The Thomas A. Edison Papers Digital Edition

PDF: Archive.org
CSV: Metadata

Metadata

Title

[D8854AAA], Letter from George Edward Gouraud to Thomas Alva Edison, January 5th, 1888

Editor's Notes

"(Domestic Telephone.) ### Friends of mine have perfectd a very simple and attractive, as well as highly useful device for a domestic telephone. They have the opinion of Fletcher Moulton (whom we "swear by" here) that so far as the Bell patent is concerned, it is made upon the lines of the "disclaimer," so it is believed that it is not an infringement of any rights held by the United Co. I have been asked to take the Chairmanship of the concern, which will be in strong hands, and it is expectd that those most influential in the United and Allied Companies will be shareholders. I have consented, upon the condition that you will allow them to use your name in connection with it, as "The Edison Domestic T Co." a suggestion which they readily accede to, as they will deem it an honour to be allowed to associate your name with it. It is of course a compliment to you at the same time, which while you need not necessarily value very highly, you will not of course despise, it being the custom to associate the names of great men [insertion unclear] with things sometimes with which they have nothing whatever to do. Any interest I may take in it will be upon the "ground floor," and should you wish to participate in the capital, you shall be enabled to do so on the same terms as myself. If you do not wish to put any money in it, and I do, I shall make them -- as they will no doubt be glad to do -- present you with some shares of the value which your name will naturally give to the enterprise. It is the one field of telephony which I may say almost throughout the world is hardly touched, and for which theyre are large possibilities, even so great, probably, as the regular telephone business. An instrument will be sent to you by an early mail, so you can judge of what it is . I have had considerable to do with it, seeking to reduce it in size and cost as hear as possible to the ordinary electric bell. In the sample sent you, there will be only the name "Domestic Telephone", but of course if your name is used, it will be "Edison's Domestic." ### Kindly send me a cable when you have received this and the telephone, intimating your decision, so that we may proceed without delay in the registration of trade-marks, memo. Of ass'n, &c. The management will be in the hands of a very energetic and able man, so it will not take any of my time from the Phonograph. Simply the word "Domestic" will be sufficient to indicate your approval." Gouraud [TAE marg:: "Tate- Await arrival of telephone. E."]

Author

Gouraud, George Edward

Recipient

Edison, Thomas Alva

Mentioned

Tate, Alfred Ord

Date

1888-01-05

Type

Letter

Subject

Finances (TAE and family)

Stocks, bonds, and investments

Telephone

Folder ID

D8854-F

Microfilm ID

124:951

Document ID

D8854AAA

URL

https://edisondigital.rutgers.edu/document/D8854AAA

Rights

Thomas Edison National Historical Park

Publisher

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

Has Version

Archive.org Viewer, Microfilm Series Reel 124

Item sets

[D8854-F] (D-88-54) Telephone