[D0231AAJ], Letter from Eugene Howard Lewis to Thomas Alva Edison, May 23rd, 1902
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Title
[D0231AAJ], Letter from Eugene Howard Lewis to Thomas Alva Edison, May 23rd, 1902
Author
Recipient
Date
1902-05-23
Type
Subject
Folder/Volume ID
D0231-F
Microfilm ID
187:976
Document ID
D0231AAJ
Publisher
Thomas A. Edison Papers, School of Arts and Sciences, Rutgers University
Has Version
Item sets
Transcription
Letterhead of Eaton & Lewis
Law Offices
44 Broad Street (EDISON BUILDING)
New York
May 23, 1902.
Thomas A. Edison, Esq.,
Orange, New Jersey.
My Dear Edison:
Since writing my letter to you this morning, I have received a letter from Mr. Frederick H. Betts, to whom has been an investigation of your patent by the Marconi Company, from which I extract the following statement:
"I observe that the patent describes a system of "apparatus for telegraphing or signalling between distant "points 'by induction', and the patent describes the system "of telegraphy as one practiced between elevated condensing "surfaces.
"I should be very glad to know whether it is "claimed on the part of Mr. Edison that the system and "apparatus described in his patent really operates, not upon "the principle of 'induction' or by reason of elevated plates "acting as 'condensers', but by the production of Hertz "oscillations; and if so, what ground there is for that "contention, if such is the case".
You will readily perceive from the nature of Mr. Betts' query, what the direction of his thoughts is. It looks as though Mr. Betts was going to advise the Marconi Company, that in view of the fact that at the time of your application, such a thing as herzin ways were not known, and further in view of the fact that in your patent the purpose of the elevation seems to be to avoid the curvature of the earth's surface, and in view of the further fact that the principle of induction seems to be the principle of your patent, that therefore your patent would not be
<Lewis _>
<The apparatus of the patent operated 3 miles In view of the present-state of the art, Mr Betts [illegible overstruck handwriting] Exports will have to put his own interpretation as to the scopes of the patent & its modus operandi _>
<[illegible overstruck handwriting]>
Edison of any use in adverse hands, to prevent the operation of the Marconi System.
Of course it does not follow from that fact that your patent might not be of considerable use in the hands of the Marconi Company, to stop anybody who sought to make use of the principle and apparatus described in your patent.
I am handing you for your convenience, a copy of your patent, 465,971, and copies of the Marconi patents, Nos. 624, 516 and 627,650.
I haven't answered Mr. Betts' letter, containing the foregoing extract, and shall await an answer to this letter before I reply to his.
Yours truly,
Eugene H. Lewis
Law Offices
44 Broad Street (EDISON BUILDING)
New York
May 23, 1902.
Thomas A. Edison, Esq.,
Orange, New Jersey.
My Dear Edison:
Since writing my letter to you this morning, I have received a letter from Mr. Frederick H. Betts, to whom has been an investigation of your patent by the Marconi Company, from which I extract the following statement:
"I observe that the patent describes a system of "apparatus for telegraphing or signalling between distant "points 'by induction', and the patent describes the system "of telegraphy as one practiced between elevated condensing "surfaces.
"I should be very glad to know whether it is "claimed on the part of Mr. Edison that the system and "apparatus described in his patent really operates, not upon "the principle of 'induction' or by reason of elevated plates "acting as 'condensers', but by the production of Hertz "oscillations; and if so, what ground there is for that "contention, if such is the case".
You will readily perceive from the nature of Mr. Betts' query, what the direction of his thoughts is. It looks as though Mr. Betts was going to advise the Marconi Company, that in view of the fact that at the time of your application, such a thing as herzin ways were not known, and further in view of the fact that in your patent the purpose of the elevation seems to be to avoid the curvature of the earth's surface, and in view of the further fact that the principle of induction seems to be the principle of your patent, that therefore your patent would not be
<Lewis _>
<The apparatus of the patent operated 3 miles In view of the present-state of the art, Mr Betts [illegible overstruck handwriting] Exports will have to put his own interpretation as to the scopes of the patent & its modus operandi _>
<[illegible overstruck handwriting]>
Edison of any use in adverse hands, to prevent the operation of the Marconi System.
Of course it does not follow from that fact that your patent might not be of considerable use in the hands of the Marconi Company, to stop anybody who sought to make use of the principle and apparatus described in your patent.
I am handing you for your convenience, a copy of your patent, 465,971, and copies of the Marconi patents, Nos. 624, 516 and 627,650.
I haven't answered Mr. Betts' letter, containing the foregoing extract, and shall await an answer to this letter before I reply to his.
Yours truly,
Eugene H. Lewis