[LB055199], Letter from Charles J Reed to Thomas Alva Edison, January 18th, 1892
https://edisondigital.rutgers.edu/document/LB055199
Transcription
COPY. B. Orange, N. J., Jan. 18th, 1892. T. A. Edison, Esq., Orange, N. J., My dear Sir:- Enclosed I send you a copy of patent No. 213,598 issued March 25th, 1879 to Cyrenus Wheeler, Jr., which now belongs to me. You will see from the specification and especially from claim No. 2 that you are directly infringing this patent. It is not my desire to cause you any trouble or inconvenience; but there are many other persons who are also infringing this patent and whom I intend to prosecute. As your machines are the most direct infringement, being built almost exactly on the specification of the Wheeler patent, I am advised as a matter of expediency to bring my first suit against you. I dislike very much to bring a legal action against one whom I esteem so highly and with whom I have enjoyed such friendly relations. For this reason I endeavored to see you and lay before you the history of the whole matter, explaining how I came to purchase the patent to avoid infringing it myself, feeling confident that we could settle the matter out of court, in a manner that would not only be amicable but satisfactory even to yourself. I made no less than six different trips to your laboratory to see you, but have been unable to find you. As the patent in question has only a little over four year to run, I have no time to lose and as a last resort I take this method of notifying you of your infringement. I still believe that if we were to talk this matter over it could be settled as indicated above and I invite you to a conference. Unless I hear from you at an early date (within 10 days), I shall infer that you challenge me to a legal proceeding. I remain with respect and esteem, Yours very truly, C. J. REED. (SIGNED)