[D9225AAD], Letter from J P Griffin to Thomas Alva Edison, February 12th, 1892
https://edisondigital.rutgers.edu/document/D9225AAD
Transcription
Letterhead: Edison General Electric Company Thomas A. Edison, Esq., New York Feb. 12, 1892 Dear Sir:-- I have taken the liberty of ending you, under separate cover, two designs showing an idea which you will, I am sure, admit is an attractive one, though it may not be one of the particularly useful kind. I conceived the idea of making a [-----] with genuine fixed stars instead of white bunting stars. At the first glance at the drawings you will see that the plan is to place miniature Edison Lamps in each star, with the proper connections for lighting, made with very small and flexible conductors. I don’t doubt but that numerous difficulties will occur to you, such as the protection of the lamps from damage when the flag would flap in a high wind. All of these objections have occurred to me, and I have a number of ways of overcoming each difficulties, which I am convince would meet the requirements A forty foot flag can be made to support the requisite number of three, four or six candle power Edison lamps, without in the least destroying its flexibility or injurying its grace. The lights would be visible from each side of the flag. This device, I have shown to a number of gentlemen, among them Mr. Chas. D. Shain, and all have expressed the believe that when first displayed it would cause wide comment in the news papers and elsewhere. If displayed for the first time on some conspicuous occasion and place, such as the Worlds Fair, it would be a very attractive novelty and afterwards would, I believe, be sought to a limited degree for Hotels, Club Houses and Theatres. My object on addressing you in this length of [-------] is two-fold. First, I want to dedicated any attractive qualities which this device posseses, to add in a very trifling way to the glory of Edison institution: for would it not be a great thing to float the first one to the breeze over the Edison Exhibit at Chicago next year. Second, I wish to say a word for myself. Through your kindness in writing a letter on September 14th, 1891, recommending me to Mr. Chas. D. Shain, I secured a position with the General Co., although the only opening at that time was here in the Fixture Department, where I am very content to remain, if some position more essentially “ Electric” cannot be secured, but I believe that I could be more service to the company and at the same time gratify my own inclinations in some other department, such as Railroad, Mining, or General Motor, or Lighting work. Now that some important changes are to be made in the organization of the Company, I beg that you will put me in way of entering some of the Departments more electrical or mechanical than this. This may sound a trifle brash, but while I hope to advance by merit, I am afraid that in the present confusion Mr. Shain’s promise to give me something more to my taste may be overleaping. I also enclose with the sketches, a phamphlet showing the grinding machinery of my Father’s design, which I left your laboratory to help my father exploit, and the control of which has gone into other hands now, through lack of funds. Traveling for this business made me familiar with the demands of grinding and mining industries which should be of use in some of the other departments. The subject of machinery for reducing ores to a granular state, has I believe been of much interest to you lately and I recommend a perusal of this phamphlet. Begging your forgiveness for taking so much of your time, and trusting that I shall be favored with an early reply, I remain Yours very truly, [Signed Griffin, JP]