[LB015233], Letter from Thomas Alva Edison to Societe Electrique Edison, February 2nd, 1883
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Title
[LB015233], Letter from Thomas Alva Edison to Societe Electrique Edison, February 2nd, 1883
Editor's Notes
I am in receipt of your letter of 6th January on the subject of credit and Engines for Italian accounts.## As to the error the Italian people complain of in your advices to them of the amount that would be required I would point out to you that as far back as Nov 25th I cabled you. Wallerstein has documents further shipment $12000 which must have Monday. Additional credit $16000 required complete order. These two amounts together make $28,000 & notwithstanding this you notified the Italian People that I should only require $16,000. The mistake therefore is not mine. I have now shipped $6696.47 of goods that I have not been paid for. I have again & again cabled for this amount the last time being on 30th January but as yet I have received no advice from you as to a credit.##With reference to the Porter Engines our Italian Friends are entirely in error in saying that I have had the these engines removed from the Central Station. Whatever has been done there has been by the direction and at the expense of the Edison Electric Illuminating Co of New York & not myself the Illuminating Co recognizing that it would be improper to charge me with the expense as when I supplied them with the Dynamos I gave them the best engine in the market. I must again deny the right of the Italian Company to call on me to supply them with Armington Engines at my own expense. The Porter Engines will work as we have proved by four months usage in New York & over a year in London.##The Armington engine for Central Station purposes did not exist at the time the machines were shipped to milan & simply because I have found a better engine then that formerly used is no reason why I should be charged with the alteration. I cannot conceive why the Italian Company should make any such demand. Their own letters show that they have not tested their present engines and therefore can know nothing whatever about the efficiency of the Porter Engine.##I would point out to you that in a business like this you cannot expect to have everything absolutely perfect. Your company has not paid anything whatever for experimenting whereas both myself and the Edison Electric Light Co of U.S.A. have spent & are spending a great deal of money in experimenting. You take the benefit of all improvements & do not assist me at all in defraying expenses incurred in making such improvements but on the Contrary expect me to bear the expense of substituting the improved for the order mechanism.##I have ordered to Armington & Sims engines to be sent to milan but I shall look to you for the payment of same. I have taken this risk as I do not wish to delay matters by any controversy as to payment and I wish it clearly understood that in sending them I do not admit the validity of the claim made by the Italian Coy##I should like a copy of this letter and also my previous one on the same subject sent to the Italian Coy
Author
Recipient
Mentioned
Date
1883-02-02
Type
Folder/Volume ID
LB015-F
Microfilm ID
82:118
Document ID
LB015233
Publisher
Thomas A. Edison Papers, School of Arts and Sciences, Rutgers University