[MB254], Letter from Arthur Edwin Kennelly to Charles Batchelor, October 3rd, 1889

https://edisondigital.rutgers.edu/document/MB254

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Title

[MB254], Letter from Arthur Edwin Kennelly to Charles Batchelor, October 3rd, 1889

Editor's Notes

On removing the head and drum from the magnet we found the leakage to be general and no single short circuit. There was no water inside but it was soon evident that the coils had been uqite wet--soaked through---and partly dried during the delay in fixing the commutator & spark break. We put full c urrent on the coils last night to dry them out, and Atwood has used covers &c all round the magnets to keep the heat in. They seem by this time to be not quite but nearly dry. He is having a little trouble with pushing on those coils we broke off. As soon as they are back in position, we think japan will be the best t hing to apply as a first coat, and then at the last to pour in asphalt after everything tests OK. There seems to be no reason to suppose any sparking occurred between magnets and the coils. It would be a very troublesome job to remove all the coils and put copper sheets in between.##I ordered the two #12 machines by telephone with Schenectady this morning as you desired, and the written order will be posted this evening.##I have received the drawings of the Orange Track. I think that as you will probably desire them to be kept for Mr Edison's examination together with the figures on them, that it would be well to have rough tracings made of them just the gradients and outlines say as Thomas thinks the owners will not care to leave them here very long and that Mr Effel has been very courteous to him personally in the matter. If you should not desire to come tomorrow I would recommend you asking Thomas to do this, as his men are busy just now and he doesn't like to take a man off without your wishes I think. I haven't yet had time to take the figure figures up, but will take the first opportunity. We are now just going to take diagrams of the factory engine.##I have seen Gladstone this morning and showed him the results of the late battery tests. We think that while he cannot avoid going on with the manufacture of 200 hours zincs and coppers, that hemight arrange to make copper plates for 100 hours with rolled zincs to match so that if people prefer it they can have a battery that lasts 100 hours and then requires fresh zincs copper and solution.##Hutchinson is worrying us duly about the meter plates which are in fair way now except that Gladstone can't keep the moult hot enough with those little plates not having bas, but he is going to try a cast iron charcoal stove. ## There is a good article on Electric Traction by Louis Bell which we have to get at our fingers ends in this weeks's Electrical World.

Recipient

Date

1889-10-03

Type

Folder/Volume ID

MB12-F

Microfilm ID

92:868

Document ID

MB254

Publisher

Thomas A. Edison Papers, School of Arts and Sciences, Rutgers University
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