[LB015414], Letter from Thomas Alva Edison to Societe d'Appareillage Electrique, March 6th, 1883
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Title
[LB015414], Letter from Thomas Alva Edison to Societe d'Appareillage Electrique, March 6th, 1883
Editor's Notes
I beg to acknowledge receipt of your two favors of 19th January & 14th February which I would have answered ere this but for my absence in the South.##I am delighted at hearing that you have organized a company for the exploitation of my system of Electric Lighting and trust that the enterprize will prove successful.##I should very much like to supply lamps to you at a lower rate but at present I am quite unable to do so as the lamps cost only two or three cents under the price at which we sell them to you. we have been compelled to lay out a very large sum of money ($250,000) in starting our Lamp Factory most of which has been sunk in experimental work and it is only within the last month that our selling price has been equal to our cost In order to supply lamps of a certain range of volts it is necessary for us to turn out a great many more lamps than ordered which we have to carry until we can find some other market for them. For a long time we have been supplying you with lamps at far less than their cost we have now just "turned the corner" and as soon as we get the cost low enough I will give you a better price. we are continuing experimenting with the idea of improving the lamp and this costs a great deal of money##From your letters I gather that you imagine that I am the manufacturer of the lamps. This is not so. I am the largest stockholder in the Corporation making the lamps but as there are others [involved] with me I am of course compelled to consult them in all matters such as rates. As the demand for our lamp gets greater we shall be able to turn them out cheaper & I would assure you that in the future you shall have full advantage of any such reduction.##I will take immediate steps to prevent the offering of lamps by English Firms. I do not know how they can offer them at such a price & make a profit##I am having the various things [called] for by Mr Turretini prepared will send them in about a week.##I have given a Power of Attorney to my friend Mr Calvin Goddard Secretary of our Electric Light Co here to look into my Electric Light & Electric Rail Road Interests for Switzerland. Mr. Goddard is well informed on all matters connected with our business here and can doubtless give you a great deal of useful information. I would beg of you to give Mr Goddard what assistance you can. He carries with him the declaration asked for by Mr. Turrettini as to your Company being the sole owner of my Electric Light Rights for Switzerland.##I note the alteration in your order for lamps
Author
Recipient
Mentioned
Date
1883-03-06
Type
Folder/Volume ID
LB015-F
Microfilm ID
82:203
Document ID
LB015414
Publisher
Thomas A. Edison Papers, School of Arts and Sciences, Rutgers University