ALS, in pencil, signed “E,” one page both sides, 8.5 x 11, January 19, 1921. Edison writes to [Jaffrey P.] Buchanan, manager of Edison’s Record Disc Division, at the bottom of a letter inquiring about temperature variations. Buchanan wrote, in part: “As the experiment using 900 lbs hydraulic pressure did not give good results I have been looking for some other change in the presses. The schedule was changed on May 9th, 1921 & since then, conservation in the use of steam at the presses has made the temperature...rise quicker & somewhat higher than when changed in May ‘21...Do you think this temperature is too high or applied too long, or both?” Edison’s response reads, in full: “See Moore about this—I fear this is the source of our trouble. The high heat produces gas & this makes blisters—think you should fix it…You can probably reduce the steam pressure down & my experiment making a wear list on each lot printed—all this & use of temp was unknown to me & is probably the cause of all our trouble.” In very good condition, with intersecting folds, moderate toning (heavier along the edges) and edge chipping.
By 1921, Edison had moved away from wax cylinder recordings and turned to discs—which held problems of their own, including the issue of “high heat produces gas” which “makes blisters” on the finished product. Such faults resulted in an abundance of surface noise, which eventually Edison remedied by changing the chemical formula for his discs, including substituting china clay for wood flour. It was that change Edison was postulating in this correspondence to his manager. The resulting product, Edison Diamond Discs, resulted in smoother surfaced records. Excellent content from the early days of recorded sound! Pre-certified PSA/DNA and RRAuction COA.
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