[D8959AFL], Letter from Hugh De Coursey Hamilton to Alfred Ord Tate, October 13th, 1889
https://edisondigital.rutgers.edu/document/D8959AFL
→ View document with UniversalViewer
→ View document on Archive.org
→ Re-use this digital object via a IIIF manifest
Title
[D8959AFL], Letter from Hugh De Coursey Hamilton to Alfred Ord Tate, October 13th, 1889
Editor's Notes
I wrote Mr. Edison yesterday addressing him to Llewellyn Park and mentioning that I had promised to give you fortnightly statements.## I purpose complying with your request in this matter, deeming my loyalty due first to Mr. Edison, as I have always considered myself in his employ, through actually paid a salary by Col. Gouraud but only in conformity with the arrangements to that effect made with him by you. In accordance with the above mentioned request I propose, without allowing prejudice or feeling to sway me in any way to the disadvantage of Col. or others, & likewise without fear or favor, to state facts as far as I am in knowledge of them. If however you desire further than this,—comments, news etc.—I could but deem such duty irksome while Col. was paying me a salary and would ask, in such case, Mr. Edison to remit me direct.## I will first confine myself to mentioning the disposition made of the instruments received up to date, twenty in number besides the two experimental or model machines brought over by Mr. Gilliland and myself. Two phono-graph are in Italy loaned to a friend of Colonel's, a Mr. Copello to the encouragement of raising a company, but used up to date principally for exhibitional purposes to the public.## One other is in Denmark sent with the same object, & to parties who have negotiated for that country.## (Lecturers)?One in Belgium and three others in England all with lecturers for public entertainments. One of three return about £40.000—weekly to the office, the others not being so successful.## Two are held in reserve at office for private entertainments, both paying and free, "at homes," "conversazionies" etc. which hire of an evening at between ten & twenty pounds each.## The remaining instruments are at the office used for private exhibit, business and teaching pupils the manipulation & construction.## From the shipment packed for Lisbon by the factory we retained one treadle machine which is included in the above mentioned twenty.## Besides the three English lecturers, I have taught seven pupils the phonograph three of these paying a premium, while the others excepting two received no salary while learning. Two of these pupils only are in receipt of pay from the office, each drawing £1.0.0 ($5.00) per week. With these two as my entire assistance I have to teach others, four in number at present, keep the machines in repair & attend to all matters in the Phonograph Department. When either of these assistants attend an evening paying entertainment he receives from the office one guinea## I have confined this relative to my department, & before writing again will wait to learn from you whether such a statement as the above is satisfactory. Hope you enjoyed a good crossing back.## Father writes me from Paris that he is disappointed not having seen you again before your departure but considers how busy you must have been. Believe me?Yours very sincerely
Author
Recipient
Mentioned
Date
1889-10-13
Type
Folder/Volume ID
D8959-F
Microfilm ID
127:957
Document ID
D8959AFL
Publisher
Thomas A. Edison Papers, School of Arts and Sciences, Rutgers University