[D9202ABS], Letter from John Caldwell Calhoun to Thomas Alva Edison, September 26th, 1892
https://edisondigital.rutgers.edu/document/D9202ABS
Transcription
[TAE Marginalia] I very seldom go to the city now but will call in when I do New York, Sept, 25th 1892 Mr. Thomas A. Edison, Orange, New Jersey My Dear Sir:- I have in my office a model of “cotton picker”, which is the invention of a young South Carolinian. I understand that you have paid some attention to “cotton pickers”, and I should be very much gratified, if you will, the first time you come in the city, call and look at this model, and would be very much obliged if you would name the time that I may have the inventor here to explain it to you. You are probably aware that my experience in cotton planting in the South is second only to that of Col. Richardson of New Orleans. I have had a great many devices of “cotton pickers” presented to me, but have never before felt that any of them would be sufficiently successful to interest myself in them, but this one seems to me so entirely practical that I have had a model made and am now about to take steps to build a practical machine for testing in the field, before doing so I would like very much to have your opinion, and would be glad to have you interested with me, if you are so inclined, in this picker. I spoke to Mr. Lewis about it a day or two ago, but he advised me to write direct to you. The party who controls a successful “cotton picker”, you must be aware, has the biggest fortune that has ever been made in this country. Please let me know when you can call at the office, as I am anxious to confer with you before having the machine built for a practical test. Very truly yours, John C. Calhoun