[D8845AAA], Letter from D M Siprell to Thomas Alva Edison, February 1st, 1888
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Title
[D8845AAA], Letter from D M Siprell to Thomas Alva Edison, February 1st, 1888
Editor's Notes
typed from Wheeling WV] Your letter 30th to hand, among the various mechanical devices for cutting Coal, the most successful so far as I can learn, is identical in construction with the 'Burley Steam Rock Drill'; I mean in the manner of applying the power to produce the blow (or the same as any reciprocating Steam Engine) compressed Air being used in the place of Steam as it could not be used in the Coal mine. The reciprocating motion of course is the same as that we have under consideration. Space in a Coal mine is very limited, hence the value of a Tool for cutting Coal depends almost as much upon the ease with which it is handled while at work, or in moving from one place to another, as upon the amount of work it will do. ### The object I had in giving a description at all, was more to convey an idea of the most desirable size and shape than to give any particular manner of construction as I know scarcely anything about the application of Electricity as a motive power. I know that Electric lights have been used in Coal mines but think that Electricity has never been used as a motive power to run Coal Cutting Machinery. To illustrate what I want to get at: A man with a pick would not average over 10 blows to the minute during 5 hours work and as a whole, will not exceed 25 lbs. to the blow. Now if he has a tool that he can hold in his hand as a pick, and strike 500 blows, and direct them with the same intelligence as the blows of his pick the result is 50 to one, and 12 to one would be an immense advantage. [Marginalia: "Over any machine in use so far"] ### A glance at the Patent Office Reports, will show you the ponderosity of the Coal Cutting Machines that have been devised. ### Hoping to hear further from you on this subject I am yours to command. D.M. Siprell [TAE addresses thjis to Batchelor]
Author
Recipient
Date
1888-02-01
Type
Folder/Volume ID
D8845-F
Microfilm ID
123:866
Document ID
D8845AAA
Publisher
Thomas A. Edison Papers, School of Arts and Sciences, Rutgers University