[LB048354], Letter from Alfred Ord Tate to Edison United Phonograph Co, George N Morison, March 31st, 1891
https://edisondigital.rutgers.edu/document/LB048354
Transcription
March 31, 1891. Edison United Phonograph Co., G. M. Morison, Esq., Secretary, Mills Building, New York City. Dear Sir:- In reply to your letter of 26th instant, in which you say that the Australian papers contain accounts of twenty nickel-in-the-slot machines being exhibited in Australia by a Mr. McMahon, who, you believe, claims to be Mr. Edison’s agent, Mr. Edison has instructed me to inform you that the person referred to is not his agent, and that he has nothing whatever to do with him. Also, that Col. Gourand sold a couple of phonographs to a man named Archibald, who, in turn, hired them out to the McMahon Brothers, who are show-men; these latter, Mr. Edison understands, travelled with the machines on a lecturing tour through Australia; they visited London and from there came to New York, a few weeks ago, at which time they called on Mr. Edison; the latter, however, had no transactions with them. Mr. Edison understands that they were very thick with the Nickel-in-the-Slot people, and if the statement contained in the Australian papers to which you refer in your letter, is true, the machines were most likely purchased from the Automatic Phonograph Exhibition Company. Mr. Edison says further that this matter should be run down. Yours very truly, (Signed A.O. Tate) Private Secretary.