TLS signed “Thos A. Edison,” one page, 8.5 x 11, Laboratory of Thomas A. Edison letterhead, January 11, 1915. Letter to Dr. Edward Cranch in Erie, Pennsylvania. In full: “I have been greatly interested in reading your kind favor of the 6th instant and write to thank you for all the good words which you have been pleased to send me in regard to my Diamond Disc Phonograph. After working very hard for so many years in striving to bring my ideals to perfection, it gives me a great deal of pleasure to receive unsolicited letters of commendation from those whom I’ve tried to please, namely, real lovers of good music.
I’m still doing a great deal of experimenting, and after I’ve gone a little further you will get some very fine music. I would say in regard to your remarks about hearing the words as well as the music, that we have a great deal of trouble in getting singers to articulate clearly, but we are constantly trying to get them to improve along this line. It has been suggested that we print the words on the envelope containing the record, and we may possible [sic] adopt this suggestion after we get straightened out from the recent fire.
Please accept my thanks for your expression of sympathy in regard to the recent fire. We are working a large force of men day and night to get back on our feet again, and we shall once more be in full swing in a very little while. We are already producing about 8000 of the cylindrical blue amberol records per day at this time.” Accompanied by the original mailing envelope. In fine condition, with intersecting folds.
Edison’s reference to the “recent fire” is one that occurred at his New Jersey plant, though the next day the inventor pledged to start over again and kept his workers employed by cleaning the debris or reassigning them to other companies. While expressing this thanks, it’s clear that Edison was more than just a little proud to read favorable comments on the Diamond Disc Phonograph, which was first produced in 1912. Edison had been working for years, as he notes, to perfect the phonograph, which received its first patent in 1877. He continued to tweak the design for another 52 years until he made it “perfect.” Great insight into the intense dedication Edison had for the invention he often called his “baby.” Pre-certified John Reznikoff/PSA/DNA and RRAuction COA.
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