[D8625E1], Letter from Francis Robbins Upton to Louis Rau, October 29th, 1886
https://edisondigital.rutgers.edu/document/D8625E1
→ View document with UniversalViewer
→ View document on Archive.org
→ Re-use this digital object via a IIIF manifest
Title
[D8625E1], Letter from Francis Robbins Upton to Louis Rau, October 29th, 1886
Editor's Notes
[There are multiple sketches, doodles, calculations, overstrikes, corrections, etc. on this letter. May be a "rough draft."] I have been very carefully into the European contract with Villard and TAE. There seems to be no solution to the problem unless your company stands ready to make a guarantee of $100,000 in cash or $8,000 a year minimum royalty. As I wrote you last, this is the only way that the EEL Co. of Europe can exist unless by the favor of its bondholders. There are several things that [from here below, "TAE" and "he" are crossed out and replaced with "I"] I object to strongly. ##There is one contained in Article 43-- lamps of five candles or below. I think that as there is no prospect of but few lamps of low cp being used, that it would be better to omit this. More than this, I feel that it makes uncertain what could be a certain figure, a royalty on lamps sold. The time and method of payment should be specified and the right given to examine your books. The number of lamps to be used in your offices and works should be specified. ##I do not understand why you except the lamps purchased[?] from the Edison Lamp Co. ##If the German Co. will give something direct to the European Edison Co. of NY, you should not have any objection. ##To the last paragraph of section 43, I object very strongly. TAE has no rights under your patents to send lamps into Europe, but there is no reason why you should make the forbidding him to send lamps so sweeping. ##I have asked legal advice and am told that so sweeping a clause as "directly or indirectly" should not be in a contract of this kind, in view of the fact that TAE is interested in the Edison Lamp Co. of Newark. ##I write you these points personally. I have felt that it might be well for me to go to Paris. This I might do if your company were ready to pay my expenses. ##I desire that you cable me on receipt of this, to me if you are ready to make some definite guarantee so as to take care of the bonds and debts of the Edison Co. of Europe and state what your proposition is. If I receive a fair offer, I will try to have TAE and the Light Co. give powers to me or someone to sign the contract.
Author
Recipient
Mentioned
Date
1886-10-29
Type
Folder/Volume ID
D8625-F
Microfilm ID
79:471
Document ID
D8625E1
Publisher
Thomas A. Edison Papers, School of Arts and Sciences, Rutgers University