[D8848AES], Letter from George Parsons Lathrop to Alfred Ord Tate, November 18th, 1888
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Title
[D8848AES], Letter from George Parsons Lathrop to Alfred Ord Tate, November 18th, 1888
Editor's Notes
"I wrote to you yesterday (Sat'y) abt. Rice and Redforth. ### This mornign bro't me yr. letter of yesterday, the 17th, asking if I can fix a certain date in June--the day when I was at the Laboratory and talked with you at length about the "drop nickel" or "amusement" phonograph; and when Tomlinson, Gilliland and Lippincott were closeted with Mr. Edison. ### By reference to bills and other papers, I am able to fix the date almost exactly. I was in New York only twice in June. The first time was from June 6th to June 13th; and the second time was June 22d and June 23d. This second time I went out to the Lab. and saw Edison for a few minutes. That ws the occasion when he told me there was to be a conferece with Tomlinson, Gilliland and Lippincott the next day, and that he would see to it that I should not "get left" on the Amusement business in case the whole Phonograph was sold. (Or perhaps he told me the conference was to be later in that same day). I think I ran out to the Lab. again that day, or the next, hoping to see T., G. and Edison together; but they were then busy with the conference and I did not see any of them; tho' I may have spoken briefly to you: as to that I don't remember. I did not go to the Lab. again until the other day (Oct. 20th). ### Now this June 22d. Or 23d. May be the date you are looking for; but it is not the time when I had the long talk with you, which you refer to, while waiting for Edison to get through with T., G. and Lippincott. That time was during the previous visit, between June 6th and June 13th. ### I find I wrote to Mrs. Lathrop from the Glenhouse on the morning of June 13th, saying the Amusement Co. still looked uncertain, and that I should leave for home that afternoon unless I had some encouragement to stay. I had been expecting a dispatch from you, about meeting with Edison, Gill, and Tomlinson, to settle the Amusement matters; but as it didn't come, I paid my hotel bill and left on the 13th. I find a dispatch from you, dated June 14th and sent to the Glenham, saying "I will see you today or tomorrow in reference to your matters." As this is dated the day after I left, it must have been sent on to me here by mail from the Glanham. All this fixed the time when I was at the Lab. And talked with you; for I remember I stayed in N.Y. only a copy of days after that, waiting to hear further from you. As you may recall, I was urging that the parties in interest to the Amusement Co. should meet and consult; and as they were all on the ground then, I wanted a time fixed for such consultation. After a long while, Edison, Tomlinson, Gilliland and Lipincott came out. Edison, on my speaking to him, said he would comsult at any time when G. + T. would. G. slid away with Lipincott and showed him all through the Laboratory; and I could not get anything arranged. So I left, on an understanding with you that you would let me know at the Glenham as soon as a consultation could be had. After waiting two days in N.Y., I became convinced that Gill. + Tomlinson were not going to allow any consultation to take place; and so I cam back to New London on the 13th. ### This makes it almost certain that the day when I was at the Laboratory was Monday, June 11th. (I think the conference with Lipincott that day was the first one that had been held.) ### The later time was Friday June 22d., or Sautrday June 23rd., or both. On one of those days there was a conference of Edison, Tom. Gill. And Lipincott; but that was not the day when I had the talk with you. ### I have gone into all these particulars, in order to throw all the light I can. You asking me whether the time was before or after June 28th. makes me think that the date you are trying to place may possibly be that one of June 22d. or June 23d. ### I hope these memoranda will help you." Faithfully yours, G.P. Lathrop [Marginalia: "Ans. 22/11/88"]
Author
Recipient
Mentioned
Date
1888-11-18
Type
Folder/Volume ID
D8848-F
Microfilm ID
124:448
Document ID
D8848AES
Publisher
Thomas A. Edison Papers, School of Arts and Sciences, Rutgers University