[D8427ZAM], Letter from Thomas Alva Edison to Henry Villard, April 25th, 1884
https://edisondigital.rutgers.edu/document/D8427ZAM
→ View document with UniversalViewer
→ View document on Archive.org
→ Re-use this digital object via a IIIF manifest
Title
[D8427ZAM], Letter from Thomas Alva Edison to Henry Villard, April 25th, 1884
Editor's Notes
SELECTABLE! I have concluded not to take hold of the Light Company business upon the terms indicated by you at our last interview. I have written to the Light Coy. that I would be pleased [to] turn over the skilled men in my Construction Department either to the Light Co or Isolated Co as it is impossible for me to continue to stand the expense of my present organization in as much as the Light Co's Agents are not forming any new companies and I am consequently not getting any more contracts. If they decide not to take over this organization I shall disband it as quickly as circumstances will permit. Regarding the question of manufacture my Associates are willing to give the Light Co various percentages in the gross sales and to submit to a limitation of profits in some form to be agreed on. The percentages would vary with each Factory and depend upon the amount of work done in each year. My associates & myself believe however that it would be a great mistake for the Light Co to derive any profit from the Factories. The company should merely restrict the Shops as to the amount of their profits in as much as the strongest argument the Light Co can make in negotiating with Local Companies as to licenses is that they have no interest whatever in the profits derived from manufacture but that they (Light Co) look for their profits, to the same source as do the local parties in interest with them viz Dividends on their stock holding in the local Illuminating Companies. We shall however be ready to state the various percentages we are willing to give whatever we are called upon to do. [signed by TAE]
Author
Recipient
Date
1884-04-25
Type
Folder/Volume ID
D8427-F
Microfilm ID
73:191
Document ID
D8427ZAM
Publisher
Thomas A. Edison Papers, School of Arts and Sciences, Rutgers University