[D9245AAT], Letter from Unknown to Thomas Alva Edison, June 1892
https://edisondigital.rutgers.edu/document/D9245AAT
Transcription
Letterhead: From the Laboratory of Thomas A. Edison Phonograph Dictation Orange, N.J. February 29, 1892. Thomas Butler, Esq., Edison Building, Broad Street, New York City. Dear Sir:- Referring to my telephone inquiry of to-day concerning the payment of certain taxes on Mr. Edison’s foreign patents on the toy phonograph which become due on the 11th of next month, and to your reply to same to the effect that the said taxes would be paid by the Edison Phonograph Works, pro tempore, so as to keep the patents alive, I beg to inform you that Mr. Edison objects to this being done, and in accordance with his instructions I have to-day written to Messrs. Dyer & Seely directing the not to pay the taxes. Mr. Edison says that the payments of these taxes would do no good, inasmuch as the French and Italian patents must be worked, which would mean an outlay of about a thousand dollars, an expense which in Mr. Edison’s opinion it is not worth while to incur. He says the broad phonograph patents cover the toy mechanism, and it is really unnecessary to go to any additional expense in the matter. Please return the letter of Messrs. Dyer & Seely on this subject which accompanied Mr. Tate’s letter of the 18th instant addressed to Mr. Insull, and very much oblige. Yours Truly, [Signed: Thomas Maguire]