[X154A7CR], Letter from Edward Hibberd Johnson to Uriah Hunt Painter, May 23rd, 1888

https://edisondigital.rutgers.edu/document/X154A7CR

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Title

[X154A7CR], Letter from Edward Hibberd Johnson to Uriah Hunt Painter, May 23rd, 1888

Editor's Notes

"Your various favors duly recd also one from Mr Hubbard. I regret I was unable to call on him the other day. He was in N.Y. Bergmann & I will call on Mr. Lippincott and get a Graphophone and then see what we can do with it. Its mechanism is certainly vastly superior to Edison's. But I think Edison is ahead on the "Talk." I expect to call on L. today---haven't had 5 minutes time last few days. The shop contracts are all printed but only one copy for each I could not send you a copy. Your legal friend is in error. I am informed by a lawyer that there is no doubt of their legality. If you are going upon the assumption that Edison is a Director of the Light Co helped make a profitable contract himself & with himself you are off---that p oint has been well guarded. ## Hubbars tells me you are of the opinion as he is, that a suit should be at once commenced against Edisons new phonograph co to enjoin them from making & selling Phonographs. When do you expect to begin the suit? ## I have noted yours to Insull & his to you. I don't think much good will come from that source. Edison told me again a couple of weeks since that he had repeatedly tried to get you to agree to some new arrangement but couldn't elicit a thing from you nor could he get you to come see him hence he was compelled to go on independent of you which he did but at the same time liberally cared for you & all the rest of us. He puts himself on the defensive by asserting that you could do *nothing* and that he couldn't afford to sit still & allow the Bell crowd to steal a march on him. This is what you will have to meet in any legal contest. ## What do you suppose is now being done by Cheever et al in response to Tomlinson's call? I fancy they will all step up to the Capts desk & settle for what E may please to give them. Yours truly,"

Date

1888-05-23

Type

Folder/Volume ID

X154A7-F

Document ID

X154A7CR

Publisher

Thomas A. Edison Papers, School of Arts and Sciences, Rutgers University
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