[D0231AAL], Letter from Eugene Howard Lewis to Frederic Henry Betts, May 24th, 1902
https://edisondigital.rutgers.edu/document/D0231AAL
Transcription
May 24, 1902. Frederick H. Betts, Esq., 120 Broadway, New York City. Dear Sir:- Re Edison Patent. In a former letter I alluded to statements made by Professor Silvanus P. Thompson, in relation to the comparative merits of the Marconi and other wireless telegraph patent situations in the United States. Since then I have received copies of the Saturday Review for the 5th of April, the 3rd of May and the 10th of May, which I take pleasure in forwarding to you with this letter, for your consideration. In the Review for the 5th of April, appears an article entitled "The Inventor of Wireless Telegraphy", signed by Professor Thompson. To this article Mr. Marconi made reply in the name of May 3rd. A rejoinder by Professor Thompson appears in the same issue of May 10th. It is the last article in question which contains a reference to Edison's patent of 1891 (end of first paragraph, page 599). An inference from this article would seem to be that Edison was the first in the field, so far as upright or vertical wires are concerned. And I may add here that Professor Pupin, to whom was given for examination a copy of the Edison patent some weeks ago by some one connected with the Marconi Company, called on me for the purpose of ascertaining whether its period was limited by any foreign patents. In the course of his conversation, Professor Pupin said that it was clear from a reading of a patent, that it was covered the feature of upright wires. This letter is not intended as an argument, but only as a statement of facts coming to my attention.