Object Details
addressee
Edison, Thomas A (Thomas Alva) 1847-1931
Beach, Ralph Hamilton
associated name
Roach, John M. active 1910
former owner
Lende, H. W. Jr. DSI
associated name
Chicago Railways Company
photographer
New York Edison Company
Author
H.W. Lende, Jr. Manuscript Collection (Smithsonian Libraries) DSI
Subject
Edison, Thomas A (Thomas Alva) 1847-1931
Edison, Thomas A (Thomas Alva) 1847-1931
Notes
Title supplied by cataloger.
Autograph letter signed, handwritten in pencil by Thomas Edison to Ralph Hamiton Beach on lined paper. Carbon copy of typed, unsigned letter to Edison on unlined paper dated 25 October 1910. Printed reproduction of photographic portrait of Edison with facsimile of his signature.
Thomas Alva Edison was an American inventor and businessman, who has been described as America's greatest inventor. He is credited with developing many devices in fields such as electric power generation, mass communication, sound recording, and motion pictures.
SCDIRB copy (barcode 39088019929462) is the gift of H.W. Lende, Jr. and has Lende accession number E-8.
SCDIRB copy has source: Charles Hamilton Galleries Inc., New York, Auction Sale 138, Lot 82, June 26, 1981.
SCDIRB copy is housed in an archival box together with other manuscripts from the H.W. Lende, Jr. Manuscript Collection, filed in Dibner accession number order.
Summary
2 letters and 1 portrait. Letter to Beach (5 sheets, 5 pages) from Edison concerning rail car axles and batteries, with several sketches of mechanical parts. Letter to Edison (3 sheets, 3 pages) concerning an arrangement made with John M. Roach, president of the Chicago Railways Company, to test battery-powered rail cars developed by Edison. Portrait (1 sheet) credited to the New York Edison Company.
Date
1910
1910-1910
Call number
MSS 002045 A
Restrictions & Rights
Use by appointment with Dibner Library staff.
Type
Mixed archival materials
Portraits
Manuscripts (documents)
Physical description
9 sheets : illustrations, portrait ; 28 x 22 cm or smaller
Data Source
Smithsonian Libraries
Topic
Railroad cars--Axles
Electric vehicles--Batteries
Electric railroads
Record ID
siris_sil_1100941