The Thomas A. Edison Papers Digital Edition

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Metadata

Title

[LB011486], Letter from Samuel Insull to Edward Hibberd Johnson, March 24th, 1882

Editor's Notes

I came across a correspondence at the machine works yesterday from the Edison Foreign Electric Light & Motive Power Co Colonel Gouraud Chairman T. A. Edison Esq, E. H. Johnson Esq & Edwd H. Winfield Esq Directors. I suppose at once that it was one of G. E Gs creations about which we have never heard of so I at once wrote to Gouraud in Edisons name asking for information remarking that I (Edison) do not care to be made a Director of any Coywithout being first consulted xxx I should like to have from you at your very earliest convenience a list of the Companies in connection [we--] which my name is used as a Director##You will remember that Edison wrote you some time back on this subject of his being made a Director of these Telephone Companies You find out exactly what Companies have his name down as a member of their Board. It is not right at all that [L. E. L.] should be allowed to act in such a manner as if at any time any of his enterprise collapse it would besmear Edison with [mu--] to have his name associated with any of them##We have noticed in the English newspapers some reference to the Domestic Electric Lighting Coy which has its office at [-] Lombard St & which proposes to go into the miniature Central Station business talks of not being tied to any particular system but will give preference to the Edison System. That Coy was formed by [G. E. G.] while Moses was in London & Moses was under the impression at the time that it was formed in the Edison that it was going to be one of the Edison Companies & he says that they talked of nothing else but Edison from my conversation with the Dr I imagine that the Duke is sailing under false colours. We are anxious to know exactly what this Domestic Coy is: please inform us. A few weeks back Gouraud wrote asking if he could sell these 20 plants we stuck him with, to this Domestic Coy but said nothing of his connection with the Coy in fact spoke of it as an outside concern. We wrote back that we had no right to let him sell those plants to the Domestic Co as the patents were not ours. It is not to Edisons interest at all that he should sell those plants to this Domestic Coy as he should develope the Light business in the Countries controlled by him by [sending] those plants to diffrent points & not sell them to an English Coy##As to those Valve Stuffing [Boxes] they should have been sent by [---] with the Cylinder which was sent [[direct] from Philadelphia Immediately the Cable from you as to the matter arrived. I wired Painter & he replied that he had expressed us another set which came to hand today & I immediately reshipped them. You should get them at the latest two days after you receive this letter. Of course I much regret this delay but it is in no wise our fault. I have this a.m. received a letter from Porter which upon "reading between the lines" I take it to mean they were overlooked##As to those Telephones for the United Telephone Co your cable was not quite definite enough for me. Probably Edison would have known what you meant. But Winterbotham's letter explained & Bergmann has promised me faithfully that he will ship them in time to be in London before the trial. I will cable you about it latter on.##Your orders as to 32 Candle lamps and Colored lamp received our usually prompt attention.##Your second cable as to United Shares just to hand. I think the price big. I am just in a quandry as to whether I shal cable you to sell. Edison is not hear. I know he would sell if he were. I do not believe (from reading the home newspaper) that they can hold up so high. I will read over Edisons letters to you & Gouraud on the subject & cable you later most probably I shall take upon myself the responsibility of selling as next week I shall be desperately hard up for cash. Good bye

Author

Insull, Samuel

Recipient

Johnson, Edward Hibberd

Mentioned

United Telephone Co Ltd

Gouraud, George Edward

Date

1882-03-24

Type

Letter

Subject

Management (companies and organizations)

Telephone

Central stations

Folder ID

LB011-F

Microfilm ID

81:462

Document ID

LB011486

URL

https://edisondigital.rutgers.edu/document/LB011486

Rights

Thomas Edison National Historical Park

Publisher

Thomas A. Edison Papers, School of Arts and Sciences, Rutgers University

Has Version

Archive.org Viewer, Microfilm Series Reel 81

Item sets

[LB011-F] LB-011 (1882)