[Newark,] July 23 1870^a

Magneto Electric Telegraph Apparatus¹

Invented² July 23 1870

Witnesses William Unger³ Martin Heger⁴ Andrew Hyde ⁵

[New York?,] August 3, 1870^a

Memorandum of an Agreement between T. A. Edison, of Newark, and New Jersey, and D. H. Craig, ¹ Agent,^b of Peek-skill, New York, entered into on the 3d of August, 1870.

Whereas Mr. Edison has invented or is about to invent and construct a Machine for the purpose of Perforating Paper, in connection with Automatic or “Fast” Telegraphy;

And whereas Mr. Craig, for himself and as agent for other parties, ² is desirous of purchasing the control of and an interest in said Perforating machinery, and in the Patent or Patents which may be obtained for the same, together with all improvements upon said machinery:—

Now, therefore, in consideration of the sum of one dollar, the receipt of which the said T. [-]A. Edison hereby acknowledges, and other considerations to be named, he agrees to and with the said D H Craig, Agent, as follows, to wit:—

To devise and perfect a Perforating Apparatus, to be constructed of Steel and Iron, not to occupy a space [---]^b exceeding twelve inches square, to have an extremely small number of pieces, to bring its reliability to the highest point possible with mechanism, to be capable of a speed of twenty-five words or more, per minute, according to the expertness of the writer, to space, write & punch mathematically accurate, to weigh not more than twenty pounds, to require no extraneous power, motor or force, but to work by the mere act of working. The cost, when manufactured in numbers, not to exceed fifty dollars: The machine to be perfectly adapted forPage 181 the work to be performed, and to leave nothing further to be desired in tha direction.³

Mr. Edison also agrees to procure a good substantial United States Patent, to cover every patentable feature of the said machine or invention, and will assign the same to the said D H Craig, Agent^b together with all improvements which the said Edison may make in machinery for Perforating paper for Automatic or Fast Telegraphy, upon the folowing terms and conditions, to wit:

The said Craig to pay to said Edison within thirty days after the completion of a perfect machine, as above, and application for a Patent for the same, the sum of thirteen hundred dollars in cash, and thirty seven hundred dollars of the paid-up, or non-assessable stock of the National Telegraph Company, together with one-half of whatever sum or advantage which said Craig may receive from the National Telegraph Co. or from any other party or parties, over and above the sums above named—the said Craig hereby promising and agreeing to make the most advantageous arrangements possible for the sale of the invention and patents, free of all charges for commissions or services—and hereby promises & agrees to pay over to said Edison, forthwith, one half of whatever sum or sums may be received over and above the eSums herein before^b provided to be paid to Mr. Edison—and said Craig also promises and agrees to make no sale or bargain for sale, of the said machine or patents without the full knowledge of said Edison—and said Craig also agrees that he will not make any sale of the machine or patents to any party without the consent of said Edison, except upon the distinct agreement or understanding that said Edison is in all cases to have the preference in all contracts or agreeements for the manufacture of the said machines.

It is mutually understood and agreed between the said Edison and the said Craig that for all acceptable improvements which the said Edison may devise for facilitating the Perforating of Paper, after the completion of the before mentioned machine, he is to be paid by said Craig a fair and reasonable sum for all the time, labor or expense which said Edison may expend in perfecting such improvements. Provided however, that in fixing the measure of such payments by said Craig, due regard is to be had to the fact that said GraigEdison is to beparticipate in the advantages of the improvements to the same extent as said Craig.

It is also mutually agreed between said Edison and saidPage 182 Craig, that in the event of any differences in construing their obligations to each other under this agreement, the matter or matters in dispute shall be referred to the President of the Board of Trade of New York City and his decision shall be conclusive and be binding upon the said Edison and the said Craig.

T. A. Edison^c

New York.^a Aug. 12/70

Confidential. Dear Mr. Edison:

As I have not heard to the contrary, I suppose your financial wants have been met. At the end of a few days I hope to be in funds beyond my immediate necessities, & if you should then be in want, I will most cheerfully aid you. It evinces a mean disposition and great want of common sense, for any one who has control of your very superior talents, to keep you in trouble about a few paltry dollars.¹ When you & I get into close business relations I will assure you of better treatment.

In all of my calculations & estimates, I have assumed that we must employ a copyist to write out our messages, at the rate of one copyist to every 500 words per hour. In talking upon this subject with Prof. Farmer, yesterday, he told me it was perfectly practicable to have a little writing (or printing)Page 183 machine by which at least 3,500 words per hour could be written in plain Roman characters—that he had worked the thing out years ago, but had never had time to finish the machine, and had no time now, but would give me all his ideas & help any competent machinist to perfect the thing, and then I could give him one of the machines for his own use, and anything more that I could afford.²

Now, you can see that such a machine could be made of great value to any company or any person, having much copying to do, and I am sure I could find a market for 10,000 of them in a very short time.

Can I not prevail upon you to take hold of this idea of Farmer’s & work it up into a practical machine.— You to have the exclusive manufacture of the machines and you Farmer & myself sharing equally in all expenses & all profits. I really wish you could oblige me in this matter. I have been a sufferer in this direction already, to the extent of some $5000 six years ago—but my inventor was’nt blessed with Farmer’s or your head. You can work it out, I am sure.

Farmer is here, to test our Line,³ and I suppose he will stay till Saturday. I wish you could come in early Saturday morning and meet Farmer—say at 8 a.m. at the Astor House, and have an hour’s talk with him, and then see me before you go home. If you cannot come so early as 8 or 9, then fix the hour at 1 o’clock at 66 Broadway.⁴ Yours faithfully

New York Aug. 12/70

Prof. Farmer My dear Sir:

I have arranged with the bearer, my friend, J. A. Edison, a genius only second to yourself, who will give us the benefit of his brains and machine shop, to work up your ideas for the writing machine, as you have proposed to me. I propose to pay all necessary expenses in the development of the ideas—to debit the invention accordingly, and when necessary advances shall have been re-embursed, then the profits to be divided equally between you, Mr. Edison and myself. I to manage the whole business to the best of my ability without any charge whatever for commissions.

Mr. Edison assents to this programme, & will unite with usPage 184 in the signature execution of a suitable memorandum covering these points.⁶ Yours truly

New York, August 17, 1870^a

Memorandum of an agreement between J. A. Edison, of Newark, N.J. and D H Craig, of Peekskill, N.Y., entered into at the city of New York, August 17, 1870.

Whereas Mr. Edison has invented a new and valuable Repeater,² for Automatic or Fast Telegraphy—

And whereas Mr. Craig desires to become interested in the ownership of said invention and in any patent or patents which may be granted to the said Edison in connection with the same, or any improvements upon the same.—

Now, therefore, in consideration of one dollar paid to said Edison by said Craig, the receipt of which is hereby acknowledged, the said Edison and the said Craig promise and agree as follows, to wit:

Mr. Edison will, if possible, improve the said Repeater and will endeavor to secure all the valuable points of the same by Letters Patent from the United States Government.

Mr. Edison will recognise Mr. Craig’s interest in the invention and in any patent which may be received for the same, to the extent of one-half of the whole, and will, if desired by said Craig, execute all necessary or proper papers connectined with the title or ownership

Page 185Mr. Craig will furnish to Mr. Edison all necessary money to pay the expense of a working model of said Repeater and also all patent fees and expenses.

Mr. Craig is to have the management of all business connected with the sale and use of said Repeater and Patents, but is in no event to make a sale of the same without the full knowledge of Mr. Edison, and is in no event to sell the invention except with a proviso that Mr. Edison is to have the exclusive manufacture of the machines, provided he so desires, and also provided he will make them well and as cheap as they can be made by other first class machinists

Mr. Craig is to charge no commissions for his services as manager of the said business, & hereby promises and agrees to hand over to said Edison one-half of whatever sum or sums he may receive for the said invention or patents less only actual and necessary disbursements connected with the Patents or business.

New York,^a Aug. 19/70

Dear Mr. Edison:

Inclosed, please find the balance due to you on the model Relay ¹— $6.—

Mr. Little² says he does not want half the evident speed of your Relay,³ and hopes you will give all possible care to make the works substantial, & so that the machine can be relied upon in Repeating offices. He takes to it kindly and decidedly,Page 186 and I can rely upon him for the strongest testimonials, if needed.

If the inclosed memorandum is satisfactory, please sign & return one to me, through the P.O. If not satisfactory, change it to suit yourself.⁴

I keep all my arrangements with you private—strictly so— & yet, I suppose it will be impossible to prevent a few people around us from suspecting that we are putting our heads together.

I have not been able to get off to Washington yet, but hope to do so today, and on Monday, if you will come in, I think, you will see 400 words per minute from Wash’n.⁵ Yours faithfully

This printing telegraph, known as the American printing telegraph or the Pope and Edison printer, was the third and last collaborative effort of Edison and Franklin Pope. They developed this instrument for private lines and established thePage 187 American Printing Telegraph Company in the summer of 1870 specifically to exploit it.¹ The instrument “was ingenious and exceedingly simple,” although “its action was comparatively slow.” ² It became quite successful, and Gold and Stock purchased the American Printing Telegraph Company in May 1871. ³ The polarized relay continued to be the hallmark of Edison’s work in printing telegraphy. The American printing telegraph used the polarized relay to switch the current to either the printing or the typewheel magnet, in the fashion of Edison’s first patented printing telegraph,⁴ and thus avoided the subtleties of operation associated with having the type-wheel and printing electromagnets in series. ⁵ The polarity of a signal, rather than its length, determined whether the type-wheel advanced or the instrument printed.

In the American printing telegraph, Edison and Pope separated the polarized relay from the printer itself. In May 1870, Pope had received U.S. Patent 103,077, “Improved Electro-Magnetic Movement,” which combined a polarized relay and a conventional relay to operate a receiving instrument on a local battery (see photograph below). This reduced problems caused by current variability on the main circuit. By the spring of 1871 Edison had replaced Pope’s combination relay with the style of polarized relay used in the Chicago instrument.⁶

In addition to Pope’s relay patent, this instrument incorporated part or all of the patents covering the Boston instrument and the gold printer, as well as U.S. Patent 103,035, “Improvement in Electro-Motor Escapements,” an Edison design for an improved typewheel-ratchet mechanism. An article in the Telegrapher assured interested parties that “suitable arrangements are provided for bringing the typewheels of the two instruments together in case they should be accidentally thrown out of correspondence.” ⁷

[Newark or New York, Summer 1870]

M (historic photograph) (est. 17 cm dia. × 17 cm), NjWOE, Cat. 551:6, 18, 39. See Doc. 54 textnote. The machine frame is stamped “G. C. Page 189Wessman & S on New York 91”. Gustave and Charles Wessman were brass dealers located on Centre St. in New York City.

[Newark, September 1870²]

Dear Sir

We need “lease” papers immeddiately, as the parties who own itBuilding^a seem to desire it before we put our shafting up,³ which approaches completion.

Please embody following in Lease That:—

We shall have the right to run nights—

Shall have the right to use the power nights by paying for its cost.

We shall Have^a any amount of power we desire above the four horse power which is included in the rental, by pay one hundred and fifty dollars per horse power per year. The total amount of power shall not exceed 10 horse =

That he will heat the shop by steam

That he shall belt on our main shaft at his own expense

That he shall keep the belt and pulleys that run the main shaft in order—

That we shall not be limited as to the amount of machinery used in the room^b

The rent is One Thousand dollars per year for the room, which includes four full horse power payable monthly in advance = Commencing Oct 1st 1870—

I Think it advisable to lease one year with the privelege of 2 or 3 as you think best = IPlease have Lease made out and sent to

T A Edison Care Ritchie and Boyden⁴ No 15 Railroad Ave Newark N Jersey

Please write and Let me know what bills you have received.⁵ One machine is in the freight house now = The reason that I write instead of coming to see you is that I am working a night gang onf men on the perforator which I hope to have done by tuesday evening or Wednesday 10 oclock = ItI cannot have all the keys in but will have as many as possible = I am compelled to stay here and watch men and give instructions— Mr Hyde⁶ is attending to the Belts pulleys, shafts and Carpenter work all right— I may possible come in to see you tomorrow at 11.30. = Yours Respy

New York, October 1, 1870^a

This Indenture, made this first day of October, one thousand eight hundred and seventy, by and between Thomas A. Edison, of Newark, in the State of New Jersey, of the first part, and George Harrington, of the City of Washington, District of Columbia, of the second part,

Witnesseth, That for and in consideration of one dollar, paid in hand, one to the other, the receipt of which is hereby acknowledged, and of the mutual trust and confidence which said parties have in each other, do each covenant and agree with the other as follows:

First—That the said parties as above named will be partners as inventors and as manufacturers of all kinds of machinery, instruments, tools, battery materials, and all and whatsoever may be required by the various systems of telegraphy, and of all such other machinery, instruments, tools or articles or things, the manufacture of which may be offered to or obtained and accepted by them, the said parties to be interested as owners in all original inventions and improvements invented,Page 191 purchased or obtained by them, or either of them, and in all the interests and profits arising therefrom, and in the profits and losses arising from the business of manufacturing, in the proportions as hereinafter set forth.

Second.—That the business of said firm shall be known and conducted under the name and style of The American Telegraph Works.

Third.—The place of manufacture shall be in the City of Newark, State of New Jersey, until such time as it may be mutually agreed to select some other locality.

Fourth.—The capital of the firm shall be nine thousand ($9,000) dollars, of which the party of the first part shall furnish the sum of three thousand dollars, in the manner hereinafter set forth, and the party of the second part shall furnish the sum of six thousand dollars in cash.¹

The capital to be furnished by the party of the first part shall consist of the stock, machinery, tools and inventions owned wholly or in part by him, of which an inventory shall be made, without reservation; but so much of the stock, machinery, tools and fixtures partly owned by said party of the first part, and in part owned by one William Unger,² as are now located and in use at the former place of business, at No. 15 Railroad Avenue, Newark, New Jersey, shall be allowed to remain there for use by the parties hereto and the said William Unger, under the unexpired partnership as existing at this date between Edison, party of the first part, and the said William Unger; but said shop, machinery, tools and fixtures, known as No. 15 Railroad Avenue, shall not be used as a place of general manufacture upon orders to the detriment of the interests of the manufactory to be established and known as the “American Telegraph Works,” under the auspices of and to be owned by the parties to this indenture, it being understood and stipulated that the general manufacture, as heretofore carried on, is to^b transferred to the American Telegraph Works, to be established under this agreement; and the transfer of the title to the stock, machinery, tools, fixtures and inventions owned wholly or in part by the party of the first part to the parties of the first and second parts jointly, to be held by them in the proportions respectively, according to the amount of capital furnished, as herein stipulated, shall be taken and received as full payment of the proportion of capital to be supplied by the party of the first part.

Fifth.—The party of the first part shall give his whole time and attention, talents and inventive powers, to the businessPage 192 and interests of the firm, and shall admit no other parties to any direct or indirect interest in and to any inventions or improvements made or to be made by him, except as hereinafter set forth; but all such shall enure and belong to the parties of the first and second parts as above set forth, in the proportion as set forth in section sixth of this indenture. Provided, however, that the inventions made exclusively for the Gold and Stock Company, which, under a contract between said party of the first part and Mr. Marshall Lefferts are to be the sole property of the Gold and Stock Company, and^c not to be included in this agreement.³ But the said Edison, or party of the first part, binds himself not to invent under said contract any machinery that will militate against automatic telegraphy, nor to sell, transfer or convey to any parties whatever, without the consent of the party of the second part hereto, any invention or improvement that may be useful or desired in automatic telegraphy. And provided further, that for any original inventions or improvements that the party of the first part may make, other than such as may be suggested or arise from the current work in the manufactory, there shall be allowed and paid by the firm to the party of the first part a reasonable and proper compensation therefor, according to its practical value, all things considered. Such payment to be in addition to and irrespective of the proportionate part of the profits of the business of the firm to which the party of the first part would be otherwise entitled.

And it is further agreed, that if any disagreement shall arise as to the sum which may be claimed as “reasonable and proper” to be paid for such original inventions, the question shall be referred to an arbitrator, or, if preferred by either of the parties, to three disinterested parties, one to be chosen by each, and a third by the two thus chosen, and whose decision shall be final and binding on both.

Sixth.—That all profits arising from the business of the firm, and from all inventions and improvements, and from the manufactory, shall be divided between the parties as follows: One third therof to the party of the first part, and two thirds to the party of the second part; and all taxes, rents, insurance and other expenses, and all losses or damages, if any such shall occur, shall be paid from the general receipts of the firm arising from its business; if there shall be insufficient receipts, the deficiency shall be supplied by the parties hereto in the ratio of one third and two thirds, or shall be taken from the capital of the company.

Page 193 Seventh.—The partners shall be allowed and paid from the gross revenues arising from the business a sum equal to fifteen per cent, upon the capital per annum, to be divided into monthly payments, and a like per centum on moneys advanced by either party over and above their proportionate parts of the capital as above set forth, and all excess of profits shall remain in the treasury of the firm, to be appropriated to the enlargement of the works and manufactory, and extension of the business, as may from time to time be agreed upon. Otherwise than as set forth in this section, there shall be no moneys or property belonging to the firm withdrawn, taken or used by either partner except upon the written consent of both partners.

Eighth.—The party of the first part shall have the control and direction of the manufactory, and shall employ and dismiss all workmen, as he shall deem best for the interests of the firm; shall purchase at lowest cash prices without commission, the machinery, tools, stock and other necessaries required in the manufactory, and generally shall be responsible for the careful preservation of the machinery and property of the company, and the economical conduct of the manufacturing part of the business. But the manner of keeping the accounts and books of the firm and manufactory, and the employment of persons required in keeping such accounts and books, and all that relates to the financial affairs of the firm and business, and the disposition of the proceeds^d of the manufactory, shall be performed, or approved, controlled and directed, at his option, by the party of the second part.

Ninth.—There shall be no notes given nor any liabilities created by any member of the firm without the previous assent of both partners.

Before contracts shall be entered into for the manufacture of any given number of articles, it shall be the duty of the party of the first part carefully to estimate the whole amount of moneys that will be required to fulfil such contract if made, and the length of time that will be required to produce the articles wanted; and such estimate shall be submitted to the party of the second part in order to ascertain if the financial condition of the firm is such as to justify the outlay, and whether, when making the contract, it should not be provided in such contract for advances to be made by the parties for whom the work is to be done, in proportion as the work progresses, and before completion.

Tenth.—Full accounts shall be kept of all business done byPage 194 the firm, and all transactions of the purchase, manufacture, sales, receipts and payments shall be clearly and fully recorded, together with a detailed account of all expenses of whatever character incurred, and the books and accounts shall at all times be open to the inspection of either partner. ⁴

Eleventh.—Each partner shall give a true account of all moneys, property, matter and things that may come into his hands, or to his knowledge belonging to or concerning, or in any wise affecting said partnership on said business.

Twelfth.—It is further stipulated, agreed and understood, that the manufacture of all machinery, instruments, tools and other articles, other than so much as may be necessary to develope inventions and improvements, and make experiments, arising out of or from any inventions and improvements heretofore made, or that may hereafter be made by the party of the first part, or orders for machinery and instruments, or any part thereof, that may be obtained by either of the parties hereto, shall be manufactured, made and filled at and from the manufactory to be set up, created or established under this copartnership, and at no other place, shop or manufactory, without the consent of all the parties to this indenture.

Thirteenth.—It is further stipulated and agreed, that the party of the second part may, at his own option, admit a third party into the firm upon terms of equality with him and with the party of the first part, that is to say: To an equal third part or interest in all the inventions, stock, machinery, tools and all other property of the firm and in the business, with one third share of the profits and losses arising therefrom, and one third benefit, and an assumption of one third of all the liabilities of the firm. Provided, that by the admission of such third party the interest of the said party of the first part in the property and business of the firm shall not be lessened thereby, nor the stipulations and agreements and provisions of this indenture changed or modified, except in so far as must necessarily follow the admission of a third partner upon an equal footing in interest, and in all other respects, with all the rights and privileges, and subject to all the restrictions to be enjoyed or as imposed upon the parties to this indenture.⁵

Fourteenth.—This partnership shall continue for a period or term of five years from the first day of October, eighteen hundred and seventy, unless sooner dissolved by mutual consent of all the parties.

Fifteenth.—At the expiration of the partnership, or on its final dissolution, the property and assets, after paying all liabilitiesPage 195 of the firm legitimately created in the course of the business, shall be divided among the respective partners, according to their respective interests; and in case any one of the partners shall die before the expiration of the partnership, the surviving partner or partners, if there shall be more than one, shall account for and pay over to the executors, administrators or other legal representatives of such deceased partner, his proportion of the moneys and of the proceeds of all property and assets owned by said partnership or firm.

Sixteenth. —The provisions of this indenture may be altered or modified from time to time, upon the agreement and written consent of all parties.⁶

In witness whereof, the said Thomas A. Edison, and the said George Harrington, have hereunto set their hands and affixed their seals, in the City of New York, on the day and date first above written.

George Harrington,^e

Edison made most of these notes and drawings at the office of patent attorney Lemuel Serrell² on 3 October 1870. He had constructed many of the devices described one to four months previously and probably was making these notes to establish priority for patent purposes.³ The partnership agreement made with George Harrington two days before (Doc. 109) may be related. Under its terms Edison and Harrington became partners in inventing as well as manufacturing, and this notebook establishes that Edison had developed certain inventions prior to the agreement.

Most of the entries made by Edison in this notebook concern printing telegraphs. Other descriptions include a perforator invented two months before (see Doc. 103); a battery; a double-tongued polarized relay; improved electromagnets; a machine to punch out the figures in a check; a device to adjust the reaction time of an electromagnet’s armature; and a complex mechanical linkage. Edison used the notebook for another drawing on 10 October (Doc. 125) and an agreement at the end of the month (Doc. 128).

Edison also used this notebook in October 1870 to record lists of machinery, tools, office furniture and supplies, and personal and business accounts. One of the accounts contains entries also found in the accounts of the American Telegraph Works.⁴

[New York,] Oct 3 1870

Drawn at L Serrells office Constructed 2 months before^a

Machine for perforating paper for Telegraphic purposes² M is punch which is sheared upon its end so that it will shear the paper like shears instead of pressing out X is paper driving apparatus which derives its motion by the forward & backward motion of the upright P e is a knife edge fixed in such a manner that it will move down but not upwards K is a Key provided with Cam Teeth of any number or required shaftpe when the Key K is depressed it gives a number of back & forward motion to the punch & paper driving apparatus which produces a letter

[New York,] Oct 3 1870

Drawn at L Serrells Office Hyde² & myself 2 months [before?]^a

Page 198Plan for making type wheels for Printing Telegraph & other purpose³ g is the wheel Divided and rotated at a great velocity by steam X is a hardened steel die, M’ & M are geared wheel[s] which mash into each other and keep the speed of g & X equal now by feeding slowly the die wheel against the wheel g when in motion the die wheel containing sunk letters impresses or shapes the Letters upon the edge of the teeth in wheel g etc

[New York,] Oct 3 1870 =

Grind carbon or coke and Black Oxide manganese to a flour and make into sticks for a Leclanche Manganese Battery—² Written at L Serrells Office^a

[New York,] Oct 3 1870

Drawn at L Serrells office Described to Carter² 2 weeks before^a

Rotating Battery to prevent polarization of the electrodes = The Two elements are fastened to a shaft [---]their perpheries running in a trough containing the exciting fluids which can if necessary be seperated aby a porous plate The ShaftPage 199 can be of great length & contain any desired number of elements and be rotated by any power constantly or at intervals³

[New York,] Oct 3 1870

Drawn at Serrells office Made 1 month before^a

To produce a adjustable slow motion by means of a piston worked by a magnet or other power acting in a cylinder or air chamber and a cock valve The cock being regulated and the power applied to the piston it goes forward as fast as the air can pass through the cock which can being so regulated that an infinitesmal amount passes only or a large amount which takes time & gives a slow motion to the piston²

[New York,] Oct 3 1870

Drawn at L^a Serrells office^b Commenced building Month before^c

automatic Transmitter & Printing Telegraph² combined^d

the shaft K has 4 wheels upon it the first is a type wheel the second the escapement theWheel [t]he^e third a brass wheel will ³ thin insulated places [u]pon^e its periphiery upon which the spring X Rubs [T]his^c wheel is so connected with the printing [m]agnet^c P that when the shaft has been stopped [b]y^e a continuous closure of the current the spring X is upon one of the insulated indents which allows the current to enter the Printing magnet to print but when the wheel is rotated quite rapidly the c[ontact] spring X being in conta[ct]^f with the brass portion of the wheel 6 to [1?]o^c times as much as the insulated parts the current is of too short a duration to effect the printing magnet The 4[th] wheel is a break wheel having a spring [--] rubbin[g]^f upon the teeth upon its periphiery this wheel & spring is connected directly with the line and by the action of the escapement it is made to make & break [t]he^e current of the magnet which gives it motion Consequently it automatically [i]ntermitts^e upon the same principle as the pointer Dial Telegraph of Krammer illustrated & described by Sabine & Dub—⁴ upon the [e]nd^e of the shaft is a detent which is rigid & revolves with the shaft around [t]he^e path of a number of key— which when depressed stop the shaft its its wheel a given positions etc

[New York,] Oct 3 1870

Drawn at L Serrells o[ffice]^a Page [3]^b

Arrangement for rotating two type wheels upon one shaft by one escapement & one Magnet² So that one type wheel can be rotated when the other is Locked & vice vers[a]^c This is done by a keyed moveable lock on the shaft of the type wheel which is moved back by being cammed by the cammed detent g and cammed forward by the upward movement of the paper Lever m [and] cam fork s when the shaft is in a certain position. One of the type wheels will be always carried arround except when the operator brings the wheel into a given position then by an upward movement of the printing lever the type wheel hise desires is locked to the shaft & carried arround but will be cammed back by g unless he raises the printing Lever again etc K is the unison apparatus for bring the shaft at every revolution at [--] a given point & releasing by the Printing Lever etcPage 202

Same principle as in Fig 1 Pag 3^b

[New York,] Oct 3 1870

Double Tongued^a Polarized Relay^b

Drawn at L Serrells office Constructed 3 months before^c

Polarized Magnet with two tongues² but with but one pair of magnets These tongues are both pivoted in the back of the magnet and by giving them [-]or putting them closer to one side of the other one tongue will work on a positive currentPage 203 the other remaining still^d every time that Current is intermitted like a common Relay and vise versa when a negative [current] is intermitted with the other tongue or they can be so arranged between the forks of the magnets that they will only change when the current is changed but wont act when it is intermitted—³

[New York,] Oct 3 1870

Escapement for Printing Teleghs & other apparatus² Constructed Sept 15 1870 Drawn at L Serrells office^a

Page 204K a stop X wheel V shaped 3teeth [&?]^b wedge acting [o]n^b Ratchet & pawl acting^c

[New York,] Oct 3 1870^a

Constructed Sept 145 71870^b Drawn Oct 3 1870 at L Serrells ofs^c

Means of working two magnets upon one wire²

S is a polarized Magnet it tongue is centered equidistant between neither the points g g’ by the springs m m’— When say 6 pulsation of negative Electricity is sent through line the tongue of relay S is attracted to point g’ & back by spring m this put local battery into type wheel mag ³ 6 times & vise versa when positive

[New York,] Oct 3 1870

Electro Magnet

Drawn at L Serrells office Constructed 4 or 5 months before^a

Constructed with washers in this form or turned out of solid stuff & planed in like a key seat, the wire by means of these slats in the Cores can be wound from one end of the

Entire Magnet to other getting all or nearly so wire in contact with the iron²

[New York,] Oct 3d 1870^a

Drawn on Oct 3d 1870 at ML Serrells office Constructed 5 or 6 weeks before^b

Page 206Mechanical Movement, to To transmitt a continuous rotary Motion into a back and forward motion quite long which shall stop itself at each pof the point between which it plays This is done by having teeth at g & none at × & teeth at n & none at flange which has a milled periphery by the side of these wheels is a arm [-]which are rigid upon the Shaft upon the ends of these arms are [-] clicks moveable which rub along the milled flanges now if the rack goes forward the click engages in the milled teeth and the gear wheel is locked to the shaft which is the[n] rotatined but the other wheel [that] goes in opposite direction is not locked now when a back motion of the rack occurs othe other wheel locks & carries shaft forward in same direction =².

[New York,] Oct 3 1870^a

Done Oct 3 1870 at Serrells office^b

Gear teeth Deep

Apparatus for Punching out the figures for the amount of a check etc × is shaft with ½ to ¾ Diameter having 10 to 20 Ribs cut in it Lengthwise These ribs in the form of gear teeth m is a plate & g is a plate These plates guide keys with Racks upon them the teeth of the Racks engaging in going down & back with the ribs on × = f & f’ are two wheels one containing letters in relief the other sunk in they act like a punch & die paper goes between them to be punched the shaft × has a sliding bearing

Page 2073 toAny number of keys can be used on the key after the rack is a pin to press the wheel f down to wheel f & punch.²

[New York?, October 3, 1870?]^a

all new inventions I will here after keep a full record^b

New York, Oct 7 1870^a

D Sir

Please go ahead and finish as soon as possible the arrangement of two wheels for your Printer = and I propose as follows. If you by means of a new transmitter or in any other manner succeed in making your Instrument comply with your Contract as to speed¹ we will pay you for the two wheel improvement²—such an amount as you may fairly claim under all the circumstances, as right for us to pay. if we cannot agree no harm can come to you, for if you cannot complete your contract without the device of two wheels then we are to have it you are bound to give it to us^b without charge— It is also understood that if I wish it: we can go ahead & use the two wheel improvement without waiting for your further experiment with [-] transmitters—³ Yours

[Newark?,] Oct 10 1870 =

Chemical Pen² seperated from each with insulating substance³

New York, October 19, 1870

DSir

I have no intention of doing anything the Gold & S Te Co any injury if I can help it— they will however recognize my right as also my necessities to invent new^a and improve existing Telegraph Machinery, but in doing so I am willing they should be benefited by such inventions as I may devise And as regards the small Printer now in course of construction, which I call the “Universal Printer”^b I will finish it complete, and give the Gold & Stock Te Co. Three Two^a months in which to experiment, for the and^a test of its it² and I state it as my belief that it will prove the best and most acceptable^c private line In Printing Inst., yet devised and introduced.—² It is also specially intended by me for working a number of the” Inst in one circuit, (not as stock quoting Inst, although it can be so made to work), but for general information—such for instance as your projected “Lawyer lines”³— after this examination if they desire to purchase it, I will dispose ofPage 209 the Patent Improvements^a to them—for a Maximum sum of thirty forty $30,000^d thousand dollars—payable in Stock of your Company—supposing the Capital not to be over $1,250,000 ⁴—but as the capt if^a it can be shewn that the instruments is not what I claim for it—or that it is not patentable in all its parts—I shall be willing to discuss the price Maximum price named, and will do what is fair in its proper adjustment—giving the Compy the right to accept or reject—as they please^e It seems to me that this is doing what is right—

Should they purchase this Instrument, I will enter kite an agreement binding myself. The above sale to be subject however, to a reserved exclusive^a right for myself and associates for the use Manufacture and use of the instruments and its^a improvements and for all Municipal and governmental^f purposes, that is. including^a Fire Alarm—Police—&c—⁵

Should the Company purchase the Instrument above refered to, I am will enter into an agreement, binding myself, to offer to the Gold & Stock Te Co. all of my future Printing Telegraph Inst, or improvements in of those already in use which I may devise and which are not already owned or controlled by the Company,^g and^h that I will complete all such inventions or improvements, byin a good workable instruments which shall be placed in their the Companys’ hands for experiments for 32 months—and if they then desire to purchase the invention and or improvements, I will sell and assign the same, for a fair and reasonable—Compensation, taking into consideration what the Company, have already purchased and our mutually friendly relations, which I waish to preserve—

New York Oct 24. 1870

It is mutually agreed between the undersigned E. W. Andrews, M. Lefferts ¹ and T. A. Edison, that the said Edison, having invented or discovered a new form of Electro-Magnet, and for which he has lodged a Caveat and proposes to apply for a Patent for the same.² Will assign and doth hereby assign said patent and all improvements thereof upon the same principle^a to the said Andrews, Lefferts and Edison, one third to each party, but to be enjoyed so far as profits are concerned as in common.

The said Edison further agrees that he will give his best endeavors, to improve discover and invent Electro-Magnets for the purpose of use and application for motive power and that all such future inventions improvements upon this magnet^b shall belong to the parties above mentioned, in the proportion

The expenses of making any instrument for testing any invention which the said Edison may make, shall be borne equally by the (3) three parties hereto—but such expenditure shall only be incurred upon the consent to of two parties to this agreement

Patents if taken out in Europe shall be subject to the same conditions as herein agreed to for the United States.

The said Andrews, and Lefferts agree that they will use thier best exertions to introduce and make profitable such inventions as may be made by the said Edison under this agreement.

T. A. Edison.

Newark Oct 29 1870

In consideration of the sum of one dollar the receipt of which is hereby acknowledged I promise to pay to T A Edison his heirs or legal Representatives one twelfth ¹/12 undivided interest of all: profits arising directly or indirectly from hisMy² Connection and relations and introduction of instruments etc with the Gold & Stock Telegraph Co. of N York³ for a period of Ten 10 years from date after paying receiving from them full payment of outlay by me on my own printer⁴ which is $3,556—

Newark N.J. Oct 30—1870

Dear Father and Mother

Why dont you write to me and tell me the news. You spoke in you last Letter that you had a good chance to buy a good peice of property very cheap If you have your eye on it still write me, describing it, and why you think it valuable. I can send you the money for it. How is mother getting along you wrote the last time she was getting along nicely = I am in a position now to Let you have some Cash, so you can write and say how much = I may be home some time this winter = Can’t say when exactly for I have a Large amount of business to attend to. I have one shop which Employs 18 men,¹ and am Fitting up another which will Employ over 150 men = ² I am now—what “you” Democrats call a “Bloated Eastern Manufacturer” Is the Buchanans still Live in Port Huron, and is Carrie³ Married yet = Give my Love to all Your Son

New York, November 30, 1870^a

This Memorandum of an Agreement made and entered into this —first—^b day of July^b One thousand eight hundred and seventy¹ By and Between “The American Printing Telegraph Company,”² a Corporation incorporated and organized under General laws of the State of New York party hereto of the first part, and Frank L. Pope, James N. Ashley and Thomas A. Edison heretofore carrying on business as copartners under the firm name of “Pope, Edison & Co” parties hereto jointly and severally of the second part Witnesseth

That for and in consideration of the sum of One Dollar to each of them in hand paid by said party of the first part (the receipt whereof is hereby acknowledged by each of them) and of the covenants and agreements of the party of the first part hereinafter expressed, the said Francis L. Pope, James N. Ashley and Thomas A. Edison, parties hereto of the second part, jointly under their said firm name of “Pope, Edison, & Co” and each of them separately and severally for himself, in and under his own name, agree and agrees as follows.^c

First, to sell, assign, transfer, set over and convey (and theyPage 213 do, and each of them does, hereby sell, assign transfer, set over and convey) to “The American Printing Telegraph Company” each, every and all the right, title and interest of said parties of the second part, and of each of them, in, to and under the business heretofore carried on by them under said firm name of “Pope, Edison & Co,” and in and to the rights, interests and credits of said firm, the property, rights of property and claims therof, and in and to the good will of said firm in said business, for and as of the date of the first day of July one thousand eight hundred and seventy, to the same force and effect as if this assignment transfer and conveyance had been made and executed on said day.

Second. That Whereas there was made and entered into on the eighteenth day of April one thousand eight hundred and seventy an agreement by and between “The Gold and Stock Telegraph Company of the City of New York” party thereto of the first part and said Frank L. Pope, James N. Ashley and Thomas A. Edison parties thereto jointly and severally of the second part, of which Agreement a Memorandum was executed and delivered in duplicate by the said parties thereto on the thirtieth day of April one thousand eight hundred and seventy,³ and of which memorandum a copy is hereto annexed^d marked “A” and made a part of this Agreement: and Whereas by and under said agreement of April eighteenth one thousand eight hundred and seventy said parties of the second part sold, assigned, transferred and conveyed to said “The Gold and Stock Telegraph Company of the City of New York” among other things certain rights, titles, and interest in, to and under certain inventions and improvements theretofore made, and in, to and under the patents therefor theretofore issued and secured, and agreed to sell, assign, transfer and convey to said “The Gold and Stock Telegraph Company of the City of New York” certain, rights, titles and interests in, to and under certain inventions and improvements thereafter by said parties of the second part or some or one of them to be made, and which said inventions and improvements have heretofore been made and in, to and under patents therefor thereafter to be issued or reissued and which have heretofore been issued or reissued for printing telegraph instruments, apparatus and methods:⁴ and Whereas by and under said agreement of April eighteenth, one thousand eight hundred and seventy said parties of the second part expressly reserved to themselves certain rights therein mentioned and referred to in and about said inventions improvements and patents and printing telegraphPage 214 instruments, apparatus and methods.) said parties of the second part have, and each of them has, sold assigned, transferred and conveyed, and hereby do, and each of them does, sell, assign, transfer and convey to said “The American Printing Telegraph Company” each, every and all the rights, title and interest which are in and by said agreement of April eighteenth one thousand eight hundred and seventy reserved to said parties of the second part, in, to, under and about said inventions and improvements heretofore made, and in, to and under said patents heretofore issued or reissued to the same extent and effect as the same are therein reserved to said parties of the second part, and to be exercised, used and enjoyed by said “The American Printing Telegraph Company” upon and subject to the same conditions as are therein imposed upon the exercise use and enjoyment thereof by the parties of the second part—and particularly the right to manufacture and use, and to sell or lease to others to be used, each, any and all of the apparatus, instruments and methods for which patents are thereby assigned or agreed to be assigned, for the specific purpose of transmitting over what are therein designated as “private” lines of telegraph messages other than commercial quotations and quotations of the prices of gold and stocks—and also particularly the right which the parties of the second part have under said agreement (and subject to the same conditions of exercise, use and enjoyment) to use the instruments, apparatus and methods for which patents or licenses are thereby assigned or agreed to be assigned, upon long lines of telegraph.

Third: That said parties of the second part hereby covenant that they have not, and that no one or two of them has, sold assigned transferred or conveyed or by any instrument or agreement purported or agreed to sell, assign transfer or convey to any person or persons other than “The American Printing Telegraph Co” either or any of, the rights, titles, interests or claims herein and hereby sold, assigned, transferred and conveyed or purported or agreed to be sold, assigned, transferred or conveyed to “The American Printing Telegraph Co”—and to that covenant the said parties of the second part hereby bind themselves, their heirs executors and administrators, and each of the parties of the second part binds himself, his heirs, executors, and administrators.^c

Fourth: To make, execute, and deliver to said party of the first part, their successors or assigns, on demand, any and all proper instruments in writing which may be required to effectuatePage 215 or express the sales, assignments, and transfers, either, or any of them, hereby made, or agreed to be made. And that: For and in consideration of said covenants, sales, assignments conveyances and transfers and of the full and faithful performance of the agreements above expressed said party of the first part agrees.^c

First: To issue to said parties of the second part certificates of full paid shares of the Capital Stock of “The American Printing Telegraph Company” party hereto of the first part as follows i.e certificates for 510^e full paid shares^f of said Capital Stock to said Frank L. Pope and certificates for 510^e full paid shares of said Capital Stock to said James N. Ashley, and certificates for 180^c full paid shares of said Stock to Thomas A. Edison said certificates to be transferrable upon the books of the Company and said shares to be free and clear of and from any liability to calls or assessments by “The American Printing Telegraph Company.”^5c

Second: That said “The American Printing Telegraph Company” will not sell or lease to be used, or allow to be used by any other person or persons any of such instruments, apparatus or methods except upon receipt of an agreement in writing to be made executed and delivered to party hereto of the first part by each and every of the firms or persons who may purchase or lease the same from said party of the first part for any such “private” line of telegraph, that such purchaser or lessee will not use or permit others to use the same for any other purpose than that for which said particular “private” line for which the purchase or lease is made was originally intended^c

It is further mutually agreed that in case any disagreement or dispute shall arise between the parties hereto or their assigns as to the true intent and meaning of this agreement, or of any clause or provision thereof, such disagreement or dispute shall be referred to the arbitration of three arbitrators, of whom, one shall be the President for the time being of the Chamber of Commerce of New York City, and one shall be chosen by each of the parties hereto, and that the decision of such arbitrators or any two of them shall be conclusive^g

In Witness Whereof the parties hereto have sealed and delivered these presents this thirtieth—^b day of November—^b in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and seventy.^c The American Printing Tel. Co. by M. Lefferts President

James N. Ashley^h

New York Dec [c. 3,] 1870^a

D Sir

You will please make and deliver to this Company, one hundred & fifty (150) Instruments like what we call the Cotton Instrument—¹ We will pay you at the rate of Seven Fifty eight dollars each—² Yours

M Lefferts Prest

Newark Dec 7, 1870

Friend Craig

Yours just received = It appears that Mr Harrington came over here and engaged in conversation with Mr Hyde and the draughtsman regarding the perforator and by his fidiggity manner got them so excited that they didn’t know which end they stood on, as neither one of them ever saw the perforator until the day you was here, when it was brought from the other shop, and neither of them have worked or attemped to work it or even understand it = I had taken one of the parts out when experimenting with it & did not replace it and when Mr Harrington came over the draughtsman attempted to work it and couldn’t, and from this Mr Harrington conceived that it was a failure = It was nothing but an experiment to determine if the principle and details were correct, they are correct and you will have your perforator in good time and beyond your most^a sanguine expectations. I have eight men working on a pair night and day and it is an^a utter impossibility to hurry it more than I am. I and the draughtsman and men were up nearly all last night = Galieo discovered the principle of acurate Hologlogy in the swinging Lamp of Pisa— It wouldnt be a very sage remark to say—why damn it that lamp aint a clock = You must remember that I am making your copying printer¹ which will be very rapid also your Transmitting and receiving motors,² which includes nearly all your machinery for the present you must know that it takes considerable thinking and brains to carry on all these machines at once = Besides a thousand small details in the other room in the manufacture of 150 printing Machines =³ I have also in process of manufacture 12 Universal Printing Machines,⁴ a Regulating Temperature Machine⁵ Two other perforating Machines⁶— a New screw slotting machine, A wire straightning Machine =⁷ PolishingPage 219 Machine, and other things which also takes thinking = Regarding an excess of expenditure I got his permission Every time that I made an overpurchase and gave satisfactory reasons at the time = I cannot take Ten thousand dollar contracts on Three thousand or four thousand worth of Machinery— The Manufacture of Mechanism is a Slow operation being legitimate, and all Legitimate Businesses they are slow but sure, and the slower the more sure. If Mr. H. feels dissatisfied, with the Expenditures (every cent which is represented in good sound solid and acurate machinery) I will sell some of my Stock coming to me from the American Printing Co⁸ and pay him for what he has spent or the excess over what he expected to pay= Mr H says that some of our experiments were useless = But after he has had more experience in this business, he will find that No experiments are useless. I had thought of coming over to see you today but cannot find time—

Of course I expect you (having had experience) understand this. My men here say that Mr H understood them the exact opposite of what they meant = Yours Truly

Newark, N.J., Dec 7 1870^a

Mr Harrington

Mr Gould would like some Cash on account = I think $200. would satisfy him. I shall be ready by Saturday I think to Show you The Copying Printer¹ if everything goes smoothly with it = I shall also be able to show you the Transmitting and Receiving Motor or Apparatus by Next Tuesday I Think =² The Two Punching Machines³ will probably be done inside of Two weeks from today =

You quite misunderstood my men here; The Machine that they attempted to show you work had been taken apart by me in Experimenting, and put together again but with not all the parts in. That is the reason it did not work= Mr Craig saw it operate— But it is of no consequence whether it worked or not It was an experiment as I told you once before, not made to show but to Satisfy me that I was all right. The Machines that I am making now will be made well & Complete, and if they dont perforate more than 80 words a minute⁴ then there will be a funeral over here pretty quick = I shall need considerable money saturday to pay hands off as I am running about 45 hands day and night Sixteen ^b of them are on the Perforators —

I insured Today for $10,000 on Machinery and $3000 on Stock in N York Cos at 1½ per cent = Is that right = insurance commences tomorrow 7 oclock

You must remember that the money you are now paying is not for Machinery But for work on the Automatic System and on the Gold and Stock Contract of $7,500 = Yours very Respy

Page 221

New York, ¹ December 17, 1870^a

The object of this invention is to produce two distinct movements at a distant station upon^b by^c one wire and is especially applicable to that class of Printing Telegraphs which work upon one wire

Description^d

A polarized switch operated by th an electro magnet in the main line becomes a shunt, the electro magnet a resistance and the diverted portion of the current is sent through one of two electro magnets and thence to the main line, the polarity of the current sent causes the switch to direct the current through one magnet or the other.^e

A’ is the Printing lever magnet and A is the type wheel magnet. S. and S are the Main line wires and ground circuit^f within which is the Polarized Magnet X X²

O and O’ are the keys arranged with the main^g battery C in the usual manner for reversing the Current upon the Main Line—one current throwing the Magnetized bar B forward^b to the point p and the other Current throw^g reverse Current throwing it to the point p’ These points are both Connected with wires to the Printing & Type wheel Magnets thence join together and are Connected to the Main Line at D. The Polarized Magnet has a very high resistance Compared to that of the oMagnets A’ and A being wound with very fine wire. The bar B is also Connected with the Main line by the wire g—It will be seen that when the bar or tongue B is equidistant from the points p’ and p and touching neither, the Printing Magnet A’ and Type Wheel Magnet A is not within the Main circuit being.^g

Operation

If by depressing the key O a positive current be sent over the Line the bar B will be deflected to the point p, and the Current will then split at c The greater portion passing through the wire g bar B point p through the Magnet A Thence to D & back to the transmitting Station. But^b Only^h a small portion of the Current will pass through the Polarized Magnet X X to D owing to the resistence it encounters through the fine wire but sufficient to actuate Bar, B, But^b and^h not enough to prevent the Magnet A from working Now if the key O’ be depressed a Current of opposite polarity will be transmitted over the wire and the Bar B will be attracted to the point p’ Leaving the magnet A Entirely out of the Circuit and allowing the Current to pass through the Printing Magnet A’ thence to D in the same manner as before

Page 222My claims will probably be The Two Magnets A & A’ placed within a^b secondaryⁱ circuits^j independent of the Main Curcuit Current^b and operated by a Shunt Current from The Main Curcuit by means of a polarized Magnets. wConstructed as described & for the purpose set forth^k

Signed by me this 17th day of December ad 1870³

[New York?, 1870?¹]

of that particular case, was simply, that I had to agree to give Mr. Craig ⅓ of the interest.² After this you went on experimenting with “Perforators” and as you now inform me, you have several and one or two first rate, ³ but they belong to M Craig & Harrington, with an interest in the patents for yourself—⁴ This you have also informed me, will all be made right, but I see no evidence of it—but I do see most clearly, that I shall through you be a very heavy looser— My outlay in thisPage 223 branch of Telegraphy, in Cash, has been over $25,000. Twenty five thousand dollars—of which amount between $6 & 7000, was expended last year—⁵ You have said to me, on several occasions, that no man in this country, had worked as hard and as long to perfect this system as myself, and that I should make a fortune by it— All I want ask^a is, that you do what is right. You should recognize our early understanding. A mans word should be as binding as his bond— Your try