[D8828ACM], Letter from James E Browne to Thomas Alva Edison, July 23rd, 1888
https://edisondigital.rutgers.edu/document/D8828ACM
→ View document with UniversalViewer
→ View document on Archive.org
→ Re-use this digital object via a IIIF manifest
Title
[D8828ACM], Letter from James E Browne to Thomas Alva Edison, July 23rd, 1888
Editor's Notes
"Some months since I received a letter from you stating that as soon as your new Laboratory was completed you would take up the subject of my new explosive. I have not heard from you yet regarding this matter but meanwhile a more important subject has come to had viz myself & Henry W. Pope have been instrumental in starting the Westinghouse Alternating system at Carbondale and other places. Since then the alternating system has become quite popular. Pope and I had so much confidence in the system that we invested our own means and those of our friends at Morristown NJ & other places. We do not like the method of doing business of the Westinghouse Co. The only reason I ever did any with them was that they seemed to have the only means of long distance lighting for such places as Carbondale &c. You will remember that I told you this at our last interview when I met you at Orange N.J. Since then I have ascertained that the Westinghouse Co have no valid patents on the alternating system. I suppose therfore that yourself and others will compete with them and as we are obliged to extend our lighting facilities must either purchase our apparatus of them or other parties. I much prefer to do business with you and if you are in a position to compete I should like to hear from you. ### I have in my employ the chief expert of the Westinghouse Co. who knows it all and anything that we can do to asist you in a fair competition we will gladly do. Hoping to hear from you soon I remain" Yorus respy, James E. Browne "P.S. Of course you know that Slattery the U.S. Co & Siemens are in the field. J.E.B." [TAE marginalia: "Write Browne that we are getting ready to enter the field but with a continuous current transformer and complete system. E." "Ans 30/7/88"]
Author
Recipient
Mentioned
Date
1888-07-23
Type
Folder/Volume ID
D8828-F
Microfilm ID
122:909
Document ID
D8828ACM
Publisher
Thomas A. Edison Papers, School of Arts and Sciences, Rutgers University