Thomas Alva Edison

Docments Include:

1.     THOMAS EDISON. Printed Document Signed Five Times (“Thomas A. Edison”), April 23, 1885, 13 pp including “Exhibit A, being an investigation into a settlement of claims and a contract of mutual release between the Edison Electric Light Company, the Edison Company for Isolated Lighting, the Edison Electric Illuminating Company of New York, Thomas Alva Edison, the Thomas A. Edison Construction Department, the Edison Lamp Company, the Edison Machine Works, the Electric Tube Company. Edison signs as President of Electric Tube Co, President of Edison Machine Works, Edison Lamp Co., on behalf of the Thomas A. Edison Construction Dept. and the first signature without title. Eugene Crowell signs as President of the Edison Electric Light Company; Spencer Mask as President of the Edison Electric Illuminating Company of New York; Edward H. Johnson as President of the Edison Company for Isolated Lighting and also by their secretaries; Samuel Insull as Edison’s secretary four times; and also by Charles Batchelor, Rosanna Batchelor and Francis R. Upton. File Docket reads: “#542 / Report of Special Committee on Unsettled Claims and Contract of Mutual Release between Light Company, Isolated Co. New York, Illgr Co., T.A.Edison, Edison Lamp Co., Electric Tube Co., Messrs Batchelor, Insull, Upton, etc.” and stamped “Edison Electric Light Company” and “Transfer File.”

Mentioned on pp 74-82 of The Papers of Thomas A. Edison: New Beginnings, January 1885-December 1887.

2. THOMAS EDISON. Document Signed (“Thomas A. Edison”), May 24, 1886, 9 pp plus 1p “Exhibit A,” being an agreement between Edison, Charles Batchelor, Harry M. Livor, Samuel Insull, John Pierpont Morgan, John Kruesi, James Hood Wright and The Edison Electric Light Company regarding stock in the Edison Machine Works. Also signed by Edward H. Johnson as Vice President of the Edison Electric Light Co., Charles Batchelor, Harry M. Livor, Samuel Insull, John Kruesi. John Pierpont Morgan and James Hood Wright. File Docket reads: “The Edison Electric Light Company with Thomas Edison, Charles Batchelor & Others. Agreement.” Stamped “Edison Electric Light Company” and “Transfer File.”

Regards contracts made between the Edison Electric Light Company and the Edison Machine Works and its consolidated companies – Electric Tube Company and Edison Shafting Manufacturing Company - before they had merged. Interesting to see inclusion of J.P. Morgan, the major backer of the Edison Electric Light Company who had limited his visibility by working through his banking firm Drexel Morgan & Co.

3. THOMAS EDISON. Typed Document Signed Twice, (“Thomas A. Edison”), and Initialed 3 Times (“T.A.E.”) November 25, 1887, 10pp, plus two 1p carbon copies of letters, being an agreement between T.A. Edison, The Edison Lamp Company and the Edison Electric Light Company regarding settlement of debt. Also signed by Edward H. Johnson as President of the Edison Electric Light Company, Francis R. Upton and their witnesses. File Docket reads: “Agreement between T.A. Edison, The Edison Lamp Company and the Edison Electric Light Company.” Stamped “Edison Electric Light Company” and “Transfer File.” Edison was in the process of building his Valley Road plant in West Orange, N.J. at this time.

The carbon letters regard changing prices of light bulbs. Not in The Papers of Thomas A. Edison.

WITH:

Group photograph, silver gelatin copy print, 8 x 10 inches, 1920s, of Thomas Edison, Henry Ford, John Burroughs, Harry Firestone Sr. and Jr., with glassine overlay labeling each of the subjects.

The Four Vagabonds.