was entirely original and out of the rut.
I was careful to say to him that as far as you were concerned there was no lack of confidence but that perhaps this element could be found in Mr Edson and others. He will no doubt give you his views in full so I will abstain from saying more at present but will try and find time to call on you the next time I visit the City and say more on the subject as I consider it somewhat serious. Very Truly
Page 665
ALS (letterpress copy), NjWOE, Lbk. 3:467 (TAEM 28:893). aCircled “c” written at top.
1. The same day (31 October), Lowrey had written Edison, “I was glad to receive your note of today, in which you say that Sawyers patents do not touch yours. Of course we are not to expect to escape without some trouble: but at the same time a competitor who boldly claims even that which is false, is able to produce a good deal of effect upon the monied value of any business or invention. We therefore must be prepared for Mr Sawyer.” This marked a change from Lowrey’s letter to Albon Man of 30 October in which he had written “I understand that you have what is apparently to me a very good light, and even if we were able to sustain both rival patents we should be competitors in business, which itself would be commercially a great mistake.” He also suggested that they “be represented by the same strong banking house or houses” in regard to foreign business. Not surprisingly, Man had seen this letter as an overture to a merger of the two companies, but on 2 November, Lowrey replied,
I was surprised this morning to hear that my letter to you was spoken of as an advance towards a consolidation of our company with yours. I am sure you cannot have made such a mistake. At any rate, if such an impression was derived from what I wrote, there was no such specific purpose in my mind, and I desire to correct it now and to add that I have not the slightest idea that the Edison Electric Light Co. would entertain any such proposition from you, and certainly they would not make it.
Lowrey to TAE, 30 Oct. 1878, DF (TAEM 18:56); Lowrey to Man, 30 Oct. and 2 Nov. 1878; Man to Lowrey, 31 Oct. 1878, complainant’s exhibits, pp. 964–67, 971, Sawyer (5 Man v. Edison (U.S.) (TAEM 47:29394, 296).
Technical Note: Electric Lighting
[Menlo Park,] Nov 1 1878
Electric Light
Batch get 4 large say 10 gallon crocks for secondary batteries. & get some sheet leada 1/16 th thick & foot or foot & ½ wide, wind thus
Seperate by solid soft rubber this size 0 or strips 1/16 thick of gum rubber cloth.
Try platinized Carbon see Watts Die1—page 762, under “Carbon”2 Page 666
Boron combines with platinum. Try alloys of Boron & P-ak Platinum, or Iridium—Silicum & Plat etc all the infusible metals one with the other Boron unites easily with plat. See watts Die “Boron” page 629
Alloy of platinum & Cadmium “100 parts of platinum at a red heat retain 117.3 parts Cadmium. The alloy is almost silver white—very brittle, very fine grained & refractory in the fire ”b Watts “under “Cadmium” page 703c
Is oxide of Ruthinum a Conductor if so if cannot be melted by the electric arc
Get some Pitchblende
Eh!— Tungsten alloy with iron— “Iron is the only metal which alloys with tungsten in all proportions up to 80 per cent of the latter with which proportion a mass is formed not fusibled at any attainable temperature” pag 898 Wats Die Tungsten Get Tungstic oxide, iee Wolframine or wolfram ochre
Batch make drawing of this 20 spirals finest platina wire, twice the length of those in the other lamp3
Page 667
X, NjWOE, Lab., Vol. 16:172, 200, 173 (TAEM 4:618, 643, 619). Document multiply signed and dated. aObscured overwritten letters. b”in the fire” underlined twice. cFollowed by centered horizontal line. d”not fusible” underlined twice. eCircled.
1. Watts 1875 was a commonly used reference work at the Menlo Park laboratory. There is a copy with the Menlo Park laboratory stamp in the chemistry laboratory at the Edison National Historic Site. Another set of notes from around this time that refers to Watts is in Vol. 16:417–19, Lab. (TAEM 4:852–54).
2. Edison’s notes were copied by Batchelor into a notebook that was later disbound. To this point they are included in the series of notes that Batchelor began on 22 October (Doc. 1491 ). The remainder of the notes Batchelor dated 1 November. Vol. 16:154–55, 176–78, Lab. (TAEM 4:604–6, 622–24).
Charles Batchelor’s I November version of a wrapped-slate lamp design.
3. The following day Edison drew several other versions of this design (Vol. 16:183–85, 186, Lab. [ TAEM 4:628–29, 631]). Batchelor’s version of the 1 November notes (see note 2) also includes another lamp design for which Edison’s original note has not been found. He instructed John Kruesi to “Make an instrument like this:— Platina wire wrapped round two pillars of slate and regulator wire through middle as in sketch the wires in passing backwards and forwards come close to wire & each other to take the effect of radiation” (Vol. 16:178, Lab. [TAEM4:624]). On 2 November, Batchelor prepared a measured drawing of this design and on 4 November, Edison made drawings of similar designs and headed them “Model patent office” (Vol. 16:189, 193, Lab. [TAEM 4:632, 636]). It is not known if Edison applied for such a patent; none issued.
Frotn William Barrett
[Dublin,] Nov. 2. 1878
My dear Sir,
The London “Times” having authorized me to send them the earliest reports of your electric light discovery, I should feel greatly obliged if you would send me a cable message reporting progress, that I might publish in that paper. Of course alla expenses will be paid at this end. I need not tell you what a wild commotion throughout England & Ireland has been created by your discovery, had not which your Mr Adams gave me to announce at my Birmingham lecture, and I should feel it a personal favour if you would enable me to give the Times the earliest information on the principles of your discovery or of the progress you have so far made Just now you are the best known man in Great Britain & a long article on your tasimeter in the ‘Times’ has been copied everywhere. I am sending that leading Journal a letter on your tasimeter which will appear in a day or two, a copy will be sent you.1 With many congratulations Yours very truly
Page 668
Let me have yourb ‘carte’ when convenientb if you have no objection, to a photo 〈will try do what you say hard put at bldg will be 3 or 4 wks〉2
ALS, NjWOE, DF (TAEM 17:217). aUnderlined twice. bObscured overwritten letters.
1. The London Times had published an article on “Edison’s Tasime-ter” on 29 October. In a 1 November letter to the Times (published on the 5th), Barrett asserted that the carbon telephone, carbon rheostat, and micro-tasimeter all “depend upon the principle, which Edison, I think, was unquestionably the first to discover,” of the variable resistance of fine carbon particles under pressure. Barrett also claimed that Edison “was familiar with the true principle of the microphone long before this exquisitely sensitive toy, for as yet it is little more, was made known by Professor Hughes.” He conceded that as Edison “in his eagerness to press forward, has published no account of the multitude of experiments that have led up to his many and valuable inventions, Professor Hughes is entitled to all the credit of having independently discovered and first published the simple and novel arrangement” of the microphone. “Edison’s Tasimeter,” Times, (London) 29 Oct. 1878, Cat. 1241, item 1004, Batchelor (TAEM 94:407]); “The Tasimeter,” ibid., 5 Nov. 1878, 4.
2. Stockton Griffin noted that Edison’s answer was sent on 15 November. Whether for an article in the Times or for his lectures, Barrett subsequently commenced a cable correspondence with Edison regarding his electric light system. See Doc. 1587 n. 5.
From Edwin Fox
New York Nov. 2 1878
My dear Chevalier;
I have pledged my sacred honor to the Heralda to have ready for them by Friday next that Biographical sketch of your Royal Highness, and as it would be only proper to have an occasional fact in the article it will be necessary for me to see you before then. I cant get away to go to Menlo Park as I must be in Court a portion of every day during the week, so I must rely on my chance of catching you in New York.
Will you therefore, my cherished member of the Legion of Honor, telegraph me at once what day you will be in and what time and where I can see you for a half hour?
It is as necessary to sit for your biographer you know as it is to sit for your sculptor or painter. Each must have the model before him to do justice to the subject
Hoping therefore to hear from you Monday1 I remain As ever Yours
Page 669
PS. I am solemnly charged by my better half to express to you her sincere appreciation of the courtesy shown her this pm. in her visit to the laboratory. She thinks that that new “12 pound phonograph” is immense. E.M.F.
ALS, NjWOE, DF (TAEM 17:219). aUnderlined twice.
1. Edison replied on 4 November that he would answer Fox’s questions. The following day Fox sent him a letter discussing what he wanted to include in the biographical sketch:
What the Herald wants is a vivid, succinct, tierce, graphic sketch not only of your past life but of all the minor incidents of the present—how you act, talk, live, work and look—the struggles and obstacles attending the completion of your chief inventions—your method of classification— your system of detail etc. etc.—the whole going to make up a lively and interesting pen picture.
Fox felt that to write such a sketch it would be “necessary for me to leave all other business for, at least, a week, and taking up a habitation near the laboratory . . . place myself in such a position that when the spirit moves I may drop in upon you.” He therefore asked Edison for information about room and board at Menlo Park. On 6 November, Stockton Griffin wrote to ask Fox “if he couldnt put it off till next week.” On 20 November, Fox apparently received a letter from Edison inviting him down and made plans to go to the laboratory the next day. Fox to TAE, 5 Nov. 1878, Fox to Griffin, 20 Nov. 1878, both DF ( TAEM 17:223; 16:458).
The biographical sketch never appeared. However, on 22 November the New York Herald published an article on “The Electric Light” (p. 4) in which Edison denied rumors that the Patent Office had rejected one of his applications.
I know absolutely that my invention is new. Why for the past two weeks I have had an expert searching the books of the Astor Library, and making a digest of all patents and claims on the subject of electric lights, and he has found nothing bearing the slightest resemblance to mine. This is outside of the usual examination in the Patent Office. If my invention is not new I don’t want a patent for it, but if it is new, and I know that it is, the patent must be issued. On that point the law is imperative. It can’t be got around. No, I have no fear—not the first particle.
The expert was Francis Upton (see Doc. 1610). The Herald went on to say that Edison had overcome all difficulties except “minor details” and would “very soon” give a public demonstration of his lighting system. Fox continued to seek additional information from Edison and, on 27 November, telegraphed his editor from Menlo Park that he would “not have anything tonight obliged to remain over all night.” The Herald did not carry another report on Edison’s light until early December (Fox to James Gordon Bennett, 27 Nov. 1878, DF [TAEM 17:256]).
Frotn Grosvenor Lowrey
New York, Nov 2nd 1878a
My dear Edison:
I am just now very much occupied in the matter of a case in Washington which will take me on again tomorrow, and therefore have not much to write you. I only want to say one thing to you emphatically. Do not give your-self the slightest uneasiness from any-thing you hear from me or any-body else, about other people’s efforts, or inventions concerning electric light. My confidence in you as an infallible, certain man of science is absolutely complete: and whatever it may be necessary to say in talking with businessmen, who of course are liable to be misled, but who on the whole generally come right and do not make mistakes, you may be sure that the party which has been made up has put in their money in absolute confidence in you and nobody else. Very truly
LS, NjWOE, DF (TAEM 18:59). Letterhead of Porter, Lowrey, Soren & Stone, Attorneys & Counsellors at Law. “‘New York,” and “187” preprinted.
Technical Note: Electric Lighting
[Menlo Park,] Nov 2 18781
Electric Light Magnetos—2
X, NjWOE, Lab., Vol. 16:187, 186 (TAEM4:630). Document multiply signed and dated
1. The same day Edison drew what appears to be a dynamometer. He drew an alternative design nine days later. Vol. 16:182, 248, 250, Lab. (TAEM 4:628, 688, 690).
One ofEdison’s designs for a dynamometer.
2. Two of these drawings represent Edison’s continuing work on tuning fork dynamos. The other three represent his first efforts to design an electromagnetic generator in a more standard form. In this design an armature in the form of a cross revolves between the poles of the field magnets. During the first week of November he made additional drawings and considered several points of inefficiency in generator design. Vol. 16:201, 215–16, Lab. (TAEM 4:644, 658–59).
Technical Note: Electrochemical Gas Lighting
[Menlo Park,] Nov 2 1878’
When the gasometer is full the cylinder that rises lifts the lever at X from its contact point and opens the circuit. If now the gas is lit in the house the cylinder falls & closes the circuit and the current gives more gas; The gas burner may be either a fine capilliary tube with the jet playing against lime Zirconium oxide etc or it may permeate through cylinders of that substance, or a plug of finely divided moulded Iridium or platinum1 may be used it permeating through that subs the Iridium helps to set it on fire by catalytic action and at the same time the iridium plug becomes incandescent, to prevent explosion the gas may pass through gauze or wife fine wires laid longitudinally in tubes=
This method I call lighting by Electrolysis=2
X, NjWOE, Lab., Vol. 16:181 (TAEM 4:627). aObscured overwritten letters.
1. Text labels in the drawing from left to right are “meter,” “decomposing cells platinized carbon electrodes,” and “main line.”
2. On 6 November, Edison described an alternative method for electric lighting by electrolysis: “Decompose water into oxygen & hydrogen Page 673 these gases impinge upon a platinum sponge or foil or cylinder and are ignited by the catalytic action of the platina. This power may be assisted by passing a current through the platinum.” Vol. 16:202, 210, Lab. (TAEM 4:645, 653).
From George Barker
Philada. Nov. 3, 1878.
My dear Edison:—
Your letter of yesterday is at hand.1 The letter you enclose is all “stuff” & is purely fanciful, existing only in the imagination of the writer. I return it herewith.
I also enclose to you a proof of your tasimeter article,2 as I fixed it up. Please read it as soon as possible and communicate to me any changes or corrections you want made, so that I can put them on the proof I am to return to Putnam. Can you get for me a set of the electrotypes for this article for the Am. J. Sci? I shall send this article there for the Dec. no. & they may not like to wait till Putnam gets through with the electros, he has. As I have heard nothing from you about the tasimeter voltameter3 article, I have sent the proof back to Putnam with the corrections I noted on your proof.3
You have not noticed my letter of Oct. 23d.4 Mr. Griffin wrote me that you were sick in bed with neuralgia, and so I supposed that was the reason. I hope you are better again by this time. But this attack should be a warning to you that nature will not always be trifled with. You work too hard and too irregularly: Have more system about your work and you could do the same amount you now do without the danger. Be regular about your meals and sleeping hours; or some day you will break down entirely.
What I particularly want to know is whether I am to have one or two of your burners for my lecture? Under the circumstances, you will place me in a terribly awkward fix after promising them to me, if you dont let me have them. Have you found a “bug” in the light, which is the reason why you dont want me to show it? Be frank with me and tell me exactly what is the fact. May I not, if worse comes to worse, make a lamp to exhibit, like the one you showed me? Anything to relieve me of my embarassment before the audience. I hope you and Bachelor will be able to come on to the lecture.
The National Academy meets in the Chapel of Columbia College on Tuesday next and continues in session two or three days. If you have the time, I should be glad to see you there. Page 674
If you have any curious things to show I am sure the Academy would be glad to see them.
What about the new light of Sawyer & Man that the N.Y. papers are talking about? It seems to be the lamp proposed by the Russian engineer Ladiguin,5 revamped. How does it work? I have not taken much stock in it.
I shall try to induce Draper to take a run over to see you some day this week. Cordially yours
ALS, NjWOE, DF (TAEM 16:379). aInterlined above.
1. Not found. The letter Edison had enclosed and which Barker returned is unidentified.
2. Doc. 1401.
3. This article is Doc. 1382. The proof pages are in Cat. 1241, item 1074, Batchelor (TAEM 94:438–40).
4. Doc. 1519.
5. Both the Sawyer and Man lamp and Alexander Lodiguine’s design used carbon rods in a glass tube filled with nitrogen or other inert gases. Dredge 1882–85, 1:546.
From Lemuel Serrell
New York, Nov 4th 1878.a
My Dear Sir
I send copy Sawyers patent as desired—1
The copies of the electric light patents and magneto electric machine patents have all been selected from the books and ordered
The Patent Office has referred on your electric light to the English patent No 12 278, this is evidently a mistake as no such patent is among “Electricity.” No 12 287 is an electric “thermometer” and has nothing to do with your light. I have written for information
The powers of atty, France were with my agent in Paris Octo 22. Puskas has seen them and says they are all right and he said the cash was forthcoming
Your continental and English light papers are going on all right: your English provisional was lodged 23d Octo:
Brewer writes that on 22d the London times stated “that you, Edisons Agent had sent to your London correspondents this document, which we only received this morning”— By this you will see how you are watched, and that the London papers had knowledge that I had sent the papers, the day before they were received by Brewer. The precautions taken have not been unnecessary.— Page 675
The batch of cases for you will be sent down in a day or two— Yours truly
ALS, NjWOE, DF (TAEM 18:779). Letterhead of Lemuel Serrell. a“New York,” and “187” preprinted.
1. Not found. This was probably the first Sawyer-Man incandescent lamp patent (U.S. Pat. 205, 144).
From George Gouraud
London, 5 Novr 18781
My dear Edison.
Light
I am still without any advices from New York in reply to my $150 cable message.1 I have no doubt you have done your part and infer that the matter is under consideration and that in due course I will hear. Meanwhile however the demand for Electric Light from what I may call “Consumers” continuesb to show itself by constant receipt of letters and besides we hear more and more of other subdividing inventions from which, however, I take no specialb alarm, forc butd there is no doubt that wed will would if first in the fieldc be immeasurablyc strengthened as against any possible competitors through the accident of anybody’s having fallen upon your idea or anything approximating thereto, and getting the start of it through earlier Patents.
I confess I am more concerned than anything about my personal status in this business but as to this I must patiently wait for your explanations. I have no fear that you have taken care of me as you intimate but what I am most anxious to do is to be as little hampered as possible in the negotiations here. By the way you may not have forgotten our conversation last Spring on the subject of Electric Light when I urged you to take it up and you then told me you would not do it, “so many others were working in that field.” If the urgency of my views as to the importance of the subject as then expressed to you had any influence in your really finally taking up the subject I shall feel a sense of special satisfaction. I have been urged to take a Seat on the Board of the Rapieff Company but declined to do so for obvious reasons though they are going on with their organisation and mean to occupy the field as far as they can but assure me that nothing that they do will in any wise hinder their combining with us whenever we are ready on the basis as already laid before you. Meanwhile also the Wallisaced Page 676 people are anxious to co-operate with us here in fact this office seems to be the focus for all the Lights. I am just now going to “The Times” building to see the Rapieff. This fellow Werdermann’s light is being a good deal talked about.
Telephone
I had a visit yesterday from McClure2 the Manager of Bell’s Company who, you may remember wrote you. He seems very much exasperated; says Professor Barrett’s Lecture3 and the extent to which your Telephone has been shown already has done them very great damage. I think there is very little doubt about that as I know so many instances where people wish to have yours not only in cases where they now have none but in as number of instances where they already have Bells and find them “not satisfactorily.” McClure says the company’s action will be brought as speedily as possible and carried to the bitter end; the Directors are very wealthy gentlemen and they mean to prove either that their patent is good, and enjoy it, or that it is worthless and burn it up— He seemed a little bit staggered when I told him something of the “new Receiver” but threw himself back on “damages already incurred” by the use of their Receiver which he knows to have been shown in Birmingham and to be now in process of manufacture by several Manufacturers.” The advice of all concerned here is that we should do nothing further until your new receiver comes so pray hurry it along! Meanwhile the preliminaries are all arranged with several companies for large commercial centres and as soon as the new Receiver can be employed the papers will be put through and you will have some considerable cheques to the credit of your Bank account. My plan of separate companies in different places is generally approved of. The London Company will have not only the business of London but wherever else business can be done in districts not the subject of special licenses. If you would cable a word indicating that the new Receivers are shipped it would be a very great gratification to me. The simple word “Receiver” will suffice and will indicate that it is shipped on a vessel that sails from New York on the day the cable is sent. Yours very truly4
PS. A partner of Ladd5 who is agent for Wallace’s15 machines here, told me today that he has made a Receiver for Preece which Preece tells him is entirely independent of Bells in every way and far surpasses it in efficiency when combined with your transmitter: that this is the thing which he has patented Page 677 but that he had intended always to give it to you as a means of securing your independence of Bell!!! I replied that “it is a pity he had not done it sooner as you had yourself since invented a Receiver” &c &c GEG
LS, NjWOE, DF (TAEM 16:394). Note form of George Gouraud; note form is electric pen copy. a“London,” and “1878” preprinted. b‘Obscured overwritten letters. cCanceled dlnterlined above, e“would . . . field” interlined above.
1. On 26 October, Gouraud sent a cable message to Lowrey. He then enclosed a copy of that cable and another to Edison (asking him to see Lowrey on his behalf) in a letter of the same date. The copy of the cable to Lowrey does not show Lowrey’s address and it is unclear if it was received. In it Gouraud urged the formation of an Edison electric light company and asked that his role be defined in relation to electric lighting in Britain. DF (TAEM 18:166–71).
2. Little is known of J. H. McClure. Bruce 1973 (p. 245) does not give a first name and notes only that the temporary secretary of the company, Adam Scott, charged McClure with ineptitude and slovenly ethics and accused him of trying to cheat the company. Bell resigned as director of the company in mid-October because of “the gross mismanagement of the Company’s business and the personal discourtesy with which I have been treated by the Board of Directors and by the Acting Manager.” McClure was soon replaced by William Reynolds. No letter to Edison has been found, but there is a copy of a letter from James Adams to McClure regarding the Bell Company’s threatened injunction against the London manufacturers of Edison’s telephone (12 Oct. 1878, DF [TAEM 19:940]).
3. This lecture was probably close in content to the series of three articles Barrett published in Nature at this time. Barrett i878d.
4. No cable has been found. On 18 November, Edison wrote Gouraud, “I want to do a little more work on the New receivers they must be perfect when they leave my hands. I expect to send my nephew (Chas Edison) with them as he thoroughly understands the mechanical details. I cannot say definitely when he will go but it will be soon.” He indicated, however, that he was sending nineteen Western Electric transmitters, along with twenty induction coils and six half-pint bottles of carbon, “pressed and sifted, ready to make into buttons.” Lbk. 4:7 (TAEM 80:19).
5. William Ladd was a noted scientific instrument manufacturer who had introduced a dynamo design in 1867. Nothing is known of his partner, de Clercq 1985, 59, 63–64, 66–67, 69, 89–90, 202; King 1962c, 375–76, 379.
William Thomson to William Preece
Glasgow.2 November 5th 1878
Dear Preece,
I am sorry Edison has not written to you. I had some hope that he would do so in a handsome manly way. There is no Page 678 doubt he is an exceedingly ingenious inventor, and I should have thought that he had it in him to rise above the deleterious influence of the kind of puffing of which there has been so much.
Thanks for Mr Blake’s1 letter. I remain, Yours truly,
LS, UkLIEE, WHP. Letterhead of University of Glasgow. aPreprinted.
1. Unidentified.
Technical Note: Telephony
[Menlo Park,] Nov 5th. 1878
New Receiver-
Discts of Blotting pads— 2 thickness—inserted between the diaphram and the box—to prevent the conductiveity of the viberations of the diaphragm to the wooden Box—a
strip Blotting pad Laid in zigzags in a can of water for moistingening the chalk—
The following course of Experiments with différant pressures given to the buttons—b
6–30—No 1 =1 Very Light pressure, to soft, busted before trying it—b
6–30—No i— Light pressure—
6–30—No i— Heavy pressure—in box no 6—works bang up, I think better articulation than any hertetofore— Left in for permanency—b
6–30—No i— Very heavy pressure—in box no 5 Just as good as the above— Left in for permanencyb
6–30—No i— m[---]d moderate’ pressure—
X, NjWOE, Lab., Vol. 18:77 (TAEM 4:1111). Written by Charles Edison; document multiply signed and dated. aParagraph overwritten by drawing. bFollowed by centered horizontal line. cObscured overwritten letter. dCanceled. eInterlined above.
1. See Doc. 1529 n. 1.
From Lemuel Serrell
New York, Nov. 6 1878a
My Dear Sir
Brewer & Jensen write under date 25 Octo. that Col. Gouraud requested them to see him and pursuant to his request have handed a general retainer to Theodore Aston,1 Qfueen’s]. Qouncil]. their greatest patent lawyer as a general retainer in your behalf
They are very desirous of your keeping publications out of the papers &c describing your improvements. 2 The excitement about your improvements they say is truly marvelous—
They say they understand that Col. Gouraud has the working of the patent and they will render him any aid in the matter they can in the event that I do not instruct them to the contrary—
How is this, what is Gourauds position? Yours truly
ALS, NjWOE, DF (TAEM 18:784). Letterhead of Lemuel Serrell. a‘New York,” and “187” preprinted.
1. On 26 October, Gouraud wrote Edison that he had retained Aston in order “to preclude the possibility of his falling into the hands of anybody else” and described him as “at the very head of his profession in England as regards Patent Laws and has no rival.” DF (TAEM 18:174).
2. The same day, Serrell wrote Grosvenor Lowrey to say that all publication about Edison’s light should be suspended until the patent opposition stage had passed, about three weeks. Lowrey then sent a copy of this letter to Edison and asked Edison “to cemmunicate to your friends the reporters a wish that they should say nothing more about your light whatever.” DF (TAEM 18:61–62).
Memorandum: Telegraph Conversation
Menlo Park, N.J., [November 6,]1 187[8]a
Conversation with Serrell 8 p.m.2
To Serrell Plainfield— Can we cable a provisional specification to England? Edisonb
Edison Yes, but expensive. It could not be filed except as a communication— Serrellb
To Serrell Will it be safe for Brewer to make the communication Edison
To Edison Yes Serrellb
To Serrell The following is the Cable that I propose to send=
To Brewer & Jensen Chancery Lane London File the following provisional and apply for great seal immediately Page 681
Improvements in Conductors for Electric lighting which may be brought to incandescence by the passage of the current—
I mould finely divided iridium platinum Ruthinium or other metals that have high melting points in the form of cylinders plates and other forms and pass currents of electricity through the same to render them incandescent.
Another part of my invention consists in varying the resistance of such cylinders by mixing with such finely divided metals non-conductors which are with difficulty fusible, such as magnesium or Zircon oxides Edison
To Edison Except the last 20 or 30 words you are already covered by your papers that have been sent Serrellc
To Serrell That is the important part of it Please put it in shape and send it back to me in the proper form for transmission Edison
Serrells form of Cable ((which was sent to London at 9:40 p.m.))d
Brewer and Jensen Chancery Lane London Enter provisional and seal immediately as a communication from Edison.
Improvements in lighting by Electricity. The light giving material is in the form of cylinders or prisms of finely divided metals such as platinum, Iridium, Ruthinium or other material having a high melting point mixed with non conductors such as magnesium or Zircon oxides that are with difficulty melted. These are mixed and compressed into the proper form for the light and rendered luminous and incandescent by the passage of the electric current3 Serrell
To Serrell You telegraphed today for me to look at English patent no 12 276. Do not understand
Numbers do not run that high. What year is it in, whose patent is it? Edisonb
Edison About 1849 under old law I do not remember name Serrell
To Serrell Does it say anything about regulation by expansion E
Edison There is a regulation of the distance of the Carbon points but I did not have time to examine the account fully Saw nothing about expansion
I thought you had the full published specifications
I have a book with specifications and drawings send to my office for it tomorrow4 Serrell
[To Serrell:] Good nightc Page 682
D, NjWOE, DF (TAEM 18:788). Written by Stockton Griffin; letterhead of T. A. Edison. a‘Menlo Park, N.J.,” and “187” preprinted. bFollowed by line across page. cFollowed by centered horizontal line, interlined later by Griffin. d“Good night” written between two heavy parallel lines, probably by Edison.
1. A telegram dated 6 November and sent at 7:10 p.m. from Edison to Lemuel Serrell at his home in Plainfield, N.J., reads: “Come to Telegraph office after supper will have wires put through from here to Plainfield wish to speak to you very important, reply immediately if you will be there and what time.” DF (TAEM 18:788).
2. Edison described this conversation in an interview that appeared in the 25 November New York Sun , though he was mistaken concerning when it occurred.
Last week I made a discovery at 4 o’clock in the afternoon. I got a wire from here to Plainfield, where my solicitor lives, and brought him into the telegraph office at that place. I wired him my discovery. He drew up the specifications on the spot, and about 9 o’clock that night cabled an application for a patent to London. Before I was out of bed the next morning I received word from London that my application had been filed in the English Patent Office. [“The New Electric Lights,” Cat. 1241, item 1021, Batchelor (TAEM 94:416)]
3. This paragraph became Edison’s British Provisional Specification (filed 7 November by Edward Brewer), which issued on 7 May 1879 as British Patent 4, 502 (1878). He filed a U.S. application on this design on 9 December, which issued the following September as U.S. Patent 219, 628.
4. Edison obtained the volume from Serrell the next day and wired him “No conflict with my system it relates solely to regulation of carbon.” TAE to Serrell 7 Nov. 1878; Serrell to TAE, 7 Nov. 1878; both DF ( TAEM 18:792).
Technical Note: Electric Lighting
[Menlo Park,] Novó, 1878
Caveat No 6.1
X tube filed with smoke such as sal ammoniac smoke, jump spark in vacua makes smoke incandescent, a stick of finely divided Conductor mixed with large quantity of non conductor 2 may be used in tube & quantity jump spark used =
Moulded iridium or even solid platina.3
Vibrated main station;4 or
Use of Condensers— for sub dividing5 Principle.
Fig 7
X insulator n a small peice of metal which may bi heats by Not making good condtacta This heat is communicated b to the rods h. i. and expands this seperates the carbon electrodes and if the arc is broken the rod i. h. cool & allow the carbons to touch again. He has a knife edge arrangement to adjust the heating of n.6
X, NjWOE, Lab., Vol. 16:205, 207–8 (TAEM 4:649, 651–52). Document multiply signed and dated, a“good conëtact” underlined twice. bUnderlined twice.
1. This caveat was never drawn up or filed. Text for the top circuit is “condenser” and “Reversing appartus.” On the third circuit Edison wrote “out,” meaning delete the wire drawn between the lever and the condenser. Along the right side the text is “Main wires in street connected to Central Station.”
2. The use of finely divided conductors in combination with a nonconductor became the subject of Edison’s U.S. Patent 219, 628 and British Patent 4, 502 (1878), the provisional specification of which Edison had discussed with Serrell via telegraph the same day (see Doc. 1555). In the U.S. patent he noted that “the use of a non-conducting material is not absolutely necessary, as the finely-divided metals, owing to their porosity, have high resistance, and become easily incandescent.” The high resistance of this lamp design allowed him to use a “comparatively small electric current.”
3. This refers to the square block in the center between the pieces labeled “Platina.”
4. Text above is “Zirconia oxide, or smoke of Sal Ammoniac,” and “Induction coil.”
Edison’s lamp design in U.S. Patent 21 628.
5. Text above is “Condr”; the form of burner in the figure with that ‘ label is similar to that shown in Edison’s U.S. Pat. 219, 628. What appear to be related sketches are in Vol. 16:197, 211–12, 217, 222, Lab. (TAEM 4:639, 654–55, 660, 663).
To this point, Edison appears to be designing lamp arrangements for use with alternating rather than direct current. The drawings that follow are for an arc light regulator.
6. Text below is “steel & Brass”.
Technical Note: Electric Lighting
[Menlo Park,] Nov 6. 1878
Electric Light1’
6 spirals 3’ = 1 spiral of 8’
try it
6 spirals .0053 = 1 spiral of .008
X, NjWOE, Lab., Vol. 16:204, 203 (TAEM 4:648, 647). Written by Charles Batchelor. Document multiply signed and dated. a“Nov 6. 1878” and “Electric Light” written by William Carman. bUnderlined twice. c”4” overwrites “=“.
1. These calculations appear to represent an attempt to determine the mathematical relationship between lamps with multiple smaller spiral burners and those with a single spiral. The initial observation that “6 spirals of 3 [thousandths] = 1 spiral of 8 [thousandths]” was probably the result of actual tests and the resulting calculations were an effort to find a mathematical formula to predict the relationship for lamps with other sizes and numbers of spirals.
From Grosvenor Lowrey
New York, Nov 7th 18781
My dear Edison:
I got up about 12 oclock and came down to see Griffin, but he had in the mean time gone to my house and so we missed each other.
I judge from the correspondence with Mr Serrell, that you have discovered something new and valuable for the lamp.
I have written today to Col. Gouraud because in his letter to you of Oct 26th he speaks as if he had communicated with me.1 He has not done so except by two “cables” in relation to Cuba.2
The Board met today and four or five of the members want to go out to Menlo Park by the 5 4b oclock train on Tuesday and wished me to inform you. There is great opposition by Page 688 Edson and Banker to letting young Butler3 go from the Gold & Stock Co., but they said in the meeting today that he had not yet had his vacation but if he wished to take that by going to Washington for you he could do so. No action was taken on the subject but it was left to you to send for him and set him to work for three weeks. You can do this at your laboratory or otherwise, and we will pay him, leaving you to make the terms.
I enclose a proposed letter to be written by you, which will explain itself. It expresses your ideas if I correctly understood them. Very truly
ENCLOSURE4c
Dear Sir:
Referring to our conversations in respect to the disposition on the Continent of Europe of my inventions touching electricity as used for producing light, power or heat, (being the same inventions which I have agreed to sell to the Edison Electric Light Company of New York, for this Country) I have to say that I am desirous to make the same a similard arrangement with you, and, through you, with such Banking or Commercial houses as you may choose, as to that which’ I have made with respect to the patents for Great Britain;, provided a suitable arrangement can be brought about with Mr Puskas, of Paris, in satisfaction of any, either moral or legal hisf claims which he may have upon me to be admitted to equalf participation in the profits derived from the sale or use of these inventions on the continent of Europe
Without entering more in detail into the basis of any thisf claim which Mr Puskas may make, I have now to say that I will give you a power of Attorney for all the European Countries except Great Britain, authorizing you to dispose of all the inventions which I have already made touching these subjects, or may make, during the next five years, for such price and on such terms as you may deem for my best interest, you to reserve one half the price or compensation paid or received at any time whether in royalties, cash payments or otherwise, provided you first obtain a satisfactory release to me from Mr Puskas of any obligation such as I have above mentionedg any amount paid or share allowed to him with my approval to be treated as an expense of the joint account.11
You are aware that I do not consider Mr Puskas’ as having any legal claim. I there claim although not strictly a legal claim Page 689 as binding upon me morally with as much force as if it were so I therefore’ do not ask for a release in legal form, but some letter or cable dispatch which will satisfactorily show me that you have met his requirements & relieved me, in honor, from any claim by him. Very truly Yours
LS, NjWOE, DF (TAEM 18:63, 177). Letterhead of Porter, Lowrey, Soren & Stone, Attorneys & Counsellors at Law. a“New York,” and “187” preprinted. bInterlined above. cEnclosure is Df. d”a similar” interlined above by Lowrey. e”to that which” interlined above by Lowrey. fInterlined above by Lowrey. g”provided . . . mentioned” canceled and restored; “put back” and “stet” in left margin. h”any amount ... account.” interlined by Lowrey. i“claim although . . . there” interlined by Lowrey.
1. See Doc. 1551 n. 1.
2. Nothing is known of these cables.
3. According to telegrams he exchanged with Edison, Howard Butler was assistant secretary at Gold and Stock Telegraph Co. He had attempted to see Edison on 30 October regarding his undertaking the proposed study of the state of the art in electric lighting (see Doc. 1535 n. 7), but was unable to do so because of Edison’s illness. He apparently came out on 5 November. Butler to TAE, 30 Oct. and 5 Nov. 1878; TAE to Butler, 30 Oct. and 5 Nov. 1878; all DF (TAEM 16:346–47, 393).
4. Edison sent this letter to Lowrey (as revised) on 12 November. Lbk. 3:491 (TAEM 28:917).
From Lemuel Serrell
New York, Nov. 7th 1878.a
Dear Sir:
In the interference with DeZuccato1 I want to arrange for a conference to close up the matter by mutual concessions; In his patent No. 157, 161, he makes a porous paper and prints through the same with a pad and a solution of iron. This is based on his English patent No. 1963, of 1872, and this antedates Edison on the broad ground of porous paper and printing by pressure. The parties concerned with DeZ. propose to limit themselves to the chemically prepared porous paper and you to be limited to the mechanically punctured paper and make a business termination on that ground. The patent No. 55, 869 to S. Huffman Cartharge, 111. June 26, 1866 was incidentally referred to. It appears to be for the very instrument that has turned up in the Chicago suit.2 In a telegram sent to Mr. Bliss today I gave the name and number, and suggested that the patent be purchased. Huffman must be close to Chicago.3
If this can be purchased it may antedate some other parties with Dental pluggers, but of that you must examine.4 Page 690
I have telegraphed for an abstract of assignments to see who owns the Huffman patent and will advise, and have written to Mr. Finckel,5 my agent in Washington to see if the handle was tubular with the needle in it and will advise when answers are received.
You will want to approach Hoffman through a third party or he may get his price up in the sky. Yours truly
ALS, NjWOE, DF (TAEM 18:793). Letterhead of Lemuel Serrell. a“New York,” and “187” preprinted.
1. See Doc. 1358 n. 3.
2. See Doc. 1430 n. 1.
3. Huffman was supposed to be living in Carthage, Ill., but George Bliss finally tracked him down in Independence, Kans. Bliss described Huffman as “an old inventor” who “has been rich but is now broken down in property but he is a very sharp fellow.” Bliss bought the patent for $500 and spent another $500 on his trip, which Edison agreed to reimburse. Bliss arranged the purchase so that Huffman would not get all of his money until after he signed the papers for a reissue. This precaution proved useful when others sought to convince Huffman that Bliss had taken advantage of him. The matter was finally settled in early January. Bliss to TAE, 29 Nov., 10, 11, 13, 18, and 30 Dec. 1878, 3 and 6 Jan. 1879; TAE » Bliss, 9 Dec. 1878; all DF (TAEM 18:355, 363–64, 366, 373, 377; 50:361, 371); Electric Pen & Duplicating Press bill, 31 Dec. 1878, Cat. 1161, Accts.
4. Edison apparently did so. Notes on dental plugger patents are in NS-Undated-001, Lab. (7X£Af 8:13–23).
5. Nothing further is known of him.
Technical Note: Telephony
Menlo Park, N.J., Nov. 7th 1878a
Experimentsb
Test resistance of the best chalk you have when talking good.b
Resistance of same when dried a little.b
Have Martin [Force] adjust a transmitter for best talking and get two alike to work withb
Put rubber between the ring and diaphragm.b
Try a thinner diaphragm of same diameter if not good of wood then of rubber, fibre or of sttightly stretched
X (fragment), NjWOE, Lab., Vol. 18:81 (TAEM 4:1114). Written by Batchelor; letterhead of T. A. Edison. a”Menlo Park, N.J.,” and “187” preprinted. bFollowed by centered horizontal line.
Technical Note: Telephony
[Menlo Park,] November— 7th 1878
New Receiver—
Experiment with différant sizes of buttons—
3/4 inch long, and ½ inch in diameter dont seem to give any better results and is more liable to burst. Consequently may be considered a failure.”
1 inch diameter— gives about same result as all others— and if anything not so good—b
3/8½ diameter and ¼ long— is very good have left in for constancy—b
I put a six- 6–30—No 1 in for permanancy with the water supply thus
The button enclosed with a pasteboard box and set in a pan of water— when I put it in it worked satisfactory put but got weaker gradualy, untili It could »e hardly be heard, which was probably caused by to great supply of H20— took box out and put in Cup 0 pan with waste in and it has come back be the so it is very loud— will leave it in all night—
in taking diaphram off and putting several thickness of Blotting paper between diaphram and box it decreases the Hollow sound and sounds more like Human Voice—a
= Left in for Night =
in Box No 4— a 6–30—No 1—with Paste board in pan works loud—1a
in Box No 5 = a 6–30—No 1—pressed on the sleeve— work clear but very low—2a
in Box— a 6–30—No—with small sponge—in pan Loud but poor articulation— 3
in Box no 7— a 6–30—No 1— [-]c ½ inch diameter—and Vi inch Long, in pan with large sponge— worked loud but poor articulation—not very loud and not very good articulation—b
try em in morning and compare with the results—
X, NjWOE, Lab., Vol. 18:80 (TAEM 4:1115). Written by Charles Edison; document multiply signed and dated. aFollowed by centered flourish. bFollowed by centered horizontal line. cCanceled. Page 692
1. Charley noted the next day that this “was the loudest but was not as good as last night.” Vol. 18:83, Lab. (TAEM 4:1117).
2. Charley noted the next day that this “was to dry this morning with sponge in pan.” Vol. 18:83, Lab. ( TAEM 4:1117).
3. This was apparently Box 6, which Charley noted the next day “started loud but then went low.” Vol. 18:83, Lab. (TAEM 4:1117).
Account: Electric Lighting1
[Menlo Park,] Novem 8th 1878
Statement
| Main Building | |||||
| Aug | 30 | Labor a/c #1 | on Platina Rollers for NR2 | 713 | |
| Sept | 6 | Labor a/c #1 | on Platina Rollers for NR2 | 11.58 | |
| Oct | 18 | Labor a/c #1 | machinists & carpenters | 78.45 | |
| 18 | Labor a/c #1 | Foreman | 21. | ||
| 25 | Labor a/c #1 | Machinists | 114.12 | ||
| 25 | Labor a/c #1 | Foreman & carpenters | 14. | ||
| 25 | Freight | on Timber &c | 12.40 | ||
| 25 | Labor a/c #1 | Machinist | 1.90 | ||
| 31 | Patterson Bros | Hadware | 51.44 | ||
| 31 | Meeker & Sons3 | Castings | 7–47 | ||
| Nov | 1 | Manning Freeman4 | Bricks & Lumber | 1054.67 | |
| 8 | T.F Carman5 | Sund & Cartage | 138. | ||
| 1 | Labor a/c #1 | Machinist | 37.17 | ||
| 1 | Labor a/c #1 | Foreman | 7. | ||
| 1 | Patterson Bros | Hardware | 151 | ||
| 1 | Sundry Articles work on well | Cash | 6.30 29-!5 | ||
| 1 | Repairing Pump | 2.66 | |||
| 2 | Labor a/c #1 | Machinists | 16. | ||
| 2 | Labor a/c #1 | Foreman | 8. | ||
| 1 | Thomas6 | for paints | 14.35 | ||
| 1 | Express ect. | 5.08 | |||
| 7 | Freight | on lime | 2.93 | ||
| 7 | Castings | DeHart7 bill | 6.13 | ||
| 8 | Pay Roll #2 | Masons Laborers | 201.49 | ||
| 1849.93 | |||||
| Boiler House | |||||
| Nov | 1 | Labor a/c #1 | Machinists | 20.62 | |
| 1 | Crowell & Co8 | Steel rods | 4.68 | ||
| 2 | Patterson Bros | Hardware | 10.17 | ||
| 4 | Fire Brick | Order #2 | 1425 | ||
| 49.72 | |||||
| Coal House | |||||
| Page 693 | |||||
| Oct | 25 | Labor a/c #1 | Carpenters | 11.25 | |
| 25 | Labor a/c #1 | Foreman | 350 | ||
| Nov | 1 | Labor a/c #1 | Carpenters | 17.15 | |
| Oct | 29 | Bolts & nuts | 11.71 | ||
| 29 | Patterson Bros | Hardware Sundries | 1.64 | ||
| 45.25 | |||||
| Sundries | |||||
| Oct | 25 | Pay Roll #1 | wk induction coil | 4.20 | |
| Nov | 2 | Wallace & Son | wire | 13.59 | |
| 1 | Platinum wire | Elmore9 bill | 6.53 | ||
| 4 | Books on Electric light | 12.80 | |||
| 2 | Stamsky10 Bill | Pain[t] & Oil | 7.00 | ||
| 6 | Elmore bill | platina | 15.05 | ||
| 1 | Pay Roll #1 | machinist on induct | 8.38 | ||
| 7 | Platina | Elmore bill | 2.23 | ||
| 69.78 | |||||
| 2014.68 | |||||
D, NjWOE, Accts., Electric Light Statement Book (TAEM 88:432). Written by Stockton Griffin.
1. This appears to be the first of the weekly statements of electric light experimental expenses that were prepared by Edison’s laboratory staff, primarily by Stockton Griffin and William Carman, for the Edison Electric Light Co. Weekly statements continued through early 1882 (see Electric Light Co. Statement Books, Accts. ([TAEM 88:412, 512]). This statement covers the first week of November as well as a few items from October and a labor account from the end of August. Most of the entries are concerned with the construction of the new machine shop (“Main Building”) and its engine house (“Boiler House” and “Coal House”); other expenses are listed under “Sundries.” This statement and the ones that followed were derived from Edison’s other accounting records (see “Menlo Park Accounts” and “Personal and Laboratory Accounts, 1878–1891,” Accts. (TAEM 22:490, 87:5).
Preceding this account are several summaries of expenses prior to this date. One is a 26 October statement of the labor account for the new shop, a copy of which Grosvenor Lowrey’s office sent Stockton Griffin on 28 October. This statement lists the wages of masons and laborers, as well as the cost of fire bricks, nails, and advances to Lemuel Serrell. Griffin noted on the back that he had received payment from Lowrey and James Banker for these expenses. Another summary provided by Lowrey’s office about the same time shows monies he had received and expended on electric light matters. There is also a “Statement of money expended for Electric Light Experiments prior to Oc 28 1878 by Thomas A Edison” and an entirely undated summary showing the expenditure of over $7,000 provided to Edison by the company. Electric Light Co. Statement Book, Accts. (TAEM 88:421–29). Page 694
2. “NR” usually meant “new receiver.” This entry may refer to rollers created for the telephone but appropriated for electric light work.
3. D. M. Meeker & Son had an iron foundry on Clay St. in Newark. Meeker & Son to TAE, 20 Apr. 1878, DF (TAEM 18:445); Ford 1874, 71–72.
4. Manning Freeman was a dealer in lumber, coal, masonry supplies, and fertilizer in nearby Metuchen. Billhead, 28 June 1876, DF (TAEM 13:869).
5. Theodore Carman was a local teamster who had also hauled construction materials and machinery for the new Menlo Park laboratory in 1876. Bill to TAE, 20 Mar. 1876, DF (TAEM 13:825); U.S. Bureau of the Census 1970, roll 790.
6. D. G. Thomas & Son were suppliers of hardware and domestic furnishings, including carpets and paints. The firm was located in Metuchen. Billhead, 2 June 1876, DF (TAEM 13:756).
7. Charles DeHart owned or operated the Newark Edge Tool Manufactory and Grey Iron Foundry, located on Adams St. Bill to TAE, 1 Oct. 1878, DF (TAEM 17:430); Ford 1874, 109.
8. Crowell & Coe, located on Mulberry St. in Newark, were dealers in iron and steel and agents for the Newark Steel Works. Bill to TAE, 4 May 1876, DF (TAEM 13:845).
9. John Elmore’s shop of chemicals and related supplies was located on Murray St. in New York. Wilson 1879, 427; Doc. 487.
10. Dr. William Stainsby was a “Manufacturer of and Dealer in all Kinds of Oils” at 881 Broad St. in Newark, from whom Edison made numerous purchases of gasoline, barrels, and “prime lard oil” in 1878. See bills in Cat. 1161, Accts., NjWOE.
Technical Note: Telephony
[Menlo Park,] November 8th 1878
New Receiver—
Experiments with the transmitter set at différant resistancea
When transmitter was set at 15 ohms got very nice talking—good articulation but not so loud as we have had it—b
with transmitter set at shade higher it is not as good—but gives splendid articulation on box No. 7 containing Button moulded on sleeve—
Experiments with transmitter at différant amount of Resistance— Continued from [-]c the last page— was louder than the last trial best on box no. 7—d
at a shade closer hardly could hear it—d
took it a shade back again and it is better but not loud—d
with the transmitter at it is red hot for tube instrument when I put ear to diaphram the talkling and articulation is excellant, it comes best when turned!! just as slow as possibly Page 695 can turn—think this will be good for clock movement, not loud enough for the presant boxes we are using— 1d
X, NjWOE, Lab., Vol. 18:84 (TAEM 4:1118). Written by Charles Edison; document multiply signed and dated. Miscellaneous doodles not reproduced. aFollowed by centered flourish. bFollowed by centered #. cCanceled. d‘Followed by centered horizontal line.
1. Charles Edison continued this entry the next day: “boxes No 4 and 6 with 6.20—No 1—in with Pasteboard in one and small sponge in other have kept constant for three days—having been put in on the 6th inst—and talk very good this morning.” He also determined that “the resistance of the transmitter which gives the best talking on 6.30. No 1 which was put in on 6th inst” was 35V2 ohms. Vol 18:86, Lab. (TAEM 4:1120).
Technical Note: Electric Lighting
[Menlo Park,] Nov 10 1878
Electric Light Carbons by Heat & pressure1a
Powdered bituminous coal pressed whilst hot gives good conductor 2”
Powdered bituminous coal & sugar NGa
Lamp black and Sugar first heat & pressure seems to have no conductivity1”
Afterwards heated in crucible it is a good conductor, heated again in Carbon dust Excellent conductorb
Powd Bit. coal burnt to coke—conductor saturated with sugar & dried, no better non conductor Powd. & put in mould with heat—good conductor Baked with carbon dust excellent & hard
X, NjWOE, Lab., Vol. 16:224 (TAEM 4:665). Written by Charles Batchelor; document multiply signed and dated. aFollowed by centered horizontal line. bParagraph enclosed by brace; followed by centered horizontal line. cDocument damaged.
1. This document appears to be related to the lamp design shown in Doc. 1567. Drawings of a mold for these carbons are in Vol. 16:249, 258, Lab. (TAEM 4:689, 697).
2. On 23 November, Batchelor drew up a list of bituminous coal and sugar mixtures to be tried for electric light carbons. On 13 November Page 696 he also indicated that they were going to try anthracite coal. Vol. 16:257, 296, Lab. (TAEM4:697, 735).
Technical Note: Electric Lighting
[Menlo Park,] Nov 10 18781
[Potassium]a
No 1 Sylvine Kb melts instantly allows arc to be longer— No 2 Carnallite K.c ditto—
No 3 Alunite K. Dont melt so easy shortens arc, non condr—
No 4 Polyhalite K. melts easy non condr lengthens arc slightly
Sodium 2No. 5d Rock Salt orthoclase (Potassium)’ fuses to bead that appears permanent = non condr—beads keeps white hot for 30 seconds Shortensd Arcd—
6d Cryralite Rock salt/—Melts instantly. Makes arc very much longer & much whiter
7d oliglocase cyralite—g shortens arc
Potassium
8 Oligoclase melts into nice white glass shortens arch
9 Natralite N.G. shortens arc Lithium
10 Triphylline3 goodg conductor whend hot= shortens arc greatly
11 Spodumine— non condr when fused shortens arc—
12 LepidPetrolite,4 NG’non condr—
13 Lepidolite—non condr NG
14 Heavy Sp
Barium
134 Heavy Spar- non condr
145 Witherite, Conductor when very hot, boils.
16.d Barito-Calcite., No. G.h
Strontium
17 Coelestine5h
49. Prusylite Black ox Mang6 utterly infusible in arc increase luminosity arc 20od per cent works beautifully by incandesce. Biggest strike yet some peices (impure) melt perhaps because silica in it or a metal.7
99— N. G. Non Condr—
71 Zincite—after fusingd in arc is a good condr. but fuses easily. Its magnetic shewing Iron ing it
Page 697
X (fragment?), NjWOE, Lab., Vol. 16:239, 238, 235, 240 (TAEM 4:680, 679, 676, 681). Document multiply signed and dated. aDocument damaged; heading also written on second page. b”Sylvine K” interlined above. c“Carnallite K” interlined above. dObscured overwritten characters, e“orthoclase (Postassium)” interlined above. f”Rock salt” interlined above. gInterlined above. hFollowed by horizontal line across page.
1. For earlier Edison designs of incandescent lamps with incandescing materials in a carbon arc, see Docs. 1044, 1078, and 1098.
2. Edison wrote “Sodium” here and began an entry on rock salt, which he then changed to orthoclase, which contains potassium. There is a line after the orthoclase entry indicating the beginning of the sodium minerals (rock salt, cryolite, oligoclase, and natrolite).
3. Triphyline or triphylite, apparently a compound phosphate of iron, manganese, and lithium. OED , s.v. “Triphylite.”
4. Probably petalite, lithium aluminum silicate.
5. Probably celestite, a naturally occurring form of strontium sulfate.
6. Pyrolusite is a naturally occurring form of manganese dioxide, which is also known as manganese black.
7. On the same day Batchelor wrote about experiments with No. 49: “First piece—melts in 10 minutes into a pasty mass Second piece Impossible to melt Third piece—cannot melt I notice that it wears entirely away under the arc.” Vol. 16:244, Lab. (TAEM 4:684).
From Grosvenor Lowrey
New York, Nov nth 1878a
My Dear Edison:
Enclosed you will find a letter which is sent to me by Mr A. Belmont. 1
Mr Belmont is exceeding anxious to procure an interest in the Electric light Co. of this city and I have told him I will see what can be done. In the mean time instead of sending forward to Mr. Puskas the Viennab letter which you sent me, I will hold it for a day or two until you give me further instructions in view of the possibilities which are disclosed by this letter of the Rothschilds.2
From all that I can I can learn of Mr. Puskas he would probably be a very useful and effective manc working in connection with serious and successful people such as our friends Drexel Morgan & Co & Belmont are; while he probably would not meet with so much success if he were to operate alone
As I have before said to you, Mr Puskas will probably consider mtc to his advantage to have a minorc share of the largerb profits which these great houses will make rather than a larger share in what he will be able to make without them.’ It will not be altogether sufficient—thatc you should make the best electric light. Two things must coincide: you must vanquish Page 698 all the difficulties in nature and your financial agents must have the standing to enable them withc a strong handc to put aside all competorsc in the financial field; or if they are not able altogether to put them aside, to put them in the back ground. It is the same case over again of the Western Union asc a partner and friend, anor some other equally deserving but much less powerful associatienef
I enclose a letter by the way such substantially1” as I think you ought to address to Brewer & Jensen for Mr Shea. 3 I willc also write a letter which I will recommend you to send to Mr Puskas to be a part of the means for bringing himself and Mr Harjes into proper relations.
I see that Sweden & Norway are isb notc included in the telephone patent of Mr Puskas, and there are several lettersc here from people in those countries. Will you give me a power of attorney for you in those countries? If so I will either put those at once into the same course as the English patents or will communicate with other parties.
Messrs Fabbri & Chauncey,g who are now managing the South American countries, & have telegraphed out to their various correspondents to get special concessions and privel-iges in those countries, would like to undertake India, China & Japan, and perhaps Australia and other English colonies provided these are not claimed by Drexel-Morgan & Co.
I should like to be able to give before next Saturdays mail to Mr Belmont a clear & concise statement, in general terms of course, of what you have done and what you already see in view; nothing which will amount in any way to a description but the substantial particulars which Baron Rothschild asks for. I took young Belmont to task for that phrase in the letter which says, “The Microphone, Phonograph &c were trifles”, and asked him if he supposed Rothschild had ever heard of the carbon telephone and whether he considered that a trifle.
Can you find time or if you cannot can either Batchelor or Griffin make such a statement for me.4
It should be a statement entirely free from enthusiasm and should answer the following questions;
i st Has Mr Edison devisedc a means by which he can make use of the electric current to produce in the same circuit any considerable number of lights (yes several thousand)
2nd Is he able to regulate and control the light so as to make it equally feasable, agreeable & convenient for domestic use as the ordinary gas light. (It equals one gas jet and may be regulated to any lesser amount it is perfectly steady) Page 699
3d How would, in Mr Edisons opinion, the original outlay to light a town of a given number of inhabitants, say of 100,000. by his method compare with the original outlay to light the same by gas. (Cannot give figures but it will be twice or [-]h thrice;)
4th How would the expense of maintainance &c of his system compare with the expense of the lighting by gas. (Cannot give figures but it will be at least twice as cheap & I hope four times as cheap)
5 Is Mr Edison obliged to avail of any other patents than his own for any purpose (No)
6th. Does Mr Edison believe that the existing plant of gas companies such as underground pipes, gas fixtures &c can be utilized with any profit in serving the electric light (All the gas fixtures in the houses can be utilized x)
Some of these questions of course, the 1st, 2nd, & 6th’ I could answer myself from what you have told me but I should like to have the thing in a form in which it can bec forwarded to the Rothschilds with your signature. I think it would be interesting to them to have it. Still do not bother about it at all at the expense of other things Very truly yours
I’ enclose the agreement with the Edison Elc. Company for signature, it being now right—5 There will be also a special letter by you to the secretary directing him to depositk $100,000 in shares with E. R Fabbri to divided among the subscribers in accordance with the original arrangement— This I will draw before the agreements are exchanged.
Letter (form of) to Brewer & Jensenk (enclosed 6
LS, NjWOE, DF (TAEM 18:181). Letterhead of Porter, Lowrey, Soren & Stone, Attorneys & Counsellors at Law. a“New York,” and “187” preprinted. bInterlined above by Lowrey. cCorrected by Lowrey, obscured overwritten letters. dCorrected by Lowrey; originally “into.” e“without them” interlined above by Lowrey. fCorrected by Lowrey. g”& Chauncey” interlined above. h“Canceled, i“of course . . . 6th” interlined above by Lowrey. jParagraph written by Lowrey. kObscured overwritten letters.
1. This letter from August Belmont has not been found. In 1874, Belmont had entered the banking house founded by his father, August Belmont & Co. The senior Belmont established the firm in 1837 after emigrating from his native Germany, and it became the United States representative of the Rothschild family and an important financial power in its own right. NCAB 37:25–26; 11:499.
2. Belmont apparently sent a 25 October letter from Salomon Albert Rothschild, head of the family firm in Vienna. A typed transcript of this Page 700 letter (incorrectly identifying it as from S. M. Rothschild) was subsequently sent to Edison on 21 November with a note that it was “the first letter, which was mislaid.’” Rothschild had written Belmont that he had seen English press reports of Edison’s light and that “It would greatly interest me to learn, whether really there is something serious and practical in the new ideas of Mr. Edison, whose last inventions, the microphone, phonograph, etc, however interesting, have finally proved to be only trifles.” He asked Belmont to send information and his opinion about the feasibility of replacing gas lamps with Edison’s light. Porter, Lowrey, Soren & Stone to TAE, 21 Nov. 1878; Rothschild to Belmont, 25 Oct. 1878; both DF (TAEM 18:201–2); Wilson 1988, 253–54, 272–77.
3. In a letter to Brewer and Jensen, which they forwarded to Lemuel Serrell, Charles Shea claimed to have anticipated Edison in dividing the electric current. On 26 October 1878 he had received a British patent on a device for “Dividing and Distributing the Current Produced by Galvanic Batteries, &c” Ln which rotating contacts rapidly made and broke a series of circuits (Dredge 1882–85, 2:lv). Edison apparently had Stockton Griffin write out a letter to Brewer and Jensen based on Low-rey’s enclosure (which has not been found). Griffin’s copy is dated 13 November and a docket indicates that it was not sent. In this letter, Edison stated that as “to the present doubtful question whether he and I may have hit upon the same devices so that letters patent to one might be made totally destructive of the interests of the other, I am indisposed to entertain any proposition whatever. If he, or any person has made a prior invention I shall congratulate him.” If not, however, “I shall be unwilling to run the risk of having to share the credit with another person. Upon this point I have always been strenuous” (DF [TAEM 18:807]).
4. When he had not heard from Edison, Lowrey wrote to Griffin on 16 November regarding che information for Belmont, “about which I feel special desire to be full and accurate.” He asked Griffin to “let me have what you can as soon as possible, and mention this to Edison as a matter in which I feel desire to comply.” Two days later, Lowrey asked Edison to indicate if he could “come up the latter part of the week” so that Lowrey could arrange an interview with Belmont. DF (TAEM 18:199–200).
5. Doc. 1576. The next day, Lowrey wired Edison to return the agreement unsigned’because not all the blanks had been filled. DF (TAEM 18:67).
6. See note 3.
Equipment Specification: Electric Lighting
[Menlo Park,] Nov nth 1878
Mr Kruesi
Make an instrument like this.1
XX are two pieces platina made in shape of a hollow cone, the carbon has a little tit on it so
which lays in the hole
in platina and the rod is pressed down on platina; as carbon burns away the cores drop through.
Make more bevil to the platina than is shown in sketch
X, NjWOE, Lab., Vol. 16:247 (TAEM 4:687). Written by Batchelor.
1. Edison executed a patent application for a related design on 25 January 1879, which issued as U.S. Patent 224, 329 on 10 February 1880. In that patent Edison noted that
The inferiority of contact which takes place between the metal and the carbon creates a considerable resistance, which, heating the carbon, Page 702 increases the inferiority of the contact, causing the carbon to become highly incandescent; but no effect is produced upon the platinum or iridium alloy.
Edison’s patented design for a carbon and platina incandescent lamp.
In the patent he showed three methods of regulating the pressure of the carbon against the platinum—the carbon pressing downward by its own weight, the carbon being pressed downward by a weight resting on top, and the use of a weight and pulley arrangement to press the carbon upward against the platinum. Some January 1879 drawings related to these designs were later misdated as January 1878 (Vol. 16:1–4, Lab. [ TAEM 4:479–82]); see also Doc. 1627 n. 2.
To Howard Butler
Menlo.Park, N.J., Nov 12 1878a
H R Butler
Please send say tob Mr Upton’ I would like to see him
LS (telegram), NjWOE, DF (TAEM 18:67). Letterhead of T. A. Edison. a“Menlo Park, N.J.,” and “187” preprinted. b”say to” interlined above.
1. Butler replied the next day: “Mr Upton will be at your laboratory this p.m.” (DF [TAEM 18:69]). This was the beginning of Edison’s association with Francis Upton, who played a major role in electric light research. A native of Peabody, Mass., where his family knew Grosvenor Lowrey, Upton attended private schools in Boston and received a bachelor’s degree in mathematics from Bowdoin in 1875. Two years later he took the first master’s of science degree conferred by Princeton. He then studied with Hermann von Helmholtz in Berlin for a year. Although he had planned for an academic career, on his return to the United States he decided to go into business. After Butler introduced him to a vice president of the Gold & Stock Telegraph Co., Upton wrote his mother that he hoped to be offered a clerical job and eventually to “have a chance to take charge of a telephonic system in some Page 703 city” (Hutchings 1978, 8-u; Jehl 1937–41, 512; Upton to Lucy Upton, 7 Nov. 1878, Upton [TAEM 95:497]).
From Vesey Butler
Havana, 11/12 [1878]
My engañadorando1 Professor
I request that in future you will not address me as your “dear Butler” for I am not your “dear Butler” if I had been, you would have fulfilled your long ago given promise, not promise, but a multitude of them, you are an arrant-professor and if I am aa lost angel in the region of Miasmatic &c you can remove the M’Atic and Kiss the rest, aint that good?2
And then to add insult to injury, instead of sending me a pair of telephones a present saying “My dear Butler2 in consideration of having neglected you so long and broken the thousand & one promises you I have made you from time to time, also for the interest” you have taken, and energy you have displayed in introducing & selling my early invention the Electric Pen, by which you increased my revenue & enabled me to live las I do like a prince, marry the handsomest woman in Jersey & buy handsome paintings on Broadway (especially in the evening) I now send you a pair of telephones with a small silver presentation plate (To my esteem friend &c) guaranteed to stand lightning or “James,”3 also my micro Hughesatic Phonograph (this is added as youb I may thank you for stimulating me to my experiments in the electric light” (you may remember this & how I worried Bliss to drive you into this matter), but instead of this you refer me to Mr Bergman & quote me $50—for one station 4 Oh Edison! “Oh justice thou hast fled to—&c “Shakespear”—
I never expected this from such a rich, talented, and I may say handsome man— However in consideration of the precepts of the Bible (which has had a good time of it before the telephonic period) I shall forgive & turn to you my other cheek” that you “may smite.”
Leaving all jokes aside I must congratulate you on the happy results of your experiments & your great success in all that you have undertaken I keep myself very well read up in all your advances as I receive nearly all the scientific papers of England & the States.
I hope Batchelor is well give him my regards you may tell him I consider him in the unholy compact with you to “sell me — Page 704
Have you heard from McLoughlin? how is he doing? he is a very live boy & ought to make his mark as a showman
I should be glad to know Mr Wheelers5 address if you can favor me with it—
I intended to have had the pleasure of seeing you this month but have been detained by my poor wifes illness, which is I fear fatal, the doctors having retired & the clergymen attending
Trusting that you & your family are well I remain Yours truly
I am sending Wallace his lights back at his request in exchange for his new machines—
ALS, NjWOE, DF (TAEM 16:421). aObscured overwritten letters. bUnderlined twice.
1. “Engañadorando” would mean roughly “sweet deceiver” (or “dear liar”).
2. Edison had replied to an earlier Butler letter on 4 November, “I am glad to hear the cry of lost angel way down in the region of miasmatic malaria.” Butler’s letter was the most recent in a series complaining that Edison neither wrote him nor kept his promise of sending a phonograph and a telephone set. Butler to TAE, 2 Oct. 1878; TAE to Butler, 4 Nov. 1878; both DF (TAEM 16:177, 382).
3. Slang term for a crowbar. Farmer and Henley 1970, s.v. “James.”
4. In his letter of 4 November (see note 2), Edison told Butler that he could buy telephones from Sigmund Bergmann’s shop for $50. Edison described the Bergmann instruments as guaranteed “to stand lightning & be 20 times louder than Bell.”
5. William Wheeler.
To Theodore Puskas
Menlo Park NJ Nov 13. 781
My Dear Puskas
I telegraphed you on the 22a of Sept as follows concerning the Electric Light.2
“Puskas Paris: Good— Send papers. Cannot come have struck a bonanza on Electric light indefinite sub-division of light. Shall Serrell take patents for Continent same as before? Send authorization. Edison”
Your reply being received, I wrote you in confirmation and explanation of the above Oct 14th. When I discovered the process by which I now divide the light together with the other things which are included in my patent, I soon found that I had opened a field of investigation which would not only take a great deal of time but also a large sum of money—much Page 705 larger than I could conveniently manage for myself and accordingly I was obliged to call upon friends here for aid. Without entering into particulars for which I have not the time now I had the good fortune to find $50,000 ready to be invested in confidence of my ability to bring it back again and I am now erecting a brick building 135 feet long by 25 feet wide with two powerful Engines (80 H.P.) and boilers, in short all the means to set up and test most deliberately every point of the Electric Light so as to be able to meet and answer, or obviate every objection before showing the light to the public or offering it for sale either in this country or in Europe.
You can well understand that the question of my European patents arose immediately and filled a large place in our negotiations. I have explained to them my relation to you and they have examined the Telephone and phonograph agreements, and the cables which have passed between us, together with the fact of your payment of the patent fees. They will within a few days communicate with you through their Paris house with a view of uniting with’ you to act as agent for the sale of the light in all the countries, except Italy as to which country Messrs Fabri & Chauncey of New York are thought to be better agents, Mr Fabri being an Italian of the best connections and standing in that country. Mr Fabri of Drexel Morgan & Co is a brother of Mr Fabri of the other firm3 and probably they will confer with you through the same agent in Paris, notwithstanding the intention in case you make terms with them to work Italy through Messrs Fabri & Chauncey in connection with you. Now I feel great delicacy in speaking to you about this matter, but I feel so convinced that the ultimate outcome of the Electric Light will be vastly greater if managed everywhere by such financial houses as J. S. Morgan & Co of London and their houses and connections in other Countries that I believe you will realise more money by acting with them even at a greatly reduced share—if that should be necessary to secure their co-operation than any man, even you, could realise working alone.
It is my intention never to show or offer the Electric light until it is so perfected in economical and all other respects that I can feel sure of its instantaneous victory over gas. This I can accomplish only through the continuing aid of Drexel Morgan & Co and their friends. The light is not yet in any shape to show and you can see therefore that they are practically engaged in investing their money in large amounts to bring my inventions to perfection. Page 706
I hope therefore that you and they will be able to arrive at an equitable arrangement for dividing the portion of the proceeds of sales which I am willing to allow so that I may have the satisfaction of knowing that your skill and capacity are united with their commercial facilities to get the last dollar for Electric light which the Continent of Europe has to offer.4
I have telegraphed over additional inventions since the application for a patent went over and I am now on the track of a lot of important additions for which several sets of patents must be taken out in order to protect the invention completely. Before I have done with it I mean to succeed. I have the right principle and am on the right track, but time, hard work and some good luck are necessary too— It has been just so in all of my inventions. The first step is an intuition and comes with a burst— Then difficulties arise. This thing gives out then that. “Bugs” as such little faults and difficulties are called, show themselves— Months of intense watching, study and labor are required before commercial success—or failure—is certainly reached. Yours very Truly
LS (letterpress copy), NjWOE, Lbk. 3:487 (TAEM 28:913). Written by Stockton Griffin. aInterlined above.
1. A draft of this letter, written by Grosvenor Lowrey and dated 13 November, is in DF (TAEM 18:193); the original is in HuBPO.
2. See Doc. 1451.
3. Probably Ernesto Fabbri of Fabbri & Chauncey. Wilson 1878, 418.
4. Having received no response, Edison cabled Puskas on 27 November, “Let me hear promptly in answer to letter of 13th.” Puskas wired back two days later, “Will reply as soon paris [house] communicates. Is that right.” DF (TAEM 18:203).
From Grosvenor Lowrey
New York, Nov 13th 1878a
My dear Edison:
I learn that it is a practical necessity of prime importance in Cuba to get local concessions by the towns. This can be much better done from here by persons having Cuban connections; and it should be done promptly. Nothing seems to stand in the way except that an examination of the Spanish law shows that there is no longer a particular law for Cuba1 and thus that Mr. Puskas is in the way. Being so far off perhaps he would yield up to you any claim on Cuba.
I can make an arrangement with Mr. Navarro2 to pay all Page 707 expenses for one half (½) and to pay also five (5) percent, of that half to Mr Puskas. This would be better arranged however if it came nominally from you to him although Mr Navarro will arrange it so that you shall have a clear fifty (50) percent of the net result. Will you therefore send at my expense the following telegram to Puskas?
“Parties here have special facilities’” to obtain local concessions for Electric Light in Cuba. Will you waive claim to any rights in that Island. I will try to have themc reserve you small percentage of interest in Cuban rights “profits”3 Very truly yours
LS, NjWOE, DF (TAEM 18:191). Letterhead of Porter, Lowrey, Soren & Stone, Attorneys & Counsellors at Law. a“New York,” and “187” preprinted. bInterlined above, c“have them” interlined above.
1. According to a report in the 24 August Scientific American (39:112), recent changes in Spanish law provided that a single patent “now covers not only Spain, but all the Spanish colonies—the Balearic Islands, the Canaries, Cuba, Porto Rico, the Philippines, and Fernando Po.” The new patent law also extended protection to twenty years, lowered fees, and placed “foreigners on the same footing as natives.”
2. Financier José De Navarro was a personal friend of Grosvenor Lowrey and an original stockholder of the Edison Electric Light Co. After emigrating from his native Spain, De Navarro lived in Cuba from 1841 to 1855, when he moved to New York. There he organized a banking firm, Mora, De Navarro & Co., and helped establish other concerns, including the Equitable Life Assurance Co. Taylor 1978, 41; NCAB , 2:281.
3. Edison replied that he did “not think it necessary to telegraph Puskas. Any arrangement made by me will, I am sure, be satisfactory to him. I think if Mr Navarro will arrange to let him have 5% and add that to 2% from our interest will make it all right.” TAE to Lowrey, 18 Nov. 1878, Lbk. 4:1 (TAEM 80:18).
Technical Note: Electric Lighting
[Menlo Park,] Nov 13 78
Resis of Magneto Generators1
| Weston | Weston | Little Wallace | Large Wallace |
| Resistance includ-ing condr wires machine stilla | 8/10 ohms | 6 ohms | 16 ohms |
| ditto machine running very slowb | 8/10 ohms | 8 ohms current | [20?]c ohms current |
| Page 708 | |||
No alteration when machines reversedd
Resistance of Conducting wires
Bare Copper 2/10 ohms
Kerite in[sulated] 5/10 ohmse
X, NjWOE, Lab., Vol. 16:436 (TAEM 4:872). Written by John Knight; table entries separated by lines. a“Resistance. . . still” enclosed by right brace. b”ditto . . . slow” enclosed by right brace. cCanceled. dEnclosed by double horizontal lines. eFollowed by horizontal line.
1. It is unclear how these measurements were made, or for what specific purpose. It is possible they were prompted by Edwin Houston’s and Elihu Thomson’s Franklin Institute report. Edison had probably seen their report, published in the May and June 1878 issues of the Institute’s Journal, and about this time George Prescott also sent him a draft chapter on electric lighting (see Doc. 1492 n. 1), which quoted extensively from the Houston-Thomson report. During tests of a number of generators, including two Wallace-Farmer machines of different sizes, Houston and Thomson measured the resistance of each generator’s internal circuit by taking the mean of several measurements made with the armature in different positions. One of the tables from this report included a column comparing the combined resistances of the machines plus their conductors under different operating conditions. Here John Knight appears to be comparing the resistances of the three generators that Edison had in his laboratory at this time along with their conductors when the machines were not running and when they were running slowly. It is unclear whether bare copper or kerite-covered conductors were being used. Houston and Thomson 1878; Prescott 1879, 456–57, 466.
2. John Knight applied to Edison for employment in August 1878 after he lost his job with the Gold & Stock Telegraph Co. He began work at Menlo Park on 4 September, but left a month later for an absence of five weeks. When he returned in early November, he tested generators, studied the radiating properties of various materials for the electric light, and made carbon buttons. Knight was discharged in January 1879 for an unexcused absence related to marital difficulties; he was subsequently employed by the Edison Electric Light Co. Timesheets; Knight to TAE, [28 Aug. 1878?], 25 Feb. 1879; TAE to W. H. Baker, 24 Jan. 1879; Mrs. John Knight to Stockton Griffin and Griffin to Mrs. Knight, both 25 Jan. 1879; Knight to Samuel Insull, 10 Oct. 1881; all DF (TAEM 17:698, 706, 714, 722, 777, 787, 798, 804–5, 822, 833, 845, 8S7, 870–71, 504; 49:881, 870; 57:705); G&S Executive, 199.
Technical Note: Telephony1
[Menlo Park,] Nov 13th 1878
New Receiver
Experiments with différant diaphrams with a 6.30. No. 1— button—1
Hard rubber diaphram does not change the talking very much—although think it helps the articulation a little—2
Vulcanized Fibre—dont see much differance between it and wood—1
Carbon plate—about quarter inch thick is bang up—good articulation—*
thick mica—is very loud louder than Carbon and wood better articulation than wood and louder than wood—but not as good articulation than as Carbon but for general purposes mo desirable—1
Wood ¼ thick.— not good results to low and not striking articulation—gives hollow sound—a
Buttons.b
Chalk Button of 6.30. No 1—with small amount of glycerine no great chang1
Button with glycerine instead of water is very low hardly hear it—plays out—did not put any water in box—large amount of glycerine was used1
Button with small quantity of glycerine was louder than above but was not satisfactory1
tookc a button that stood on table several days and put in box with mica diaphram—and it started off good but seemed to have only a little moisture dampness on out side and soon played out—have left in to see if it will come up again—1
have taken water out of the other two boxes to see if is not too much dampness instead of not enough1
when water is taken out of the two boxes they get worse— and got quite low I put little water on the button and put pan pan in box again when it went very good—
Diaphrams1
Zinc Diaphram about 1/8 thick—is no good very low—a
Thin Mica Diaphram work very good not much differanc between that and thicker— G[ood].n[ight]a
X, NjWOE, Lab., Vol. 18:88 (TAEM 4:1122). Written by Charles Edison; document multiply signed and dated. aFollowed by centered horizontal line. bCentered between wavy lines; followed by centered horizontal line. cLarge “X” in left margin of this paragraph.
From Edward Johnson
New York Nov 14/78
My Dear Edison
Item, 1 I have seen U. H. [Painter] and have got him to consent to aid in the matter you spoke to me about when last at menlo. All you want is to see him personally and make your bargain. He goes to Washn. in a few days and can make his usefulness to you immediately apparent
Item 2. Having called a meeting of the Stockholders on only the notice required by Directors Meeting, I had to revoke the call & make a new one with longer notice thus deferring the meeting until Nov 23. 1 This gives me a few days longer to make the final payments on my stock.
Item 3. Everything having petered out in Electric Light matters I have determined to absolutely control the Phonograph—tie myself up to it for a “future”—
If I sell the Block of Stock to Gold & Stock or other comparative strangers I may simply be jumping out of the Frying Pan into the fire. I therefore resolved to take in Reiff and unitedly with his” Painter’s and your assistance purchase the thing ourselves—thus effecting my end beyond peradventure.
Item 4. $2000 cash are required. My resources are as follows.
Reiff has paid $500.
Leaving to raise yet= $1500.
Reiff will raise $500. possibly $1500.
Painter “ “ 500.
Edison is asked to loanb 500. to me= $1500 Item 5. I find the Phonograph Co. owe you a/c Royalties on Exhibitions about $1300.
Item 6.1 want you to make a demand upon us for a partial payment on this a/c. upon whatsoever pretext you please. (It is generally supposed that your Electric Light funds are only available for” purposes strictly Elee. Light—this is your best cue)
Item 7.1 want to borrow this money until I get control.
Item 8. Reiff, Painter and myself will unitedly agree to be responsible for its early repayment.
We will also agree to immediately allow the Royalty on Exhibition a/c and pay you the balance.
Also, pay you the $400 due by C.A.Qheever].
Item 9. Possibly—owing to the sympathy of the present Treasurer with the present control—we may not be able to effect a payment to you on a/c— in that case are you in position to obtain elsewhere the $500. for the brief interval between Page 711 now and the meeting of the 23rd If not and I am blocked everywhere else will you ask some of your friends at P L S & Stones 2 to make me the loan—
I map out these points to prevent the possibility of failure— I may not have to resort to a single one of them.
This is your opportunity to “Place” me permanently in a position where I will be abundantly able to take care of myself henceforth at absolutely no risk to yourself
Make me solid in this and the Phonograph Co will prove a handy bank wherein you may at all times get accommodation for emergencies3 Very Truly Yours
ALS, NjWOE, DF (TAEM 19:152). aObscured overwritten letter. bInterlined.
1. The meeting had been scheduled for 15 November. Johnson to TAE, 13 Nov. 1878, DF (TAEM 19:150).
2. The law firm of Porter, Lowrey, Soren, & Stone.
3. The preceding day Johnson had asked Edison to loan him money to take over the company, promising that “If you get the thing in my hands you will have a good bank to get your paper discounted in emergencies.” Johnson to TAE, DF (TAEM 19:151).
Technical Note: Telephony 1
[Menlo Park,] November 134th 1878
New Receivera
Have box no 6 and shallaced both in and outside to see if it will keep button from getting dry—b
It seem if as if the button wants to be dry on the inside and slightlyb
have put in an old button in box no 6 it gave very fair talking when put in and sealed up— Will leave in to see if it will keep damp—b
dont work good this morning— Bug. Heap Bugb
it is shown in using Mica diaphram that we do not want resonance such as given with a wooden diaphram—and would suggest an Iron box be substituted for the wooden ones Page 712 now in use as it would do away with hollow sound which is so detremental to fine articulation, without increasing the Volume.c
tr put on the other transmitter and every thing went Bang up—the trouble was not in the buttons getting dry—but in transmitterb
X, NjWOE, Lab., Vol. 18:90 (TAEM 4:1124). Written by Charles Edison; document multiply signed and dated. aUnderlined twice. b‘Followed by centered horizontal line. cFollowed by centered flourish.
1. This note is a continuation of Doc. 1573 and is continued in Doc. 1578.
Agreement with Edison Electric Light Co.
New York, November 15, 1878a
This Agreement made the fifteenth day of November in the year one thousand eight hundred and seventy eight, between Thomas A Edison, of Menlo Park, New Jersey, party of the first part, and The Edison Electric Light Company, a corporation created and existing under the laws of the State of New York, and hereinafter called “the Company” party of the second part.b
Witnesseth:b
Whereas the Company has been organized with the view of becoming the owner of and of making, using and vending and licensing others to make, use and vend within the United States and other countries or colonies hereinafter mentioned all the inventions, discoveries, improvements and devices of said Edison, made or to be made, in or pertaining to Electric Lighting, or relating in any way to the use of electricity for the purposes of power, or of illumination or heating; or relating to improvements in Electric Engines or to the developing of electric currents by machines or otherwise, for any use or purpose, except electric telegraphy.b
And Whereas the said Edison is willing and desirous, in order to obtain the means to continue his investigations in the subjects above named, to transfer, upon the terms heretofore agreed upon and hereinafter fully set forth, all the right, title and interest in his said inventions, made or to be made, as herein provided, and the exclusive use thereof in the countries above named, together with all letters patent of the United States or Canada, and all letters patent, special grants, concessions or privileges of any other State or country of North or South America, excepting the possessions of Spain, which Page 713 may be granted for any of said inventions, discoveries, devices or improvements.1”
Now therefore, in accordance with said terms and in consideration of the mutual agreements of the parties hereto, as herein set forth, they respectively agree with each other as follows:’
First. The said Edison hereby sells and assigns to the Company the entire right, title and interest in and to all inventions, discoveries, devices and improvements which he has hitherto made pertaining to Electric Lighting or to the use of electricity for the purposes of power, or of illumination or heating, or to improvements in Electric Engines, or to the developing of electric currents by machines, or otherwise for the uses or purposes above mentioned or any of them; and especially all inventions, discoveries, devices and improvements which are described in the following applications and caveats for patents of the United States, namely; an application in Case numbered 156, dated October fifth, 1878, filed October 14th 1878; applications in Cases number 162 and number 163, prepared by L. W. Serrell & Son but not yet signed; in caveats numbered 82, dated October 7th, 1878, 83, dated October 25th, 1878, 84, dated October 12th 1878, and 85, dated October 25th, 1878; and also those which are described in a certain application and the papers thereto pertaining for letters patent of the Dominion of Canada, dated October 25th 1878: and does also agree that all other inventions, discoveries, devices and improvements of the character above described, and all improvements which he may make within the period of seventeen years from the date of this instrument shall be deemed to have been made for and shall belong to the Company; and that he will take all such steps as are provided in the third article hereof to secure to the Company letters patent of the United States and Canada, and such letters patent or other special grants or concessions of any other State or country of North or South America, except the possessions of Spain, as can be secured from them or any of them. It being specially understood and provided, however, that this agreement is not intended to convey or give any interest to the Company in any invention designed or capable solely of being used in electrical telegraphy; or to give any right of use for electric telegraphy of any invention which may be applicable to that as well as to any of the other purposes which are the subject, as above named, of this agreement; but the right of use of any invention, discovery, apparatus or device contemplated by this Page 714 agreement for electric telegraphy remains in said Edison, and the Company agrees to grant, under any letters patent belonging to it, such licenses for his benefit as he may request for the business of electric telegraphy.c
Second All inventions or discoveries of the character described in the first article hereof which may be made by said Edison within the first five years of the period above named, and all improvements which he may make during the same period upon any of such inventions, devices or improvements shall belong to the Company without further consideration; but compensation shall be due for all inventions or improvements made after the expiration of said five years; and immediately upon the issue of any letters patent, grants, concessions or privileges for inventions, discoveries, devices or improvements made after the expiration of said five years, if the Company desires to hold such inventions and patents, such compensation shall be due and payable; and if the parties are unable to agree within three months from the date of such letters patent, grant or concession, upon the amount and the time, conditions and manner of payment of such compensation, the same shall, upon the written demand of either party, be submitted to arbitration of two indifferent and disinterested persons, one to be chosen by each party, with power to choose a third, and the decision of such arbitrators, or of a majority of them, shall be final and binding upon both parties.c
Third The said Edison agrees, that in respect to all the inventions and improvements herein provided for, he will promptly file, in the proper offices of the United States and Canada, such caveats as may be necessary, in the judgment of the Company, to protect the same; and will also promptly thereafter file his applications in the same offices for letters patent therefor, with requests that such letters patent may be issued to the Company as sole owners thereof, whenever the laws allow; and will, simultaneously with the filing of such caveats or applications, also deliver to the Company special assignments to it of all the right, title and interest in and to such inventions and improvements. 1”
And said Edison also agrees to prepare or cause to be prepared such drawings, models and specifications of the inventions and improvements provided for by this agreement, as may be necessary, in the judgment of the Company, or as may be required by it, to describe and illustrate them fully, and to deliver the same, with all sketches or memoranda pertaining Page 715 to them, to the Company, and at all times, upon the request of the Company, to make, execute and deliver to it all amended specifications, models, drawings or applications that it may reasonably require, and all new or other assignments that may be necessary to secure to the Company the exclusive ownership of all the inventions, discoveries, devices and improvements intended by this agreement, in their most perfected form, together with all papers required to secure re-issues, renewals or extensions of letters patent, grants or concessions for any of them.
And said Edison agrees, from time to time, as requested by the Company, to take all such other measures as may be necessary to procure letters patent or other grants or concessions, protecting his inventions, in such other States or countries of North or South America, except the possessions of Spain, and to assign to the Company, immediately upon receipt of them, all such letters patent, grants, concessions or privileges which may be issued in the first instance directly to him; but the expense of all things done in accordance with the provisions of this agreement, except as otherwise specially provided on the Fifth Article hereof, are to be borne by the Company.c
Fourth The said Edison agrees, on behalf of and for the benefit of the Company, to prosecute with his utmost skill and diligence, further necessary investigations and experiments upon the use of electricity for the purposes described in the first article; and to endeavor to discover and devise the best and most economical means, modes and apparatus for applying electricity to the purposes above named, and for rendering the means, modes or apparatus which he may have discovered or devised, more useful, economical and convenient; and to perfect and complete all his inventions and improvements described in the first and second articles, and all such as may result from the further investigations and experiments herein provided for, as far and as fast as may be in his power.c
Fifth The Company hereby agrees to issue to said Edison two hundred and fifty thousand dollars of its Capital Stock of three hundred thousand dollars, and to pay him, upon the execution of this agreement, the sum of thirty thousand dollars in cash, of which sum said Edison agrees to expend twenty five thousand dollars, or so much thereof as may be necessary, in procuring and paying for the means and material required for the most effective prosecution of the investigations and experiments provided for in the fourth article Page 716 hereof, and in defraying all other charges attendant upon such investigations and experiments, as well as the legal or other expenses attendant upon the organization of the Company and the preparation and taking out of patents in the United States and Canada for his inventions already made and described in the caveats and applications above referred to.c
Sixth The Company further agrees out of its first net earnings, remaining after reserving fifty thousand dollars, or so much thereof as may be required to repay the sums paid in cash by the subscribers to its Capital Stock, to pay to the said Edison the further sum of one hundred thousand dollars in cash, and thereafter to pay him an annual royalty upon every light licensed or used with its consent, under any of the patents of said Edison, of five (5) cents per light; and guarantees to pay in each year royalties to an amount not less than fifteen thousand dollars a year, if it has net income to that amount in that year from any source, provided however, that the Company shall have the option, by notice given on the first of January in any year, to pay thereafter a yearly commutation of thirty thousand dollars, in lieu of all royalties derived under patents of the United States and Canada; and the like option, upon similar notice, to pay thereafter annually the sum of twenty thousand dollars in lieu of all royalties or income derived under patents, grants, concessions or other rights secured to it in the other States or Countries above named.’
Seventh The Company hereby covenants with the said Edison that it will, in so far as the same may be practicable and economical, seek with diligence and good faith to introduce, as extensively as possible, in all the countries named in this agreement, the Electric Light produced by means and apparatus invented by said Edison, as well as to bring all such means and apparatus into like use for all the other purposes contemplated by this agreement.c
Eighth The said Edison agrees, at the request of the Company, and at its expense, to execute and deliver, from time to time, such writings of further assurance, or such separate instruments making special assignments of the interest or any portion thereof conveyed hereby, or such special powers or authorities as for its convenience or interest it may desire to have separate from the general body of stipulations herein contained.c
Ninth The several agreements and convenants of the parties hereto shall bind, and shall enure to the benefit of, respec Page 717 tively, the executors, administrators and assigns of Edison, and the successors of the Company.c
In Witness whereofd the party of the first part has hereto set his hand and seal, and the party of the second part has hereto caused its corporate seal to be affixed, and its corporate name to be subscribed, the day and year first above written.b
DS, NjWOE, Miller (TAEM 28:1162). Notarization omitted. aPlace taken from oath; date taken from text, form altered. bFollowed by line to right margin. cFollowed by line to right margin and two centered horizontal lines. dUnderlined twice. eFollowed by wax seal. f”Signed . . . Upton” spanned by brace at right. gPreceded by wax seal.
1. Charles Roth was an attorney at 3 Broad St., the same address as Porter, Lowrey, Soren & Stone. Wilson 1879, 1252; see Doc. 1494 n. 1.
Technical Note: Electric Lighting
[Menlo Park,] Nov 15—78
Elect Lighta Law—1
With a given wire having 1 ohm resistance & certain length brought to a given degree temp, by given battery. It will when coiled in such a manner that but one quarter of its surface radiates its temperature will be increased 4 times or:—¼ gbattery will bring it to temperature of straight wire Or same battery with 4 ohms including wire whose total resistance is 4 ohms isb inserted will bring it to the same temp, as straight wirec
This was actually determined by trial
The amount of heat lost by a body is in proportion to the radiating surface of that body. If one square inch of platina be heated to 100 deg it will lose its fall to say zero in one second whereas if it was at 200 deg it would require 2 second
Hence in the case of incandescent conductors if the rading surface be 12 inches and the temperature on each inch be 100 or 1200 for all if it is so coiled or arranged that thered is but 1/4 or 3 inches of radiating surface then the temperature on each inch will be 400. & if reduced to ¾ of an inch it will have on that % 1600 deg fahr notwithstanding the original totalc Page 718 amount was but 12 because the radiation has been reduced to 3/4 or 75 units have hence the effect of the lessening of the radiation is to raise the temperature of each remaining inch not radiating to 125 deg=
if the radiating surface was reduced to 3/32 of an inch the temperature would reach 6400 deg fahr since of course to carry out to the best advantage this law in regard to platina etc then with a given length of wire to quadruple the heat an4 le we must lessen the radiating surface to’ ¼ & to do this in a spiral % must be within the spiral & ¼ outside for radiating= hence a square wire or other means such as a spiral within a spiral must be used.
These results account for the enormous temperature of the Electric arc with one horse power as for instance if 1 hp will heat a foot 12 inchesf of wire to 1000 deg fahr.d & this concentrated to have ½ of the radiating surface it would reach a temperature of 4000 deg or sufficient to melt it but supposing it infusible the further concentration to ⅛ its surface or ¾ of an ineh it would reach a temperature of 16 000 & to 1/32 its surface which would be about the radiating surface of the Electric arc it would reach 64 000 deg fahr, of course when light it radiated in great quantities [—]g not quite these temperatures would be reached—
from this
Another curious law is this in the If it will require a greater initial battery to bring an iron wire of the same size and resistance to a given temperature than it will a platinum wire, in proportion to their specific heats, and in the case of Carbon if a peice of Carbon 3 inches long 1/8d diameter with a resistance of 1 ohm, it will require [unif an?]g a greater battery power to bring it to a given temperature than it would a cylinder of thin platina foil of the same length diameter & resistance because the specific heat of Carbon is many times greater, besides If I am not mistaken the radiation of a roughened body for heat is greater than a polished one wh like platina which may be polished.
A gas jet equals a Jobhlkoff Candle when concentrated in the same space=
A gas jet has—
10d square inches in a gas jet
| radiating surface—h | 15 candle p. | |
| if reduced to 52 | radiating surface—h | 60 |
| 662. 62 | radiating surface—h | 240. |
| 0.31.15. | radiating surface—h | 960. |
| Page 719 | ||
The latter radiating surface is about equal to the radiating surface of the arc of a JobelkofF Candle, hence an ordinary gas jet if concentrated to the size of the Jobelkorf arc would give the same light, or in other words the same power which gives a gas jet of 15 candle power will give 1000 by concentration.2
If the radiating power or time of a substance is decrea-siftged= the gain in light is directly to the decrease for instance if I could with platina coils obtain 4 burners of 15 c.p. each per hpower then by reducing the radiating* power 50d per cent. I would obtain 8 burners—
A Jablochkoff ‘ ‘candle, ‘ ‘ of two carbon rods with kaolin between, and holder.
X, NjWOE, Lab., NS-78-005 (TAEM 7:844). a“Elect Light” written by Batchelor. b”including . . . ohms is” interlined above. cParagraph written by Batchelor. dObscured overwritten letters. eInterlined above. f”i2 inches” interlined above. gCanceled. h”radiating surface—” interlined above.
1. Edison copied into this Cat. 994:205–7, Lab. (TAEM 3:272–73). Calculations and notes that appear to be related to the development of Edison’s “law” are in Vol. 16:223, 225–26, 231, 261–69, Lab. (TAEM 4:664, 666–67, 672, 700–8).
2. In a note dated 2 November Edison also treated the Jablochkoff candle as equivalent to sixty-six gas burners and his own electric lamp as equivalent to six gas burners. He claimed that his lamp would cost eight cents per ten hours while the Jablockhoff would cost thirty-two cents per ten hours (NS-78-005, Lab. [TAEM 7:842]). Cost calculations are also in Vol. 16:268, Lab. (TAEM 4:707).
Technical Note: Telephony 1
[Menlo Park,] Nov 15th 1878
New Receiver
Have been testing transmitters today and find the sudden decrease in the volume of sound is caused by the adjustment of transmitter— when I took transmitter when could get but very low talking and changed adjustment untilt it came good again and it stood that way for half an hour when it suddently went very low and I adjusted transmitter again and it went bang up again— I [alter it tried?]a think it is a buckle in di-aphram— have left it for new diaphramb
Put two instruments in circuit one at each end and got splendid speaking—not quite as loud as when one is in sin-gleyb
Notice quite some noise from Cog wheels in Box—and suggest friction rollersc
Page 720
X, NjWOE, Lab., Vol. 18:92 (TAEM 4:1127). Written by Charles Edison; unrelated doodles not transcribed. aCanceled. bFollowed by centered horizontal line. cFollowed by centered horizontal flourish.
1. This note is a continuation of Doc. 1575.
Technical Note: Electric Lighting
[Menlo Park,] Nov 20 1878
Electric Light
Carbon ring of Titanic oxide (rutile) to Insulate and short circuit when hot by becoming a Conductor The globe is of Platinum—becoming incandescent by radiation & Conduction—Oxygen is prevented from access to Carbon.a
I propose to make a machine that will generate large quantities of Magnetism by powerb as the present dynamo machine generates Electricity & use the magnetism for field magnets for a number of Magnetoc Electric Machines. 1
magneto Machines2
X, NjWOE, Lab., Vol. 16:282, 281 (THEM4:722, 721). Document multiply signed and dated. aFollowed by centered horizontal line. b”by power” interlined above. cObscured overwritten letters.
1. Magnetic poles are labeled “N” and “S” in drawings. In late December Edison executed a provisional British patent specification covering, in part, a mechanical means of increasing magnetism in dynamo field magnets. In the specification Edison claimed to have dispensed with
the use of helices around the field offeree magnets; hence the electric current that is developed in the magneto electric machine can be entirely employed for lighting and other uses outside of the machine, instead of a portion being used to develop magnetism.
When a piece of steel is brought within the magnetic field of a permanent magnet the same becomes a magnet. I arrange a machine Page 722 so that the induced magnetism re-acts upon the permanent magnet to increase its power, and thus develop magnetism by mechanical force in a manner somewhat similar to the development of electricity in a magneto electric machine.
One of the devices I have employed consists of a shaft having radial bars, which is revolved with the ends of the bars as near as possible to the poles of permanent magnets, and the other poles of the magnets being adjacent to the hub or near the other ends of the bars. In their revolution the bars become magnetised, and increase the magnetism in the permanent magnets until the maximum magnetism is developed.
A draft of the provisional patent specification, dated 28 December (it issued on 28 June 1879 as British Patent 5, 306 [1878]), is in Miller (TAEM 28:1172). Francis Upton’s sketches, probably made in late December, of several forms of a “magneto multiplier” are in N-79-03-20:10-27, 71–73, 85; N-78-12-20.1:66–69; both Lab. (TAEM 33:7–15, 36–37, 42; 30:148–49).
2. The first sketch below appears to be a disk dynamo (see Doc. 1580 n. i).
Technical Note: Electric Lighting
[Menlo Park,] Nov 20. 1878’
Electric Light1a
X, NjWOE, Lab., Vol. 16:279 (TAEM 4:719). aWritten by William Carman.
1. This page of drawings shows a variety of arrangements for the armatures and field magnets of electric generators. Two of the drawings appear to be related to measured drawings of 17 November (Vol. 16:271–72, 274, Lab. [TAEM 4:711–12, 714]). These drawings, labeled “Edisons Dynamo electric machine,” and an account entry which begins on 22 November suggest that the machine was actually built (Ledger #3:90, Accts. [TAEM 87:90]). Edison based his design on the eddy current phenomenon initially explored in a famous experiment in 1824 by the French scientist François Arago and explained by Michael Faraday. That is, that the motion of a copper mass in a magnetic field creates currents of electricity in the copper (Faraday 1965, Series I, Section 4). Edison acknowledged his debt to Arago in his December British provisional patent specification (No. 5306 [1878]):
I employ copper rings or segments around an iron core, and I use mechanical revolution, whereby the electric action, developed upon the general principle of the copper disc between two magnetic poles, as experimented upon by Arago, is converted into a continuously flowing electric current.
A measured drawing ofEdison’s disk dynamo design from November 1878.
Technical Note: Telephony
[Menlo Park,] November 20th 1878
[New]a Receiver Experiments for the 21 stb wet button through and see if it will do any good to put in resistance in lineb (better when none)c
make wooden sleeve instead of Brass one now used and see if can get current when wet—b (Cant get it Cant Can just hear it when wet)c
see if the receiver works better if the transmitter is adjusted with more resistance when the button is wet—b
take button wood ½ inch dia and [-]d mold about½a inch plaster paris on out side moisten with caustic and try—b
try the above with brass core instead of wooden one—c
try find resistance of button when wet through withb also resistance when dry—b (2000 ohms)c
X, NjWOE, Lab., Vol. 18:74 (TAEM 4:1109). Written by Charles Edison. aPage torn. bFollowed by centered horizontal line. c‘Marginalia written by Charles Edison. dCanceled. eFollowed by centered horizontal line and by the numeral “4” repeated and several words (e.g. “Tran,” “Transfer,” “Thomas,” and “Robart”) written as doodles, probably by Charles Edison.
From George Barker
Philadelphia, Nov. 22d 1878.a
My dear Edison:—
I have been so busy with my lecture that I have not had time to write and thank you for the things you were so kind as to send me and which I found here on my arrival home from Menlo. They will afford me some excellent illustrations in my lectures to my classes.
As to the lecture, everybody says it went off well, though I was not satisfied. Not less than six different things which I had expected to have, disappointed me. The Brush people for example, after asking a month before the lecture, the privilege of putting in one of their machines and lighting up the Academy for me,1 and after several conferences in which all the details were arranged, sent me word 24 hours before the lecture, when it was too late to make other arrangements, that they had decided not to do anything! The Brush machine people are not, in my judgment, not always fair in their statements or scrupulous in their dealings. You are mistaken as to their lamp being the Serrin.2 The Serrin is a clock work lamp, Page 725 better in many respects then theirs which is in principle, patterned1” after Browning’s,3 though not as efficient. I have them both. Of course allc this is in confidence between us. You know probably that the Brush machine has been lately changed in its connections, so as to give a current of sufficiently high electromotive force to run four or five lights in series, as the Wallace machine does. This looks as if they were not satisfied with their machine as it was, and so have adopted Wallace’s principle. Wallace received gold medals at Boston and at Baltimore for his machine.4
The fragments from bottle 49 of your mineral collection, which I brought home, I gave to one of our best chemists in the University and he pronounced it carbon, from a coke oven probably; from which it got its mammillated appearance.
As to your new light, I did not at all expect you to let me have it under the circumstances. My telegram to you was at the suggestion of the manager. I did not care to postpone. 5
Prof. Farmer sent to me and I suppose he sent to you the other day, a slip from the Salem Observer, containing a letter from him on electric lighting by means of platinum. 6 He lighted the parlor ofd his house all the month of July 1859 with platinum lights and they were perfectly soft and delightful. He has lighted 42 platinum lamps in one circuit & that of a not very large machine. He has got the figures of the current strength necessary to maintain any piece of platinum at its fusing point, down to dots!7 He can calculate exactly the power required to maintain a thousand of your lamps at their maximum, if you will give him the resistance of one of them. Did you ever see or hear about his ingenious self-acting rheostat, with a balance governor, for preventing the fusion of the platinum? While I believe that your method is vastly superior to his, yet I think his might prove a good thing in certain circumstances.8
I hope you will be ready to make your light public before Dec. 5. Prof Draper has a scientific soiree that evening and I would like to have him have one lamp.9
Has any description of your new receiving telephone been published? I would like to make and use one, if there is no objection. When will you have yours completed? Excuse my long letter & believe me Cordially yours
Professor Dana thanks you for your Tasimeter article. Page 726
ALS, NjWOE, DF (TAEM 17:1048). Letterhead of University of Pennsylvania. a“Philadelphia,” and “187” preprinted. bObscured overwritten letters. cInterlined above. d”the parlor of” interlined above.
1. Charles Brush’s arc lighting system soon became one of the most commercially significant. In his lamps, Brush employed a gravity-feed to control the arc gap. As the fixed lower carbon burned away and the gap between it and the upper carbon increased, so too would the resistance, thus diminishing the current flowing through the electromagnetic regulator. This caused the upper carbon to gradually descend by its own weight until the two carbons touched, thus increasing the strength of the circuit and causing the regulator to separate them the proper distance. Brush also developed an automatic regulator to allow a variable number of lamps to be run by his generator. Regarding the Brush dynamo see Doc. 1489 n. 4; Dredge 1882–85, 1:204–18, 422–30.
2. V. L. M. Serrin employed a weight-driven ratchet and pawl mechanism to regulate the amount of current flowing through the electromagnet used to maintain a constant distance between the carbon rods. The main advantage of his design, developed between 1857 and 1859, was that it compensated for the different rates at which the positive and negative electrodes burned, keeping the arc in the same position relative to a shade or reflector attached to the lamp. Bowers 1982, 102–3; Dredge 1882–85, 1:395–96, 399–400.
3. Unidentified.
4. Presumably at the Mechanic’s Fairs held in those cities a few months earlier (see Doc. 1450 n. 5).
5. Barker’s telegram has not been found. On 10 November he wrote Edison that he had seen Mr. Pugh, the lecture manager, that day, who “says if you can promise me your new light in 30 days, he thinks it would be worth while to postpone my lecture for a month in order to get it.” Barker added that he was “very anxious to give the lecture importance by bringing out what everybody is so much interested in. Please tell me frankly exactly how you feel about the matter yourself. When everything is secured, I suppose the Company will not object.” A notation on Barker’s letter indicates that Edison wired a reply, which also has not been found. DF (TAEM 17:1031).
Barker reportedly told his lecture audience that although he had hoped to demonstrate Edison’s electric light, the inventor’s London attorney had advised against making it public for another twenty days. He did state, however, that
within a week I have visited Menlo Park, and after a thorough examination of Mr. Edison’s discovery I can say that the problem has been solved, and that Mr. Edison can place on every gas bracket and on every chandelier burners which will give a brilliant white light, safe, pleasant, beautiful, and at about one-third the cost now charged for gas. The practicability of the scheme is beyond question. [“The Electric Light,” New York Herald, 22 Nov. 1878, 4]
6. This article was excerpted in the American Journal of Science, also known as Silliman’s Journal.) Defendant’s Exhibit Silliman’s Journal Article, Sawyer (¿ Man v. Edison (U.S.), (TAEM 47:916). Page 727
7. By playing on the word “dots” as a reference to decimal points and a slang term for money, Barker may have been alluding to both the precision of Farmer’s calculations and Farmer’s comparison of gas and electric lighting costs. Partridge 1984, s.v. “dots.”
8. See Doc. 1479 n. 1.
9. On 29 November, Draper invited Edison to the 5 December meeting of the “Thursday Evening Club” at his home. Draper planned “to do a few simple electric light experiments and if your new lamp is ready for the public I should like very much to have one. Barker will be here & we can manage to amuse ourselves with my Gramme & petroleum engine.” At 1:30 p.m. on the afternoon of the meeting Edison wired Draper, “My light people forced engagement on me for tonight hence cannot come am very sorry.” DF ( TAEM 16:492, 17:1073).
Frotn Uriah Painter
[New York,] Satdy 3 pm [November 23, 1878] 1
Dr E
Got complete possession of ESP Co— Put EHJ—W E Chandler2 & JCR in board— These with you & I make 5 out of 9—
Made new Executive] Com— UHP—EHJ & G G Hubard!!!—
Explained fully the Pat’ situation to EHJ— Is too long to write. He will see you on Monday—
Your interests are well seen to!!
ALS, NjWOE, DF (TAEM 19:157).
1. The date of the Edison Speaking Phonograph Co. special stockholders’ meeting, 23 November, fell on Saturday. Edward Johnson to TAE, 13 Nov. 1878, DF (TAEM 19:150).
2. Probably William Chandler, a former assistant secretary of the treasury, who at this time was a Washington attorney and prominent figure in the Republican Party. Chandler later became Secretary of the Navy and a U.S. Senator. NCAB 4:252; DAB, s.v. “Chandler, William Eaton.”
Patent Model Specification: Electric Lighting
[Menlo Park,] Nov 23 1878
Model.1
Kruzi. I will give you another Lamp to show on this model.2 Electric Light Model.3
This lamp to go in Kruzi Model given to Griffin “esq”‘
X, NjWOE, Lab., Vol. 16:290, 289 (TAEM4:729, 728). Document multiply signed and dated. aUnderlined twice.
1. This model was for a patent application that Edison executed on 28 January 1879 and which issued as U.S. Patent 227, 228 on 4 May 1880 (cf. Vol. 16:307, Lab. [TAEM 4:743]). The model is at the Edison Institute. Edison described his circuit arrangement as follows:
A is a tube laid in the earth, and preferably of iron, and it forms, together with the earth, one-half of the circuit. Within this tube is an insulated conductor, B, preferably of a number of strands of copper twisted together in the form of a cable, one strand of the cable being dropped, say, every one hundred feet, so that at the extreme end of the circuit there shall be but a single strand. This cable is insulated from the tube by any cheap or economical insulation, such as tar or asphaltum.
A branch tube, A2, containing a single strand from the cable, is to enter each house or building, and from the basement smaller wires are run to the various parts of the house where the lights are required. Each lamp is to be provided with a switch, 2, so that it may be disconnected from the conducting-wires.
The electric generators at the central station are provided with constant field-of-force magnets, the helices of which are in the electric circuit; hence if all the lamps feeding from the main conductors are disconnected by their switches the circuit will be broken and no current passes through the conductors leading from the station to the lights, and the steam-engine runs lightly and with the expenditure of a very small amount of force. If now the switch of a single lamp is turned the lamp is connected to the branch wires from the main conductors, the circuit is closed, and only sufficient current passes from the central station to supply that lamp, because the external resistance determines the amount of current. In this way the current will be proportioned to the number of lamps in the circuit.
Edison originally intended for this lamp design to be included in U.S. Patent 227, 228.
After describing the lamp regulator, Edison went on to say that as the connecting of one or more lamps causes a sufficient amount of current to be developed at the central station to keep the same incandescent, it follows that if the machines at the station are arranged expressly for tension and quantity many hundreds of lamps may be placed in circuit between the main conductors, the reduction of resistance upon placing each lamp in the circuit drawing the proper quantity of current from the station; hence the greatest economy possible is obtained by causing all the resistance outside of the main conductors to be light-giving resistances.
2. The original lamp design intended for this patent is in Vol. 16:292, Lab. (TAEM 4:730). Page 730
3. Text is “insulated” and “Res.” This lamp was included in Edison’s U.S. Patent 227, 228. In this design, Edison placed a bobbin of wire, having “preferably a resistance of one thousand ohms,” in a metal case, which was rendered incandescent by the heat radiated from the wire. Edison insulated this wire “with a pyroinsulator, such as zircon, magnesia, lime, or other compounds of high fusibility.” The use of pyroinsulators may be related to Edison’s observation from the previous day, 22 November, regarding the fusibility of a platinum spiral embedded in plaster of paris and the possible use of zircon in place of platinum. The same day he started John Knight on a series of “Tests for Non Radiating Substances” that continued into early December. The exact nature of these experiments is unclear, but they involved measuring how readily certain materials radiated heat. In an undated December notebook entry, Edison suggested trying the “fusibility of pumice stone, also of Electro silicon, also oyster shells,” among other possible insulators. The principle of the pyroinsulated bobbin was subsequently incorporated into other lamp designs and U.S. and British patent applications (see Doc. 1598 n. 1). N-78-11-22.-1; N-78-11-21:3–23; N-78-12-15.2:1; all Lab. (TAEM 29:153, 230–40; 40:305).
From Tracy Edson
New York Nov. 25th. 1878
My Dear Sir,
If I understood you correctly on Friday last,1 you said your new Receiver would be six times as loud as any one now in use; that it could be made as cheaply as any other, (say for One Dollar each,) and that it would not infringe upon any other invention in existence for that purpose.
Also, that the Gold & Stock Tel. Co. could have it for a yearly Royalty of One Dollar on each one they use, with the option to use it or not as they please, and with the right at any time to fix a maximum Royalty at $3.000. per annum instead of the One Dollar per Instrument.
If the above is correct, please write me to that effect tomorrow, 2 and I will bring it before the Executive Committee at our next meeting which takes place on Wednesday this week, instead of Thursday— Very truly Yours
Frotn Grosvenor Lowrey
New York, Nov 25th 18781
My dear Edison:
I return the letter of Gen. Stone.1 It merits an answer in your own handwriting. Besides I think that your letter and signature would be something very interesting to him and those with whom he is associated. I have no doubt it would pass from hand to hand and reach its place of final deposit in the archives of the Khedive.
In making your answer I suggest that you say to him that you desire to secure the exclusive privilege to use in the dominions of the Khedive all your various inventions and that it would be gratifying to you to add to have some shareb in the progress which that interesting country is making under the government of the present illustrious Khedive. In return for this compliment you may get a concession which would be both honorable and profitable to you.
The visit of last Friday by Mr Banker and others of the Executive Committee had a most excellent effect.2 They are now all full of courage and confidence. I have invited Mr Morgan3 & Mr Fabbri to accompany me some day this week or next.4 They will be very intelligent observers and it will be useful to them, in correspondence with foreign countries, to have seen what they are talking about in advance of your perfecting it. It is all the better that they should see the rubbish & rejected devices of one sort and another. Their appreciation thereby becomes more intelligent. Very truly yours,
LS, NjWOE, DF (TAEM 18:83). Letterhead of Porter, Lowrey, Soren & Stone, Attorneys & Counsellors at Law. a“New York,” and “187” preprinted. b”have some share” interlined above by Lowrey.
1. Charles Stone had been a Union officer in the Civil War and then served in the Egyptian army from 1870 to 1883 as chief of staff (DAB, s.v. “Stone, Charles Pomeroy”). He wrote Edison on 3 November to ask about the practicality of the electric light. Stone offered to help Edison secure the rights to his light in Egypt “without desiring any pecuniary interest” for himself. He claimed to have “endeavoured to present and cause to be adopted, whatever of American inventions would tend to advance civilization here, without any personal interest, but simply with a desire to advance in Egypt the progress of enlightenment, so much desired by the Khédive” (DF [TAEM 18:85]).
2. James Banker, Tracy Edson, and other officers of the Edison Electric Light Co. had visited Menlo Park on 22 November. Edison Electric Light Co. to TAE, 19 Nov. 1878, DF (TAEM 18:71).
3. John Pierpont Morgan (1837–1913) was the senior partner in the New York banking firm of Drexel, Morgan & Co. Page 732
4. Lowrey arranged the trip to Menlo Park for 2 December but had to postpone it to 9 December (see Doc. 1612). Lowrey to TAE, 30 Nov. 1878, DF (TAEM 18:207, 210).
From George Gouraud
London. 26 Nov 1878a
T. A. Edison Esq.
Thanks for yours of the nth enclosing Mr Henry Bentley’s letter which shall have my best attention.1 I am already well known to the Editor of The Times Mr Chenery2 and thereby have the very best means of bringing this matter before The Times in the connection indicated for reporting Parliamentary Speeches and so on. Mr. Chenery was enormously pleased with the Telephone which he saw here. As soon as the new Receiver comes (which Adams’s advises me will be now in a few days if they were shipped on the 20th inst.)3 we will then go ahead vigorously. A passive policy has been indispensable in the light of your recommendations contained in your letter of the 14th Octr4 we could only assume that to go on using the old Receiver would of necessity involve our claiming that we were free to do so and inferentially that anybody else might be. It is better to wait, though impatiently than to make a false start.
Electric Light
I have been much gratified at the good words received from you recently in your cables to Barrett who cabled you from this office.5 Barrett came up on my invitation so that I might make his acquaintance) and is a capital fellow in every way just our man to use as a scientific man.
I have had a nice letter from Lowrey6 but have nothing yet from either you or him showing exactly whatb my status is in connection with the Light but feeling every confidence am quietly biding the time
LS, NjWOE, DF (TAEM 16:490). Note form of George Gouraud; note form is electric pen copy. a“London,” and “1878” preprinted. bInterlined above.
1. Neither Edison’s nor Bentley’s letter has been found.
2. Thomas Chenery was editor of the London Times from 1877 to 1884. He was also a noted linguist and had been professor of Arabic at Oxford. DNB, s.v. “Chenery, Thomas.”
3. No letter to Adams concerning this shipment has been found, but see Doc. 1551 n. 3.
4. Doc. 1497. Page 733
5. In the two preceding weeks William Barrett had cabled several questions about the electric light and prepaid Edison’s replies. In the first cable he asked “Do you actually accomplish increase and decrease electric light each burner independently Does alteration waste current.” To this Edison replied, “Yes—no waste.” Barrett followed this up by aking “Does altering one affect other lights same circuit” to which Edison responded “Not the slightest.” Finally, he requested the approximate cost of Edison’s system compared to gas and was told “Very much cheaper.” In a newspaper interview, Edison cited Barrett’s first two cables as an example of the incredulity with which other researchers treated his electric light claims. Barrett to TAE, 12, 14, 19, and 21 Nov. 1878; TAE to Barrett, 12, 14, and 22 Nov. 1878; all DF ( TAEM 17:1036–38, 1044, 1047); “Invention by Accident,” New York World, 17 Nov. 1878, Cat. 1241, item 1012, Batchelor (TAEM 94:411).
6. Lowrey’s letter has not been found.
7. John Kingsbury was later connected with the Western Electric Co. in London. His book, The Telephone and Telephone Exchanges: Their Invention and Development (Kingsbury 1915), is an important source on telephone history. Nothing more is known of him. Samuel Insull to Kingsbury, 3 Apr. 1884, DF (TAEM 72:314).
Grosvenor Lowrey to Stockton Griffin
New York, Nov 26th 1878a
My dear Griffin:
The agent of the North American Review came to see me by request of Dr Green, upon whom he had called. He said they were thrown into a great deal of embarrassment by disappointment in an article which was to be written by a Mr Johnson but was to be published as Mr Edisons article. That Mr. Edisons objection to giving any time to the matter now was that the stockholders would object to any description of his light or to any time spent upon magazine articles at this time. I asked the subject of the article. He said it was to be “Illumination in Cities.” I asked if it was expected to include any special descriptionb of electric lights. He did not know. Reflecting that it was desirable for the interests of Mr Edison rather than the Company to keep all these agentcies of public opinion in their present well disposed mood towards him, I then said I thought there could be no objection to an article apparently by Mr Edison which should in general terms speak of illumination; and Electric lights specially; but that he could not expect any, even the slightest descriptions of Mr Edisons methods. He said at once that that was all they wanted to keep their promise to the public by something germaneb to that subject, which should seem to come from Mr Edison.
Mr Upton was present and turning to him I asked whether Page 734 his researches might not have given him a few interesting points in the history of electrical inventions which could be spread out thin and help to make a magazine article. He thought that might be easily done. The factotum then said that was all he wanted of Mr. Johnson (and I was unable to learn from him whether it was your friend Johnson, although he said it was the same who wrote the article on the Phonograph) to work up the facts. These were then to be revised by some sub-editor and then the whole should be submitted to you & to me before publication.1
He seemed greatly gratified at this chance of an article, although as I said to him it appeared to me it would be of little value with all the restrictions that would be put upon it. My advice therefore is that Mr Edison should read over any article submitted to him, strike out freely and qualify wherever this shall appear proper. Of course he would not allow anything to be said by us except what any stranger could say from reading any thec newspapers.
I shall go out by the n oclock train tomorrow, I think, bringing Mrs Lowrey and one of my boys Very truly
P.S. The two Yonkers Gas Companies one owned by Wm Astor, solely are in the field with a proposition to be the pioneer be introducing your light. They have seen Fabbri & impressed him decidedly, (see A)d
(PS) A We have now got the new Spanish law and I have told Mr Navarro that I will let him have Porto Rico also and the patents will be taken oufi in your name so that you will have the control of them.2
a person came in and handed me these enclosures for you thinking they would be useful to you as a mechanic 3’
LS, NjWOE, DF (TAEM 18:88). Letterhead of Porter, Lowrey, Soren & Stone, Attorneys & Counsellors at Law. a“New York,” and “187” preprinted. bObscured overwritten letters. cInterlined above. dParagraph written by Lowrey. eParagraph written in an unknown hand.
1. On 23 November, Rockwell Kent, Lowrey’s secretary, had written Stockton Griffin to “remind Mr Edison of the conversation that was had in regard to the North American review people and say that he [Lowrey] thinks it advisable to favor them as much as possible” (DF [TAEM 18:82]). The same day as Lowrey’s letter to Griffin (26 November), Edward Johnson wrote Edison that “Mr [Lorettus Sutton] Metcalf of the N. Amn Review is after me again” to write an article on the electric light under Edison’s signature. According to Johnson, Metcalf claimed to have approval from Norvin Green and Grosvenor Lowrey, Page 735 with Lowrey having “agreed to notify you of the removal of embargo” on such publications. Johnson said that the North American Review seemed anxious to print the article, which he thought “would remove any lingering doubt as to the Bonafide nature of your efforts” (DF [TAEM 16:484]). A few days later, Johnson wrote again about this matter (on the letterhead of Lowrey’s firm).
You replied as to the social but overlooked the business This is not your wont— Hence I conclude you wish me to consider your former decision in reference to Electric Light article as sufficient—& to be final—but unfortunately I am pressed by Metcalf in such way that I cannot say no—without some authority from you for so doing— [Johnson to TAE, 29 or 30 Nov., DF (TAEM 17:257)]
Johnson asked Edison to telegraph that evening C.O.D., but no reply has been found. However, the North American Review did not run such an article until 1880 at which time it was written by Francis Upton under Edison’s byline (Edison and Upton 1880).
2. After telegraphing to Havana and learning “that the special patent for Cuba is still issued as before,” Navarro applied for patent protection there in Edison’s name. Lowrey to TAE, 16 Nov. 1878, DF ( TAEM 18:198).
3. The enclosures have not been found.
Notebook Entry: Electric Lighting
[Menlo Park,] Nov 28. 1878a
Costs
San Fran uses 5oo,000,000b per year if this was burned in burners consuming 5 feet per hour, each 10 hours per day then 1 burner 20 days per 1000 or 500 burners, 20 days. 1,000,000. feet would supply 1000 burners, or 500,000 jets would burn up the entire product in 20 days, or 250 000 in 45 125 000 in 80 62, 500 in 160, 31, 250 burners in 320 days, hence I think there is 90,000 burners in use.lc
X, NjWOE, Lab., N-78-11-28:1 (TAEM 29:19). aDate written by William Carman. bFinal “000” interlined above. cEdison’s rough calculations follow.
1. In a confidential letter to Edison on 11 November, the mayor of San Francisco, A. J. Bryant, stated his belief “that municipal corporations are too much at the mercy of those who supply them with articles of necessity like water and light, and that they should own as far as possible the sources of water suppply and the means of illumination.” Bryant wanted information “on the subject of supplying this city with Electric Light with the object of obtaining from you for the city, when you are ready to sell it, the exclusive right of using the light within its boundaries.” According to Bryant’s reply of 29 November, Edison wrote him on 20 November asking permission to direct Bryant’s request to Grosvenor Lowrey. DF ( TAEM 17:1034, 1057). Page 736
Edison had received at least one earlier inquiry about municipal lighting. In October, a Louisville physician wrote that he had “for months been opposing the exorbitant charges amounting to extortion” levied by the local gas company. He asked Edison to advise “as to the practicability of trying your discovery here” because the city was “almost ready for anything rather than longer submit quietly to the extortion of the Gas Co.” Edison’s marginal notation indicates that he asked about “the falls and the mill” opposite the city. George Griffiths to TAE, 24 and 30 Oct. 1878, DF (TAEM 17:992, 1017).
Charles Batchelor also clipped several newspaper items critical of gas companies in November and December. One, an editorial entitled “Revenge is Sweet,” declared that even though Edison had already earned public respect, “when he announced his discovery of a method by which electricity could be used to light cities and houses as a substitute for gas, admiration turned to reverence and gratitude and his fame became as enduring as the hills.” The writer imagined
that there is more enthusiasm over the fall of gas stocks than over the rise of a new and better illuminator. Whether Edison succeeds in the perfecting of his invention or not, he will be hailed and remembered as a public benefactor if he does no more than give the mass of his countrymen an opportunity to enjoy the anxiety, nervousness and unhappiness of the gas companies. To see them squirm and writhe is a public satisfaction that lifts Edison to a higher plane than that of the wonderful inventor and causes him to be regarded as a benefactor of the human race, the leading deity of popular idolatry. [Brooklyn Daily Eagle, 1 Dec. 1878, Cat. 1241, item 1072, Batchelor ( TAEM 94:438)].
A month earlier, Batchelor had cut out a cartoon expressing similar disdain for the gas interests. Captioned “The Edison Electric Light and the Silly Birds,” the drawing represented gas companies as disoriented birds flying aimlessly at night around an intensely illuminated lighthouse. New York Daily Graphic, 2 Nov. 1878, Cat. 1241, item 993, Batchelor (TAEM 94:403).
Notebook Entry: Electric Lighting
[Menlo Park,] Nov 28th 1878.
Electric Light
Sawyer-Man Light
1 Incandescence of Carbon in pure N
2 Uses3 a switch for putting on current gradually same switch also divides the current between the lamp and an equ a resistance so:—1
Scientific American Dec 7 1878.2
Remarks
1 It will evidently supply current (whether it is being used or not) to the same amount.
2 If worked for quantity it would want enormous large conductors owing to the small resistance in each carbon
X, NjWOE, Lab., Cat. 1304:2 ‘TAEM91:4). Written by Batchelor. aObscured overwritten letters.
The Sawyer-Man electric lamp (left). The switch for a Sawyer-Man light (right).
1. Text is (left) “Shunt Rest 1 ohm” and (right) “lamp Res 1 ohm.” Numerals are (left to right): (top) “.313,” “.630,” “.633,” “1.266,” “3.8,” “7.6”; (center) ‘“A,” “V2,” “5/s,” ‘“A,” “7/8,” “, 5/io”; (bottom) “1.9,” “.38,” “.253,” “.181,” “.075/2i,” “.063.” Batchelor’s drawing is adapted from figure 5 of an article on the electric light research of William Sawyer and Albon Man which appeared in the 7 December Scientific American (39:351, 354–55); actually published about 27 or 28 November. Sawyer and Man designed their switch to protect the carbon burner in Page 738 their lamp from heating too rapidly. The contact at left between posts 1 and 1 was moved successively between terminal pairs to the right, diverting a fraction of the current from the shunt at the upper left to a lamp of equal resistance in the lower right corner. The lamp and shunt circuits were proportioned so that the resistance of the complete apparatus remained constant at all times. “The Sawyer-Man Electric Lamp,” Cat. 1241, item 1044, Batchelor (TAEM 94:429).
2. Batchelor copied this diagram from figure 7; however, he left out the diagonal line at bottom left corresponding to the one at top left. Text is “1 ohm,” “Resistance of 100 ohms” and “House gets V100 of the current.”
Technical Note: Telephony
Menlo Park, N.J.,a Nov 28th 1878
New Receiver1
For regulating moisture of Button. Page 739
Felt roller feeds water on Plaster Paris discs.2
X, NjWOE, Lab., Vol. 18:97 (TAEM 4:1131). Written by Charles Edison; letterhead of T. A. Edison. a“Menlo Park, N.J.,” preprinted.
1. Text is “Chalk” and “Felt.”
2. Charley sketched a front view of this receiver on 26 November. On 22 November he had drawn the drum with disks partially immersed in water. His sketch of 2 December, showing blotting pad disks revolving directly in the water, was accompanied by the remark “too much water supplied.” Vol. 18:95–96, 99, Lab. ( TAEM 4:1129–30, 1132).
From George Barker
Philadelphia, Nov. 30th 1878.a
My dear Edison:—
I have copied for you the enclosed statements of Dr. C. W. Siemens and of Sir. Wm. Thomson upon the economy of transmitting electrical force to a distance, as I promised. I think this is the most authoritative statement yet made in the matter and the result is of vital importance to your new Light. I hope you will find time to read it carefully.
I also enclose a slip which Farmer sent me the other day.1 You may have received one too. His calculation at the latter end is interesting and his testimony is convincing on the question of the value of the platinum light.
I also mail you with this three papers containing the translation, by my friend Spencer Borden of Fall River, 2 of an article by the French physicist Jamin, written for the Revue des deux Mondes, upon the Electric light.3 He gives a very good Page 740 resumé of the subject, but adds nothing new. It is evident that we are in advance of Europe on electric lighting.
It seems to me that the point to which Siemens calls attention, has not received sufficient consideration; i.e., that a magneto-machine is working at a disadvantage unless the resistance of the external circuit is the same as that of the machine itself. It of course follows from this that every machine has a perfectly definite external circuit to which only it is adapted. Hence the injustice for example, in the Franklin Institute experiments, in comparing the Wallace machine with an internal resistance of 4 to 5 ohms, with the Brush machine whose resistance was only from 1 to 2, by putting the same external circuit to both, that of the Brush lamp and arc, with a resistance between one and two ohms.b The conditions were fair to the latter, but very unfair to the former which would have given current for four such lamps when it was working at its best, the external & internal resistances being equal. The electro-motive force of the Wallace is nearly double that of the Brush at the same speed. In your own experiments too, it is evident you will not get the best result, unless you previously calculate the resistancec of the lamps you are to use in one circuit & give your machine the same internal resistance. Moreover I believe that you will find great advantage in using branch circuits to effect a balance. Increasing the lamps in one circuit to increase the resistance and then putting in shunt circuits to diminish it again. Have you ever tried one of Wallace’s low resistance machines on your laijip? They give exactly what you want; enormous quantity (heating power) and low resistance. That is the form of machine for you.
Be sure and go to Drapers. Come over in the afternoon and help us get ready. Mrs. B. is afraid Mrs. Edison will not like to see company as she has a young baby? Cordially yrs
ENCLOSUREc
Discussion on Transmission of Electricity to a Distance, Inst. Civil Engineers, London, Feb. 5. 1878.4
Dr. Siemens desired to add a few explanations with reference to the transmission of electric power to a distance, whether for the production of light or for the production of force. The Paper stated that the weight of the conductor would increase as the square of the distance; but that proposition although true in itself, would, if it were accepted lead to very erroneous ideas with regard to the power of transmitting Page 741 force to a distance exceeding perhaps half a mile. In order to get the best effect out of a dynamo-electric machine, there should be an external resistance not exceeding the resistance of the wire in the machine. Hitherto it had been found not economical to increase the resistance of the machine to more than one ohm; otherwise there was a loss of current through the heating of the coil. If therefore there was a machine with one ohm resistance there ought to be a conductor transmitting the power either to the light or to the electromagnetic engine not exceeding one ohm. If, instead of going one mile, it was desired to go two miles, it would be necessary first of all to employ a conductor twice the length; but that conductor would give two ohms resistance and would therefore destroy much of the effect. To bring it back to one ohm resistance, it would be necessary to put down a second wire, or to double the area of the first; and in that case there would be a wire of twice the length and twice the area, therefore four times the weight and four times the cost. That pointed to an increase in the cost and in the weight of the conductor in the square ratio of the distance. But one circumstance had been lost sight of in this calculation—that, having twice the area to deal with, a second generator could be put on, and electricity enough to work two lights could be sent through the double area to a double distance. The moment that was done, the conductor was increased, for the power was transmitted only in the proportion of the increase of the length; but that was not enough. The electric conductor did not resist the motion of electricity in the same manner as a pipe resisted the flow of liquid through it; but an ohm’s resistance was an ohm’s resistance for a larger as well as for a smaller current flowing through it, which resistance was only increased by a rise of temperature in the conductor. This rise of temperature was kept down by dissipation of heat from the conductor; or considering that the longer and doubled conductor would possess four times the amount of surface for the dissipation of heat than the single and short conductor, it would be capable of transmitting four times the amount of electrical current. It might therefore be said that it was no dearer to transmit electromotive force to the greater than to the smaller distance, as regarded weight and cost of conductor, a result which seemed startling, but which he nevertheless ventured to put forward with considerable confidence. In uniting the two longer conductors into one, the surface would however be increased only in the ratio of 2 : I ; therefore the relative transmitting power between the Page 742 longer and shorter conductor would strictly speaking be increased in the ratio of I: 2 or 1:2.83, and the longer conductor would be dearer than the shorter per unit of electromotive force transmitted in the proportion of 4:2.83.”
Sir William Thomson said Dr. Siemens had just brought forward an idea which appeared to him to be quite new and to be of great practical importance; namely that the electric light, if there were a sufficient number of lamps, could be produced with equal economy at a great and af a small distance. By way of illustration, he would suppose the cost of a central station dispensing by four hundred machines the electric current to four hundred lamps each at the distance of 1 mile. Taking those four hundred miles of wire and putting them in a line having four hundred engines in series, and putting the four hundred lamps at short distances from one another without any change of circumstances, the same effect would be produced at four hundred miles as at one mile. The question of the heat developed in the wire, was, as Dr. Siemens had remarked, the fundamental question with reference to the quantity of metal required to communicate the effect to a distance. It appeared to him that the most practical way of producing the result would be to put the wire in the shape of a copper tube. Having a copper tube with a moderate amount of copper in its sectional area and a current of water flowing through it with occasional places to let it off, and places to allow water to be admitted for the purpose of cooling; there would be without any injury to the insulation a power of carrying off heat practically unlimited. He believed that with án exceedingly moderate amount of copper it would be possible to carry the electric energy for one hundred or two hundred or one thousand electric lights to a distance of several hundred miles. The economical and engineering moralf of the theory appeared to be that towns henceforth would be lighted by coal burned at the pit’s mouth where it was cheapest. The carriage expense of electricity was nothing, while that of coal was sometimes the greater part of its cost. The dross at the pit’s mouth (which was formerly wasted) could be used for working dynamo-engines of the most economical kind; and in that way he had no doubt that the illumination of great towns would be reduced to a small fraction of its present expense. Nothing could exceed the practical importance of the fact to which attention had been called; that no addition was required to the quantity of copper to develop the electric light at a distance. The same remarks would apply to the transmis Page 743 sion of power. Dr. Siemens had mentioned to him in conversation that the power of the Falls of Niagara might be transmitted electrically to a distance. The idea seemed as fantastic as that of the telephone or the phonograph might have seemed thirteen months ago; but what was chimerical then was an accomplished fact now. He thought it might be expected that before long towns would be illuminated at night by an electric light produced by the burning of coal at the pit’s mouth, or by a distant waterfall. The power transmissibleb by the machines was not simply sufficient for working sewing machines and turning lathes, but by putting together a sufficient number, any amount of H.P. might be developed. Taking the case of the machines required to develop one thousand H.P. he believed it would be found comparable with the cost of a thousand H.P. engine; and he need not point out the vast economy to be obtained by the use of such a fall as that of Niagara or the employment of waste coal at the pit’s mouth.
ALS, NjWOE, DF (TAEM 17:1059). Letterhead of University of Pennsylvania. a“Philadelphia,” and “187” preprinted. bObscured overwritten letters. ‘Enclosure is D (copy) written by Barker. c“Followed by centered horizontal line. dInterlined above. eUnderlined twice.
1. The enclosure has not been found but was probably Moses Farmer’s 30 October letter to the Salem Observer describing his early electric light experiments. The end of the letter is quoted extensively in Defendant’s Exhibit Silliman’s Journal Article, Sawyer (!> Man v. Edison (U.S.), (TAEM 47:916).
2. Spencer Borden was a Massachusetts manufacturer, at this time probably connected with the Fall River Bleachery. He later became an agent of the Edison Company for Isolated Lighting, also in Fall River. Borden to TAE, 11 Jan. and 2 Feb. 1882, DF (TAEM 60:736, 853).
3. These enclosures have not been found. Jules-Célestin Jamin, a member of the Académie des Sciences and the faculty of the École Polytechnique, conducted research in optics and the construction of electromagnets. His article, “L’Éclairage Électrique,” appeared in Revue des deux mondes 26 (1878): 280–303. DB, s.v. “Jamin (Jules-Célestin).”
4. The 3 December New York Herald included the full text of this discussion in an article on “Edison’s Electric Light.” Edison told the Heralds reporter that he could divide an electric current without greatly diminishing the light it produced, despite the skepticism of scientists who considered this impossible. “I was ridiculed not long ago,” Edison was quoted as saying, “for making an assertion about the transmission of power, and now I find that two of the leading scientific men of the day back up my statement.” He added that he thought the opinions of Siemens and Thomson “fully as important as anything thus far said on the subject.” Cat. 1241, item 1047, Batchelor (TAEM 94:43).
Notebook Entry: Electric Lighting
X, NjWOE, N-78-11-28:7 (TAEM 29:23).
1. Though Edison remembered designing and constructing his first electric meters in October, the earliest extant drawings are from 29 November. Those drawings are even less clear than the design shown here. In this design the meter is placed in a shunt circuit with an induction coil. As the electricity is used in the lamp circuit, it flows through the shunt circut and induces a current in the induction coil, which causes the recording needle of the meter to move and record electricity usage in a fashion similar to that of a steam engine indicator. Edison’s testimony, pp. 4–5, Sprague v. Edison (TAEM 46:323); N-78-11-28:9–13, Lab. (TAEM 29:24–26).
The 3 December New York Herald discussed Edison’s meter experiments:
After days of constant work Mr. Edison has at last succeeded in perfecting a suitable apparatus for measuring the quantity of electricity used. This very necessary appliance, which is to the electric light what the gas meter is to gas, has hitherto been one of the things incompleted. Before hitting upon the present device Mr. Edison had tried quite a number of others, but all seemed to lack one or another necessary element. A few days ago he branched off in a Page 745 new direction and soon was gratified at finding that he had alighted upon just what he had so long been looking for. Constant experimenting on the new apparatus since then has proved it to be all that the inventor desired, and he has accordingly taken steps to have it patented.
The Herald went on to quote Edison, “One will be placed in every house where the light is used. It registers infallibly the quantity of electricity consumed, using for the purpose one thousandth part of the quantity consumed in the house. It is a simple contrivance and comes up to all my expectations.” “Edison’s Electric Light,” New York Herald, 3 Dec. 1878, Cat. 1241, item 1047, Batchelor (TAEM 94:131).
Notebook Entry: Electric Lighting
[Menlo Park,] Nov 30th 1878
Electric Light1
Werderman’s System.1
Worked by quantity each lamp has a resistance also to it in order to make ‘difference in pressure ’ bugs small p[er] c[en-tage] of whole resist.
Average resistance of each lamp & its resistance is 0.392 ohms By this method 3 conductors are used1
Now if Stewarts building2 wanted 2000 lights on this plan what sort of a conductor would you have to have to take it 1000 feet to store? By quantity if 1 Lamp was .4 ohms 1000 lamps would be .0004
Theb wiresb which are 3000b feet long would be .0004 ohms resistance Size of wire
But in this case he would no doughbt put about 20 lamps in each cross although you have to supply when not using
X, NjWOE, Batchelor, Cat. 1304:5 (TAEM 91:7). Written by Charles Batchelor. aFollowed by centered horizontal line. bObscured overwritten letters. Page 746
1. On Werdermann’s lamp see Doc. 1468 n. 2. On 25 November, the New York Sun ran an article in which they asked Edison his opinion of Werdermann’s light. Edison felt that it was “a good thing. It allows more subdivision than the Joblochkoff; but the maintenance of attention and consumption of carbon cost more than the horse power used to keep it running. It doesn’t allow of a reliable subdivision.” He went on to explain
you must keep fooling with the lamp all the time to keep it going. To be of utility, the subdivision must be absolutely constant. As a carbon lamp, I like it very much. But the carbon lamp won’t do. I have made repeated experiments with carbon, and at one time made a lamp very similar to this one of Werdermann’s. ... It may come into use in many places, but it can never become of general use. The lamp for the people must be so simple in its construction that any fool or mule can use it. [“The New Electric Lights,” Cat. 1241, item 1021, Batchelor (TAEM 94:416)]
2. The A. T. Stewart dry goods store, one of New York’s largest, occupied the so-called “Cast-Iron Palace” on a full block of Broadway between 9th and 10th streets. Built by Alexander Stewart in 1862, the building’s five floors of retail space had in recent years reportedly attracted as many as 50,000 shoppers and tourists in a single day. A New York Sun article on the projected costs of Edison’s light stated that the store operated 3, 500 gas jets at an estimated cost of $50 per night. Wolfe 1975, 164; McCabe 1970, 378–81; “The Darkness Dispelled,” New York Sun, 14 Dec. 1878, Cat. 1241, item 1061, Batchelor (TAEM 94: 435).
Previous Chapter
Next Chapter
Buy This Book in Print