[X120CAG], Letter from Frank Julian Sprague to Deutsche Edison Gesellschaft, William Joseph Hammer, December 27th, 1883
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Title
[X120CAG], Letter from Frank Julian Sprague to Deutsche Edison Gesellschaft, William Joseph Hammer, December 27th, 1883
Editor's Notes
[14 pgs USEFUL ANNOTATION ON MATHEMATICAL METHODS OF WORKING OUT CONDUCTORS IN VILLAGE SYSTEM; also edison effect and snapshot] Recounts startup of Sunbury & Brockton stations. TAE put him, Clarke, & Campbell on mathematical calcing of feeders--now he can do in 2-4 hours what was done at MP in 6 days; has also proved some Menlo work wrong. Wrote Edison "hot" letter giving Insull the devil; he is too conceited and sometimes forgets himself. Working on new electric motor and taking out foreign pats but TAE doesn't know yet. ## [USE FOR ANNOT ON MATHEMATICAL METHOD OF DETERMINING CONDUCTORS] [14 pgs] One week after starting Sunbury station in July, TAE recalled me to NY. With Clarke, Campbell, and "someone else" started "an attempt to mathematically determine the feeder & mains of the town plants without going to the trouble of practical experiment at Menlo Park. After 3-4 days blind work, I began to work backwards, and soon had it by then. Then I became expert in this work, and soon could lay out the mains and feeders & the right sizes in 2 to 4 hours where it had taken 6 to 7 days"; also "proved Menlo Park work all wrong." Then went to Brockton & started 1st 3-wire underground system. Village receipts generally double expenses. "Edison is really running [the?] business." Discusses failure of Brockton station b/c overloaded feeder; TAE came up. Sketches & describes new pressure indicator (seems like his own design). Now working on new feeder equalizer and a "boss" ampere meter of his own design. Working up a new motor and taking out foreign pats but TAE doesn't know yet. Wrote TAE a hot letter from Brockton giving Insull the devil: "he is too conceited and occasionally forgets himself."
Author
Mentioned
Date
1883-12-27
Type
Subject
Folder/Volume ID
X120C-F
Document ID
X120CAG
Publisher
Thomas A. Edison Papers, School of Arts and Sciences, Rutgers University