[D8736AAM], Letter from Robert M Jones, Edison Electric Illuminating Co (Laramie) to Edison Electric Light Co, John H Vail, January 27th, 1887
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Title
[D8736AAM], Letter from Robert M Jones, Edison Electric Illuminating Co (Laramie) to Edison Electric Light Co, John H Vail, January 27th, 1887
Editor's Notes
Enclosed with D8736AAL. "Extract from letter of Mr. R. M. Jones, Laramie, Wyo. To J. H. Vail date Jan. 27th. 1887 ## As you remember, we have no reserve machinery, and it requires the closest attention to keep everything in the proper condition to insure us of no failure in giving constant light. We MUST NOT fail for this reason I am present at the station every night from starting until often 10 o'clock. I do not wish to assume too much confidence, but I am confident that if I was to be gone from here ten days our station or company would not require losses by damages for a long time to come. I have trusted machinery repairs to others several times, and in every instance have had trouble from them, so I am left to do all repairs or see them done (which generally makes a man tired.) ## Our work here has been more even and reliable of late than ever before, our negative side was out 1/2 minute monday night, being the only break I several months, this was caused by two commutator bars being (I think), longer than the others, having a continued heavy load, expanded them to cause them to HUMP UP or raise 1-8th of an inch which prevented the brushes from reaching the commutator; this threw all the load instantly on its mate B. as motor which blew the safety strip from B. as motor which blew the safety strip from B. leaving the negative side open until we could disconnect their switches and make a negative of C. which brought everything all right in half a minute. Some of our wire men said D armature was burned out, but it showed no signs of it, more than the two humped up bars. I settled back the bars and turned down the commutator, and early in the day following connected up the machine to test before the next run. It would no charge the field magnest and after testing up all connections from magnets through resistance box and found correct, we charged the field of D. by that of C., and again tried the machine which was right only that we charged it so that by throwing C. and D. in line on opposite sides all positive indicators ran high and negative low, we then charged the same field directly opposite which brought everything right. I forgot to mention that when the damaged armature would not charge its field we changed it for the new one in reserve, which would do no better until we resorted to the charging process. As the new armature was in the machine and the day most gone, we had to use it for the nights run; and we discovered that this new armature, with new brushes and properly set would not carry the same load that the old ones did without running much warmer and showing some spark, we have no trouble in keeping down sparking entirely on the old ones, which leads me to think that the large amount of solder we applied to the connections was the medecine that cured them."
Recipient
Date
1887-01-27
Type
Folder/Volume ID
D8736-F
Microfilm ID
119:1023
Document ID
D8736AAM
Publisher
Thomas A. Edison Papers, School of Arts and Sciences, Rutgers University