[D0104AAK], Letter from Willis N Stewart to Herman Ernest Dick, July 12th, 1901
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Title
[D0104AAK], Letter from Willis N Stewart to Herman Ernest Dick, July 12th, 1901
Author
Recipient
Date
1901-07-12
Type
Folder/Volume ID
D0104-F
Microfilm ID
187:86
Document ID
D0104AAK
Publisher
Thomas A. Edison Papers, School of Arts and Sciences, Rutgers University
Has Version
Transcription
12 Osbourne Terrace
Clapham Road,
London, S.W. 12 July, 1901
Dear Mr. Dick:-
I have your letter of the 2nd inst for which I thank you, and regret to now that you are not yet ready to take up the Battery business on this side.
I have already written you from Stockholm and on my return re Jurgner's Patents. But I now wish to more fully explain the position here:-
It is thought here, and publicly asserted, that either both Edison's and Jurgner's Patents disclose nothing new in the art on account nothing new in the art on account of the previous use of alkaline solutions, etc., or that Jurgner's Patents are clearly new and controlling as to the use of stock solutions with finely divided metals and oxides with neutral supports and graphite as a conducting medium. The opinion of the best living experts is that Jurngner made the first practical oxygen Battery and fully protected it by Patents in all countries. In this belief my associates purchased his rights and are preparing to manufacture the Battery here and in America. At the same time, they are broad-gauge[?] men who have a very opinion of Mr. Edison's genius and a full appreciation of the great value of his work in this line. They are satisfied that Edison Jurngner, both expert chemists, started from the same point, say the Edison-Lalande battery, and inevitably reached the same conclusion, and quite unknown to each other. But as Jurngner stared his work seven years ago, he secured his results earlier than anyone else. I may say that I have personally known something of what was going for some time, a nd that I have been able to take measures whereby: all interests may be unified, because as you know I have a very warm regard or Mr. Edison, who has for so many years always treated meso kindly and to whom I am morally and materially indepted. In this matter opposition of interests will be fateful and is most unnecessary. But I cannot keep this matter in my hands much longer, and have therefore asked you to consider if an interview may not do good. My people are finanically strong so for all Patent and business questions have enough to keep out all corners may be credited: but action is necessary. My friends can help you believe that you know what you are about in spite of the yelpings of a certain class of Briton. But you must see that Jurgner's position is an exceedingly strong one, and if that fact my people are fully continued. If you have not wired me already, it will pay you to do so, as Mr. Balton will not allow me to leave other interests here unless you are quite willing to hear what is to be said: But it would be a shame to allow this business to fall into the wire of an interminable litigation for want of a chance to exchange views at the start. If you wire me as soon as you get this, I can probably start on the Deutschland on the 26 inst.
Sincerely yours,
W.N. Steward
Clapham Road,
London, S.W. 12 July, 1901
Dear Mr. Dick:-
I have your letter of the 2nd inst for which I thank you, and regret to now that you are not yet ready to take up the Battery business on this side.
I have already written you from Stockholm and on my return re Jurgner's Patents. But I now wish to more fully explain the position here:-
It is thought here, and publicly asserted, that either both Edison's and Jurgner's Patents disclose nothing new in the art on account nothing new in the art on account of the previous use of alkaline solutions, etc., or that Jurgner's Patents are clearly new and controlling as to the use of stock solutions with finely divided metals and oxides with neutral supports and graphite as a conducting medium. The opinion of the best living experts is that Jurngner made the first practical oxygen Battery and fully protected it by Patents in all countries. In this belief my associates purchased his rights and are preparing to manufacture the Battery here and in America. At the same time, they are broad-gauge[?] men who have a very opinion of Mr. Edison's genius and a full appreciation of the great value of his work in this line. They are satisfied that Edison Jurngner, both expert chemists, started from the same point, say the Edison-Lalande battery, and inevitably reached the same conclusion, and quite unknown to each other. But as Jurngner stared his work seven years ago, he secured his results earlier than anyone else. I may say that I have personally known something of what was going for some time, a nd that I have been able to take measures whereby: all interests may be unified, because as you know I have a very warm regard or Mr. Edison, who has for so many years always treated meso kindly and to whom I am morally and materially indepted. In this matter opposition of interests will be fateful and is most unnecessary. But I cannot keep this matter in my hands much longer, and have therefore asked you to consider if an interview may not do good. My people are finanically strong so for all Patent and business questions have enough to keep out all corners may be credited: but action is necessary. My friends can help you believe that you know what you are about in spite of the yelpings of a certain class of Briton. But you must see that Jurgner's position is an exceedingly strong one, and if that fact my people are fully continued. If you have not wired me already, it will pay you to do so, as Mr. Balton will not allow me to leave other interests here unless you are quite willing to hear what is to be said: But it would be a shame to allow this business to fall into the wire of an interminable litigation for want of a chance to exchange views at the start. If you wire me as soon as you get this, I can probably start on the Deutschland on the 26 inst.
Sincerely yours,
W.N. Steward