The Thomas A. Edison Papers Digital Edition

Transcription

25th April 1892
Dear Mr. Seligman,
PHONO: PATENT CASE 96
According to your instructions, application been made in all long term countries for this Patent, including the Australasian Colonies; the only country where prior application has been made for Phonograph Patents, and where CASE 96 has not yet been applied for being Turkey. You will remember your instructions as to this country were that the matter be left in abeyance for some time, as application could safely be made later on. The Turkish Act says that an application will be considered now that has not received sufficient publicity in any foreign country to enable it to be worked. Now this patent has not yet got near that state, but as time gets on I should like your definite instruction on this point as soon as possible, whether you think it advisable to apply or not.
Allow me to recapitulate a few facts as to this country which may have weight with your decision. As you are aware Constantinople is the only important center in the whole country, and where business only is likely to take place in connection with the first introduction of the Phonograph at least. This city has a population proper of 600,000; but including the suburbs of Pera, Galata, Scutari etc, the population mounts up to a million and a half. Over the whole country which extends to 115,289 square miles, there is scattered a population of eight and a half millions.
Now as to the probable cost of this Turkish application. We have hitherto employed a Greek who was recommended to us by the United States Consul at Constantinople, he being the interpreter at the Consulate. Now in this application there are roughly 5,500 words, or matter double what was in CASE 91, the former Patent. This man charges £16, for the translation of the first 2000 words, and 4/- for every additional 100 words, which in the case of 91 amounted to £18. At the same rate CASE 96 would cost double or £36.
Since applying for CASE 91 I wrote to an English firm (the only Patent Agents in the place) for a list of their charges. The firm is Henry W.. Stock & Co and his printed tarrif is as follows:- Application for Patent including 1st years tax [pound symbol]6-10-0. Cost of translations is 36/- per 1,000 words and 9/- per 1,000 for duplicate copy. This will work out in our case as follows:-
Application in Turkey CASE 96 including 1st years tax £6-10-0
Translation of 5500 words at 36/- per 1000---------10-0-0
Duplicate copy at 9/-per 1000---------------------2-10-0
£19-0-0
Now the only objection about giving the work to Stock is this. Whereas the other man has been in the habit of charging us £2-10-0 each for tax and fees on each of our patents. Stock was to charge £4, as per his tariff. I wrote pointing out to him that whereas we got our taxes paid for us for £2-10-0 each we could not understand his charge of £4 each. His reply was that that was his usual charge but to get our custom he would only charge us £3 each provided we did not let the fact transpire to any one. This is a peculiar point about these Turkish Patents, and shows one the dark side of the business in that unfortunate country. After taking the above facts into avizandum I shall be glad of your final decision as to what you will do with CASE 96.
Yours faithfully
Geo: Munro