Letterhead of William J. Hammer, Consulting Electrical Engineer,
1400 Havenmeyer Building,
26 Cortland St.
New York,
April 18th, 1902.
Thomas. A. Edison, Esq.,
Orange, N. J.
My Dear Mr. Edison:-
I have just returned from an interview with Mr. Bradfield, Mr. Marconi's chief assistant and representative in this country, who is associated with Mr. Bottomley a nephew of Lord Kelvin. I showed him a copy of your patent No. 465, 971 for transmitting signals electronically, and suggested that perhaps the Marconi Company which they are just on the point of bringing out might be very glad to secure this patent. He looked it over very carefully, and expressed very great interest in it and surprise that there was such a patent, stating that he had no knowledge of its existence. He requested me to leave the copy with him, and he would go at once to see their patent attorney, Mr. Frederick H. Betts, of the firm of Betts, Betts, Shoffield & Betts. He said he would also communicate immediately with their people in England.
I dropped a hint that one of the most important commercial interests in New York were at present in communication with you regarding the same patent, and that in view of the great activity in this field and the number of important interests taking up the subject, that there would doubtless be considerable effort put forth to secure this, one of the very earliest wireless telegraph patents. Mr. Bradfiold asked whether you were willing to dispose of this patent, and I told him, you, and that I had been authorized to bring the matter the attention of his Company. He seemed exceedingly interested and promised to give the matter his immediate attention, and to communicate with me again shortly.
Trusting this may prove interest to you and meet with your approval, I remain,
Yours very truly,
W. J. Hammer.

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