[LB038496], Letter from Alfred Ord Tate to Smithsonian Institution, Samuel Pierpont Langley, March 22nd, 1890
https://edisondigital.rutgers.edu/document/LB038496
Transcription
March 22, 90 Prof. S.P. Langley, Smithsonian Institution Washington, D.C. Dear Sir:- Reply to your letter of 3rd instant has been delayed owing to the absence of Mr. Edison, who has just returned from the South, where he had been for several weeks past. We are sending you by express today two (2) chalk cylinders before using these, take a beaker of distilled water, immerse the chalk roller with shell or sleeve for three minutes by the watch; then place them under a bell jar or tumbler, allowing them to stand for 24 hours; this will cause them to sweat . When using take care not to touch them with fingers, and use palladium strip that inks on chalk. We have included in the box a small camel hair brush, with which to moisten the roller once every two days with about 4 or 5 drops of water. Yours very truly, A.O. Tate Private Secretary