Edison, Thomas A. Three (3) typed letters signed. Lot 36

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LOT 36Seller's Estimate: USD 1,000 - 2,00036. Edison, Thomas A. Three (3) typed letters signed ("Thos. A. Edison"), each on "From the Laboratory of Thomas A. Edison, Orange, N.J." letterhead, written to Frank S. Martin of the Montana Phonograph Company, a distributor of Edison phonographs in Helena, Montana. Each letter is trimmed and exhibits soiling and toning from mounting adhesive on verso. Page 2 of the letter dated 4 February 1925 exhibits Martin's "Field Representative, Edison Distributing Corporation" business card, (2) small I.D. photographs, postal clippings from the Edison Laboratory in Orange, N.J., and a clipping from Martin's memorial service on 30 July 1980 - all affixed below the text of the letter.Despite approaching 80 years of age, Thomas Edison writes three letters to one of his phonograph distributors demonstrating his very active role in the business - a testament to the legendary inventor's work ethic."As you know, I have always been actively interested in the development and exploitation of my phonograph and records. There was only one period when I suspended such work, and that was during the two years that I gave to our Government during war times. On the signing of the armistice I came back to the laboratory and resumed active work...""Manager Ireton is here now at Orange and I am giving him a lecture he won't soon forget. Things will be lively out there in the future. I am nearly eighty years old, if I was as dead as most of the jobbers I would want to die and join them..."Letter 1:Edison, Thomas A. Typed letter signed ("Thos. A. Edison"), 1 page (8.5 x 10.5 in.; 216 x 267 mm.) Edison writes in part: On reading your recent letter I was somewhat surprised to learn that a number of your dealers were of the impression that I was not taking any active part in the phonograph business, and only interested to the extent of receiving royalties. As you are aware, there could be nothing further from the facts. As you know, I have always been actively interested in the development and exploitation of my phonograph and records. There was only one period when I suspended such work, and that was during the two years that I gave to our Government during war times. On the signing of the armistice I came back to the laboratory and resumed active work...I am the sole owner of the factories here, in which we employ several thousand men and women in making phonographs and records. I am giving a great deal of effort to the formulation of new selling plans...Letter 2:Edison, Thomas A. Typed letter signed ("Thos. A. Edison"), 1 page (8 x 8.5 in.; 203 x 216 mm.) Edison writes in part: I have received your letter of August 1 st in which you ask for more reports from travellers in Utah, Oregon, Washington and California...Manager Ireton is here now at Orange and I am giving him a lecture he won't soon forget. Things will be lively out there in the future. I am nearly eighty years old, if I was as dead as most of the jobbers I would want to die and join them...Letter 3:Edison, Thomas A. Typed letter signed ("Thos. A. Edison"), 2 pages (7.5 x 9.25 in.; 191 x 216 mm.), on separate leaves, Edison writes in part: You will have noticed...that the dealer, Crew, Boggs & Co., has a record girl who has developed from a mere clerk into a saleswoman, and has taught us that 95 per cent of all dealers are just clerks and not salesmen. If all dealers conducted their Record business like this girl does, it would almost double record sales. You all know that when a person comes into the store and asks for a certain record, it is handed over and the money is paid and that ends the transaction. Yet the purchaser, who probably has no catalogue, could be sold another or perhaps two more records if the clerk was taught to be a salesman. For instance, if the clerk noticed the type of record asked for and was familiar with the records in our catalogue, he or she could suggest two or three other records of the same type as the one called for and permit purchaser to hear them, noting the customer's ... read more

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