Letterhead: The Electrical Supply Co.
Chicago Jan. 12, 1892.
Mr. A. O. Tate,
Edison Laboratory Orange, N.J.
Dear Sir;
Just after receiving yours of Jan. 4th I had an aggravated case of trouble with my phonograph, which I think may be worth telling you about. The temperature got low in the office towards evening from some trouble with steam pipes. I had completed the dictation of a cylinder on which were several letters which I was anxious to get off and found it impossible to remove the cylinder. I am pretty good at getting up a car window when other people fall to budge it and have always managed before to remove a cylinder by coaxing, warming, cussing etc. I exhausted my efforts however on this cylinder and called in our Mr. M. M. Wood, who is a pretty good phonograph expert himself; he gave the job up and I left the cylinder on over Sunday, the result of course being a big jagged crack which made it very easy to get it off. Now I am no kicker as a usual thing, and in this ease you must give me credit for having learned my lesson thoroughly and become an enthusiastic advocate of the phonograph before doing any kicking against the machine itself. This particular trouble however is something that I know must be, and will be remedied sooner or later. I do not altogether understand your reference to hard rubber shells, never having seen any in use. My own idea was a solid hard rubber mandril replacing the brass. Of course there might be better ways of accomplishing the result.
Now that I have learned where you are, I want to ask a favor of you. I have succeeded through the kindness of Mr.Dickson in getting some photographs of the laboratory and surroundings with which to decorate my office. I take quite a little pride in the latter and need just one thing to make it according to my taste, which is a picture of Mr. Edison. Could you get one for me, or tell me where I can get it?
Yours very truly,
Signed: Charles Summer Wirt

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