[LB056131], Letter from Thomas Alva Edison to George Edward Gouraud, March 22nd, 1892
https://edisondigital.rutgers.edu/document/LB056131
Transcription
March 22, 1892. Col. George E Gouraud, Edison House, Northumberland Avenue, London, S.W., England. My dear Sir:- I have received your letter of 9th instant, enclosing copy of your letter to Mr. Jesse Seligman, dated 8th instant, concerning the delay of the Edison United Phonograph Company in commencing active business. You are so familiar with what my views are and have always been that it is unnecessary for me to reiterate them here. If the foreign phonograph business had been carried out on the lines of the original contract between you and myself we would to-day both be deriving a handsome revenue from that source. I do not know that there is anything which I can do that will change the policy of the Edison United Phonograph Company. I believe I have exhausted every effort in that direction. Myself and my friends have obtained control of the North American Phonograph Company, and are selling machines. We are going ahead on the lines of a regular commercial business, which is the only way that a successful business can be established. During the past few months we have sold over seventeen thousand dollars worth of phonographs, and are selling a thousand cylinders per day. Yours very truly, Thomas A. Edison M.