[D9240AAL], Letter from Samuel Insull to Thomas Alva Edison, January 28th, 1892
https://edisondigital.rutgers.edu/document/D9240AAL
Transcription
Schenectady, N. Y., January 28, 1892. You know the Nickel-in-the Slot Company have made a contract with the New York Company, be which they run the Nickel- in- the- Slot business for the year. The Nickel-in-the- Slot people want to farm out this contrast on a basis that will give the Automatic Company 20% of the cross receipts, The Automatic Company collecting the money: and holding the whole receipts until they get enough to insure them a minimum guaranteed income and to ensure the N.Y. Phonograph a minimum guaranteed income. The man they want to give the contract to is MARSHALL, with whom they have the same relation with regard to New Jersey and New England. Marshall is in the business and has the organization and if I allow them to make the arrangement proposed they will be at no expense and will have a definite income. I think I can at the same time make a stipulation that this man Marshall shall buy from the Phonograph Works all his records, both for New York, New England, and New Jersey for Nickel-in-the-Slot machines, providing you will allow me to make some rebate on the price of 50 cents a record. It is estimated that Marshall will use in this business nearly a thousand records a week. I want your views on this matter- that is, would you farm out this contract Besides the 20% the Nickel-in-the-Slot Co. gets, the N. Y .Co. gets 25% and MARSHALL, who is to keep all batteries in order, inspect the machines, pay and exchange all records, and pay the men who collect the money for the Auto-Matic Company, is to get 55%. Marshall is to guarantee that 125 machines will be kept running, and that 45% of the gross receipts shall amount to $130 per machine during the year. He gets no money until we have collected enough to cover this guarantee. [TAE Marginalia] From Mr. Edison to Mr. Insull. I think it all right providing