[LB052429], Letter from Alfred Ord Tate to George N Morison, Edison United Phonograph Co, September 29th, 1891
https://edisondigital.rutgers.edu/document/LB052429
Transcription
Sept. 29, 1891. G. N. Morison, Esq., Secretary, The Edison United Phonograph Company, New York City. Dear Sir:- Your letter of 22nd instant to Mr. Edison, in which is quoted a criticism received from your Foreign Committee with relation to automatic phonographs, has been duly received. In reply I beg to inform you that the Nickel-in-the-Slot phonograph is so constructed that it will not work unless a coin of the proper dimensions and correct weight is inserted in the slot. In regard to the question asked by your Foreign Committee as to whether the slot attachment could be so arranged so that it would “return coins which might be below half-size,” in order to accomplish this it would be necessary to alter the mechanism of the attachment, and how much work this would involve it is impossible to say offhand. In regard to the Committee’s suggestion that the automatic machines should be supplied with “lock bolts to save time,” we do not understand what is meant by lock bolts. As to the shock that takes place at the beginning of the cylinder being detrimental to the record itself, we do not understand how this can be, as the reproducing point has to travel some distance on the cylinder before the record commences. Yours very truly, AO Tate Private Secretary.