[LB047313], Letter from Thomas Alva Edison to Sherburne Blake Eaton, February 11th, 1891
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Title
[LB047313], Letter from Thomas Alva Edison to Sherburne Blake Eaton, February 11th, 1891
Author
Recipient
Date
1891-02-11
Type
Subject
Folder/Volume ID
LB047-F
Microfilm ID
141:1090
Document ID
LB047313
Publisher
Thomas A. Edison Papers, School of Arts and Sciences, Rutgers University
Has Version
Item sets
Transcription
February 11, 1891.
Major S. B. Eaton,
#120 Broadway, New York City.
Dear Sir:-
Replying to your letter of 9th instant regarding your interview with Mr. Bush, I will number my answers to correspond with the number set opposite your queries:
(2) Mr. Tate has already explained this matter to you
.
(3) The total amount of experiments charged against the North American Phonograph Company to January 1st, 1891, is $65,756.58.
(4) In regard to the amount which the N.A.P. Co. owe the Graphophone Company, I think if you read all their contracts and consider the machines made, say 3500, the sum which you name ($35,000) is small.
(5) I do not agree with Mr. Bush. Why should we skip these machines when they have never been paid for and when there is very little chance of our ever receiving the money for them? There are plenty of phonographs out which are not in use, but which would be utilized if the N.A.P. Co. had any management. This ordering new phonographs is played out. I have instructed Mr. Tate to find out the exact number of regular phonographs made and shipped by the Works that are out; also to ascertain from Lombard the exact number of machines under rental and in use with slot-attachment. We can then ascertain how many phonographs in the hands of local Companies are lying idle. I think they will foot up to two thousand or more, in view of which these orders for new machines show such [bad?] management that it would, in my opinion, be folly to deal with people responsible for such a state of affairs upon any but the strictest business principles,- or in other words, no trust.
(6) My idea in making the suggestion in regard to attaching phonographs is that we ought to be prepared to act very quickly so that no one can get ahead of us in filing a claim against any property of the N.A.P. CO. which may be available for debt.
Yours very truly,
Thomas A. Edison
Major S. B. Eaton,
#120 Broadway, New York City.
Dear Sir:-
Replying to your letter of 9th instant regarding your interview with Mr. Bush, I will number my answers to correspond with the number set opposite your queries:
(2) Mr. Tate has already explained this matter to you
.
(3) The total amount of experiments charged against the North American Phonograph Company to January 1st, 1891, is $65,756.58.
(4) In regard to the amount which the N.A.P. Co. owe the Graphophone Company, I think if you read all their contracts and consider the machines made, say 3500, the sum which you name ($35,000) is small.
(5) I do not agree with Mr. Bush. Why should we skip these machines when they have never been paid for and when there is very little chance of our ever receiving the money for them? There are plenty of phonographs out which are not in use, but which would be utilized if the N.A.P. Co. had any management. This ordering new phonographs is played out. I have instructed Mr. Tate to find out the exact number of regular phonographs made and shipped by the Works that are out; also to ascertain from Lombard the exact number of machines under rental and in use with slot-attachment. We can then ascertain how many phonographs in the hands of local Companies are lying idle. I think they will foot up to two thousand or more, in view of which these orders for new machines show such [bad?] management that it would, in my opinion, be folly to deal with people responsible for such a state of affairs upon any but the strictest business principles,- or in other words, no trust.
(6) My idea in making the suggestion in regard to attaching phonographs is that we ought to be prepared to act very quickly so that no one can get ahead of us in filing a claim against any property of the N.A.P. CO. which may be available for debt.
Yours very truly,
Thomas A. Edison