The Thomas A. Edison Papers Digital Edition

Transcription

New York, March 18th 1901
Thos. A. Edison, Esq.,
Llewellyn Park, 
W. Orange, N.J.
Dear Sir:
Our Cologne house writes us as follows:
“We wish to inform you that the American Graphophone Co., of Washington, has, through the Columbia Phonograph Co., applied for a patent in Germany, for recording song, music, conversation, & c., by means of grand concert records, and the claims which they make in the patent are the following:-“An arrangement for recording sound, which has the distinguishing feature that the receiving record turns with the velocity of about 44 meters per minute under the recording stylus, which is placed at an angle of 20 degrees to the tangent of the receiving record at the point of contact, in order to obtain for the purpose of a better reproduction a well-rounded, continuous, undulating line as record of the sound waves, thus obtaining the full extent of the reproduced sound. Berlin, 8th of February. Applied for on the 5th of January, 1899.”
Against this application, which was made on the 5th of January, 1899 objections have been made by different parties, which however, have not been recognized by the German patent office, on the plea that before the date of application, Jan. 5,. 5, 1899, there was no phonograph known which was identical with the subject of the application.
Accordingly, records turned with the velocity of 44 meters  in a minute, that is 111 revolutions, were not known before the 5th of January, 1899. The applicant claims that he obtains a better reproduction of the sound when the velocity is 44 meters per minute and besides that he lays stress on the position of the recording stylus, with relation to the tangent of the record, giving the stylus an inclination of an acute angle of 20 degrees.
This latter item doesn’t seem to be so important. On the other hand, we have found in our experiments that the velocity of 44 members per minute is about the customary one.
The patent itself is not very important for us; but it might have considerable disadvantage, through the fat that it might prevent us from using the ordinary velocity when making records. 
Of course, there is a question as to what meaning the judge might give to the claim of about “about 44 meters.” We have, for instance, obtained very good results with a velocity of 50 meters per minute. 
Now, we are of the opinion that Mr. Edison made the grand concert records long before the application on the 5th of January, 1899, and that before that time they were placed before the public.
It also seems quite reasonable to suppose that Mr. Edison has made records at a velocity of 30 to 50 meters per minute, and that perhaps this patent may be invalidated by an affidavit of Mr. Edison to that effect. 
We should be much obliged to you if you would kindly communicate with Mr. Edison, and obtain if possible, the following information: “First-When did Mr. Edison first manufacture the grand concert phonographs?
Second-When did he make the grand concert records?
Third-What is the velocity that he employs in making of records, song and conversation?
Fourth-Has Mr. Edison made such receipts as the velocity of 44 meters per minute?
Fifth-What is the angle of his recording stylus in relation to the tangent of the record?
Sixth-Has Mr. Edison, before the 5th of January, 1899, given to his stylus in inclination of 20 degrees, as compared with the tangent of the record at the point of contract?’
The foregoing is a translated copy of the letter to us; and as we may have been awkward about translating the claims of the patent, we give you a copy of the German claims in German, as follows: “Eine Vorrichtung zur Verzeichnung von Tonen dadruch am Beruhrungapuntke, im spitzen Winkel -20 Grad-einschliessenden Verzeichner, mit einer Umfanggeschwindigkeit von ungefahr 44 Meter in einerr Minute dreht, um zum Zwecke einer besseren Widergabe sine gedrehte, abgerundete, zusammenhangende Welleninine ala Verzeichung dar skusitischen Schwingungen zu erhalten und dadurch den Umfang des wieder gegebenon Tones zu errichan.”
We presume your interest lies in the direction of upsetting the patent of the American Graphophone Co.; but, or course, we don’t don’t know.
If it does, will you oblige us by giving us a reply to the questions; or, if you cannot do that without a discussion of the subject, the writer, Mr. John H. Volkemann, whom you probably remember, will be pleased to call upon you at any time and place that you may appoint.
We are-
Yours very truly,
Volkmann Stollwerck + Co