TLS signed with his impressive ‘umbrella’ signature, “Thomas A. Edison,” one page, 8.25 x 11, From the Laboratory of Thomas A. Edison letterhead, May 18, 1911. Letter to W. J. Filbert, Comptroller of Carnegie Steel. In full: “If I can effect a big saving in the handling of the correspondence of your company, will you permit my representative to make a demonstration of the Business Phonograph in one of your departments entirely at my expense? The Business Phonograph is being used to a very large extent in the offices of many large business houses in this country, manufacturing companies, railroads, etc., and they find the saving claimed.” Intersecting folds, with two vertical folds passing through beginning and end of signature, an office stamp to top, small pencil notation to lower left, and a mild shade of toning, otherwise fine condition.
In 1877, when Edison invented the phonograph, the first device for recording and playing back sound, he thought that its main use would be to record speech in business settings, which could then be played back and transcribed. While some early phonographs were used this way, it did not become a common function until the late 1880s when the tin foil sheets were replaced by reusable wax cylinders. The redesigned Business Phonograph (Dictaphone) marketed by Edison Records was trademarked as the ‘Ediphone,’ and was a moderate success. He continued to improve upon and market his device throughout the first two decades of the 20th century, though by 1911 he had begun work on several other important projects including an electric car battery. This letter, a proposal to make a demonstration of the Ediphone in a department of Carnegie Steel, holds the finest Edison ‘umbrella’ signature we have ever offered—a stunning example of his highly collectible autograph.
Accompanied by an original Ediphone model dictating machine which could be imaginatively displayed with the letter. The machine itself is in non-working condition, with some parts missing and moderate expected age wear. The machine comes from the collection of the Liberty Belle restaurant in Reno, Nevada, and was sold at auction several years ago. Pre-certified John Reznikoff/PSA/DNA and RR Auction COA.
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