[LB050299], Letter from Alfred Ord Tate to Samuel Insull, July 11th, 1891
https://edisondigital.rutgers.edu/document/LB050299
Transcription
July 11, 1891. Personal. My dear Insull,- I spent part of this morning at the Phonograph Works. Ballou is in Philadelphia, where he has gone to make some purchases for the Concentrating Works. Out of a pay roll of nearly seventeen hundred dollars only $113 have been spent in connection with manufacture of new phonograph tools. I think Ballou has an idea that there are not going to be any phonographs built when these tools are completed, and therefore there is no reason why they should be hurried. Unless you want me particularly in New York Monday morning, I shall go to the Phonograph Works, as Ballou will be there then, and I can investigate this matter thoroughly with him. While I was in the shop I looked into the matter of the manufacture of the Bates machines and tools. I understand from the foreman of the machine shop that they are going to make up a list of the tools that are already made and of these which have yet to be made. I tried to get some idea of what they had on hand to represent the large amount of money that has been spent in this connection, but their lists were not completed. There was a balance against the Bates Company on the first of the month of about $3,400. The pay roll averages about $350 per week. The man in charge of the work said he did not think they would have any completed machines out for two months. Ware showed me the new Price Book that they have gotten up for the North American Phonograph Company. It is in excellent shape and the prices are fairly computed. The accounts which they are getting out for Major Eaton are being pushed as rapidly as possible. I think there is no about debt we will be able to hand these in some time next week. Also the bills from the Laboratory. Yours very truly, A O Tate■M[aguire].