Part Of: Edison General File Series -- 1919

[E1913-F] (E-19-13) Cement House

This folder contains correspondence and other documents relating to Edison's well-known idea of using concrete cast in molds as a rapid and inexpensive way of constructing durable buildings. Among the items for 1919 are letters from Edison to friend George F. Kunz and others stating that he had been discouraged by the lack of interest in mass production of houses when he pursued the project several years earlier. Also included are letters from Charles H. Ingersoll regarding the construction of demonstration houses at Union, New Jersey, and a request from former Edison company official Robert A. Bachman to purchase the cement house patents from Edison. Companies represented in the correspondence include Acme Hollow Concrete Wall Co. of Easton, Pennsylvania, and Unit Construction Co. of St. Louis, Missouri.

Approximately 10 percent of the documents have been selected. The unselected material includes requests for information, along with routine replies stating that Edison had never entered into this business and referring the writer to Frank D. Lambie and Charles H. Ingersoll. Also not selected are the numerous inquiries about Ingersoll's project at Union, which received replies stating that Edison was not involved, as well as correspondence (unrelated to cement houses) about building a chauffeur's cottage at Glenmont, Edison's home in Llewellyn Park.

Courtesy of Thomas Edison National Historical Park.

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