[D8239ZGB], Letter from Harry Olrick to William Mather, August 28th, 1882

https://edisondigital.rutgers.edu/document/D8239ZGB

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Title

[D8239ZGB], Letter from Harry Olrick to William Mather, August 28th, 1882

Editor's Notes

[enclosure to D8239ZGA] VERY USEFUL REFERENCE. Preliminary report of inquiry in Edison lighting system. Discusses TAE personally because "so much depends upon him for the success of incandescent electric lighting." Interesting, very quotable impressions of TAE as "man of great simplicity, one whose earnestness and honesty could not be questioned by anybody after conversing with him for any length of time. Instead of being ready at the slightest inducement to put on the market any invention, original or suggested, as many people imagine, he makes a rule of carefully finding out whether his invention is 'at least 10% better than anything else of a similar nature.'" Explains functions of the lighting companies; describes central station (nearly half finished) "is situated in the southern part of New York, which is devoted to offices and warehouses, & is in consequence a very unfavorable site for lighting purposes, the locality being almost entirely deserted after 7pm. There is, however, a large amount of power required for driving elevators & small shops, & the company h ope eventually to supply these places with motors and current. The number of h ours per annum when the light is required does not exceed 300, whereas in the upper or residential part of the city the light would be required for about 1000 hours per annum"--this is site of planned 2nd district. Think they've made a mistake in putting engines & dynamos on first floor above boilers, which may lead to serious vibration and excessive heat from below. Discusses conductors; anticipated costs. Using Porter-Allen but also trying Armington & Sims on account of trouble. Experiments show show that loss of energy in transmission "not more than 40%..& thuse the use of electricity is shown to be as economical as the use of compressed air or hydraulic power." Discusses electric rwy, tube manufacturing very profitablel; lamps. Insull says $300,000 invested in Machine Works; no profit yet. Dynamos are simple but great care needed for insulation has been cause of much loss. Lamps (16cp) now about 140 ohms but TAE hoping to reach 500 ohms; exptl 280 ohm lamp works well. Edison strongly believes future of elighting is in central stations, where engines, labor, etc are more efficient than in Isolated plants. TAE also recommends the sale of candlepower or light, rather than current, so that improvements in lamps etc will return profit to the co instead of to the consumer. TAE thinks that cheaper English coal and labor will offset cheaper gas prices in making Elight competitive with gas.

Author

Recipient

Date

1882-08-28

Type

Folder/Volume ID

D8239-F

Microfilm ID

62:1148

Document ID

D8239ZGB

Publisher

Thomas A. Edison Papers, School of Arts and Sciences, Rutgers University
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