[D8123R], Letter from Francis Robbins Upton to Thomas Alva Edison, March 7th, 1881
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Title
[D8123R], Letter from Francis Robbins Upton to Thomas Alva Edison, March 7th, 1881
Editor's Notes
Long, detailed letter on lamp mfg. Now testing lamps with copper plated ends in silver clamps. Plated clamps take 2-3Xs longer to get off than silver clamps; seem to contain large amounts of gas. Now getting the best vacuums we've had. Can get good quick vac without heating lamp before putting on pump. "Clean mercury acts promptly and upsets all rules of working with mercury that was not good." Leveled feed line from pump to boiler. Campbell got coal shed built faster than expected. Having pattern made for a cover to take under it 100 forms at once; Campbell says he can handle that many. By slightly changing furnace can get 600 A carbons, 1200 B carbons at a heat, twice that per day. Lawson showing ingenuity & more industry than ever; waiting for corks with medium holes. Discusses parts [for pumps?] Can't judge offer from Brooklyn without seeing the place; "I am thoroughly convinced by my experience here that we must move. We never can make the lamp cheap until we can have plenty of boys and girls at low wages. These can neve be had except where there are other manufacturing establishments employing men;" maybe Newark outskirts. Sooner we decide the better. Will need open room to expand; know it'll have to be large but dare not write up figures.
Author
Recipient
Date
1881-03-07
Type
Folder/Volume ID
D8123-F
Microfilm ID
57:789
Document ID
D8123R
Publisher
Thomas A. Edison Papers, School of Arts and Sciences, Rutgers University