[LB062068], Letter from Thomas Alva Edison to Charles Norman Fay, October 14th, 1895
https://edisondigital.rutgers.edu/document/LB062068
Transcription
Oct. 14, 1895. C. M. Fay, Esq., #53 Dearborn st., Chicago, Ill., Dear sir:- Your favor of Sept. 19th came duly to hand, but absence from town, and pressure of other business has prevented my replying to it until this time. The Continental Commerce Co., of which Messrs. Maguire & Baucus are, as I understand it, principal owners, have been my foreign agents in exhibiting and selling the Kinetoscope. They have done very excellent work indeed. and I have been entirely satisfied with their services. Mr. Maguire has been the active representative of the concern on the other side, and his efforts have been crowned with success, so far as the Kinetoscope is concerned. My dealings with them have always been on a cash basis, and they have always been prompt in meeting their bills. I am not at all familiar with their financial strength, so that it is not possible for me to give you any information as to same. The Matrix Cutting machine, to which you refer, is doubtless what is known as the “Ballou Engraving Machine,” the originals of which were built, and are still in use at the Edison Phonograph Works, here in Orange. The machines which we have are working entirely satisfactorily, but I understand that Mr. Ballou has improved the machine very considerably during the past year or two. The cost of the labor of cutting the figures on these wheels is 50 to 75 cents per hundred wheels. Should you want any further information as to this. I would suggest that you communicate with the Manager of the Edison Phonograph Works, Mr. W. E. Gilmore, Orange, N. J. I have done very little in the way of reducing copper ore, electrically, as yet, having confined all my efforts to iron ore and gold ore. Yours very truly, Thomas [A Edison?]