[D0018AAH], Letter from Arthur Simpson Slater, Edison-Bell Consolidated Phonograph Co Ltd to Thomas Alva Edison, October 16th, 1900
https://edisondigital.rutgers.edu/document/D0018AAH
Transcription
Letterhead of The Edison-Bell Consolidated Phonograph Company, Limited 39, Charing Cross Road, W. C. London, 16th October, 1900. Thomas A. Edison Esq., Edison Phonograph Works, ORANGE, N.J. U.S.A. Dear Sir, I am instructed by my Directors to acknowledge receipt of your letter of the 7th of September, and to say that they are much disappointed that you will not do anything to stop that which is an evident injustice to my Company. I am directed to point out that all fees or taxes in respect of the Patents purchased have been and are regularly paid. You state that the National Phonograph Co., a Company in which you have a large interest, purpose doing business wherever there are no valid or sustainable Patents, or where the owners do not litigate the Patents. What my Directors strongly complain about is that the National Phonograph Co., or at least <RECEIVED NOV. - 3- 1900> <Ans'd _________> <[Gilmore?]> [TAE Marginalia] parties in very close connection with them, do trade or endeavour to trade in territory where we have successfully litigated the Patents, viz:- Australia and Cape Colony. My Company has been put to enormous expense, first in purchasing the Patents; secondly in defending them, and now, when it was hoped some advantage would be reaped, circulars from your side are sent throughout the territory in question, quoting prices at which it is very well known by you and your friends that we cannot compete with and live. The least that was expected was that you would use your influence towards stopping parties from spoiling our market in countries rightfully belonging to us. It seems you cannot or will not, and therefore it remains for my Directors to do what they can in the situation thus created. Yours faithfully, A Simpson Slater Secretary.