[D8963AAT], Letter from Pacific Phonograph Co, Louis Glass to Thomas Alva Edison, June 8th, 1889
https://edisondigital.rutgers.edu/document/D8963AAT
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- Title
- [D8963AAT], Letter from Pacific Phonograph Co, Louis Glass to Thomas Alva Edison, June 8th, 1889
- Editor's Notes
- "We have a telegram from you dates May 21st, reading as follows: "Go light on treadle; we have new battery four sizes last one, twp, three and six months; also motor would electric light circuits– you can run out telephones wire and put sixty Phonographs on one circuit supplying current from small dynamo and gas engine all made independent by resistance," signed "Edison".### The ([–]) batteries received with machines do not thus far seem to be altogether satisfactory. A single cell will run some instruments up to 180 revolutions whilst others are barely moved and we cannot get 100 revolutions. Two cells in all instance give good results. Now the cost of these batteries is so great as to be with many of our subscribers prohibitory. It is as follows: 5 lbs. Chromic Acid at 40 cts., 12" sulphuric acid at 5 Cts., 5 gallons water. ### This will give us six charges, or 43 Cts. Each without estimating the value of the zine, of which I cannot get the cost. We estimate the cost twenty days per month, two cells 43 Cts. Each, $17.20 where one cell does the duty, it will be half of this, or $8.60. Now this expense is so great without considering the labor required in keeping these batteries up, that we have though it best to hold back our machines until we get the dynamo circuit mentioned in your telegram and this we want just as soon as it is perfected; we would like, however, an estimate of the cost as soon as you can give it to us and it may be cheaper for us to use steam power rather than the gas engine.### Now concerning shipments of machines. As at present boxed, these machines weigh an average of 250 pounds each and the freight charged is three and a half cents a pound, making $8.75 Now, by shipping in car-load lots, the outer box and packing can be dispensed with which would reduce the weight 100 lbs. And ([–]) the cost to precisely $5. each. This would require but 143 machines to a carload and would be a very material saving to us I will say here, that in shipping goods to the Pacific Coast, they do not require to be as securely boxed if forwarded by ordinary freight as by express, the express handling being much more severe.### You seem to disparage the use of treadle machines; we have quite a number of orders from parties who are located in the mountains of California where battery material would be unusually expensive and unless we could supply treadles, we would, in our opinion, be shut out of this territory. It is our eventual purpose to place a machine in every hamlet and village in the States ceded to us as to increase the facility for correspondence by Phonographs, and in very many places, it was our purpose to put treadle machines. The treadle machine sent us works splendidly and we cannot understand why you object to their being leased to the public ([Marg.: $2.00,.60,00,$2.60])"
- Recipient
- Edison, Thomas Alva
- Date
- 1889-06-08
- Type
- Letter
- Folder ID
- D8963-F
- Microfilm ID
- 128:66
- Document ID
- D8963AAT
- Publisher
- Thomas A. Edison Papers, School of Arts and Sciences, Rutgers University
- Has Version
- Archive.org Viewer, Microfilm Series Reel 128