[D8747AAV], Letter from William Earl Hidden to Thomas Alva Edison, December 12th, 1887

https://edisondigital.rutgers.edu/document/D8747AAV

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Title

[D8747AAV], Letter from William Earl Hidden to Thomas Alva Edison, December 12th, 1887

Editor's Notes

A corner of each page of this letter is torn away, so some text is missing. Letter concerns William Earl Hidden's interest in supplying TAE with large quantities with zircons. Hidden refers to his success in supplying TAE with thorium in 1879. Hidden refers to a conversation with TAE and Major Frank McLoughlin in October 1887 when TAE stated that he could use large quantities of zirconia. Hidden notes that he has written letters to TAE on this topic but has received no response yet. Hidden notes that he has learned on good authority that TAE has circumvented the Welsbach patent and is, therefore, in the market for zirconia. Hidden states that he has perfected a new method for the separation for zirconia, which does not infringe on the Welsbach patent. This method allows him to furnish zirconia free from iron and absolutely pure zirconia nitrate in lots of 1000 - 5000 lbs. Hidden notes that he controls six of the best zircon mines in America (from context in North Carolina and South Carolina). The remainder of the letter details estimated costs for production and delivery of varous quantities of zircons. Hidden also lists various other minerals that he can provide and their costs, including: thorium, lanthana, didymia, ythria, neodymia, ceria, urania, and any of the "rare earths."

Date

1887-12-12

Type

Folder/Volume ID

D8747-F

Microfilm ID

120:165

Document ID

D8747AAV

Publisher

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