The Thomas A. Edison Papers Digital Edition

Transcription

Letterhead: Edison General Electric Company  
A.O. Tate, P.S 
o/o Thos. A. Edison 
Orange, N.J.  
Cincinnati, Ohio July. 12, 1892 
Dear Sir:-  
I beg to acknowledge receipt of your favor of the 9th inst., and to thank Mr. Edison through you for his kindness in forwarding to me the large panel portrait, attached to which is his autograph, this has not as yet reached me, but I presume it will come along within a day or so. 
With further reference to the matters which my letter referred to, I regret to state that the conditions as they exist in this territory are most emphatically anti-Edison; in the first place The Central Thomson-Houston Co., is a separate and distinct corporation, under the laws of the State of Ohio, and operating nearly all of the State of Ohio, all of Kentucky and the major part of Indiana. Their rights with the parent T-H Co., cover only Arc, Incandescent Lighting and standard Motors, the Railway Dept., is not included in these rights, and is operated by a special Agent located in this office under the direction of the Boston Office. At the time of the consolidation was first spoken of instructions were given to co-operate with the Central T-H Co., as much as possible, this co-operation with readily adhered to by all of the Edison representatives but none of the T-H representatives, in fact, upon every plant which we were working our instructions were not to our prices, and in each instance the prices were cut by the T-H Co., which invariably soured the contract. On June 1st the territory operated by the Central T-H Co., was turned over to them in so far as that territory was operated under the management of Mr. Beggs, from the Central District by the Edison General Electric Co. One of the first things for The Central T-H Co., to do was close up our offices in Louisville and Cincinnati, the Cleveland office still remains open but doing no business. The next move was to write to the Chicago office for a complete list of all of the plants which the Edison General Territory Co.’s Agents had been working upon in this territory, after receiving this our Agents were notified to cease all their efforts upon these prospective plants and immediately notified their own Agents to exercise their greatest efforts and submit bids upon T-H apparatus, thus leaving the Edison interests entirely out of competition. Early in June the Manager of this office, Mr. Paul T. Brady , informed me that he would sell no more Edison Motors, for the reason that more money was made by this Company on T-H Motors. During the past six weeks I have secured orders for no less than 30 Edison Slow Speed Motors in this territory; and I am informed by the Management here that they are under contract with the Crooker-Wheeler Co., to use their Motors, and , therefore, cannot fill orders which I have taken for Edison Slow Speed Motors, the result has been to achieve this apparatus. As regards the sale of patented apparatus, I might state that this Company sell all kinds of lamps, probably more of the Perkin’s manufacture than any thing else; aside from T-H., other supplies are about the same, no effort or interest is taken in Edison supplies. As regards Standard Motors, I have just met a case in Louisville, KY., where our [illegible word] Chicago Office was under obligations to supply our Edison a motor to the Louisville Lithographing Co., the local representative of this J.H Company learned of this [illegible word], and before the Chicago Office could make delivery the local Agents, [Messrs?]. Cooper & Clark induced them to take a T-H Motor, this was shipped at once from this City and was in running order before the Edison Motor could be delivered. 
As regards employees located at different Edison Offices at the time of the consolidation, I regret to say out of a total of some 10 or 12 men, there are but two left, Mr. Barr, at Cleveland, O. and myself,; the former being in a very disgusted condition and is about to accept a position with the Westinghouse Co., and with myself I can scarcely see any thing ahead for me to do but resigning, for the reason that every thing has been taken out of my hands. I have no jurisdictions over anything, and am, to speak plainly, practically “froze out,” however, I have a 60 day contract upon a $3000.00 a year basis and as yet have received no notice that my services were not required. 
The enclosed information I hand you in confidence and for the reason that it is requested, further-more, because you should be made aware of these conditions. I have only out-lined that which has been evident and you can readily imagine that a great deal more has been done sub-rosa. If there is anything further upon this subject which you should like me to communicate to you I shall only be too glad to do so, for as I stated in my previous letter I have devoted 12 years in the interest of the Edison Co., been through its different stages from beginning to what seems to be the end, and I trust you will appreciate that I have proven myself somewhat of a success else I would not have remained for so long a period. Three years of this time I spent in [one legible word] and was taken there by Mr. E. H. Johnson, at the time of the establishment of the London Office, therefore, if in the near future you can find a position for me either at home or abroad, I can assure you that I shall devote my best energies and constant service in your interest. 
Yours respectfully, 
[Signed: Stout, George H] 
P.S The Edison [Ledande?] battery business has been dropped entirely. I would suggest that you give this your early attention else this business will be severely injured.