ALS, in pencil, signed “Edison,” two pages, lightly-lined, 5 x 8, no date. Edison writes to [Jaffrey P.] Buchanan, manager of his record disc division. In full: “A raw blank just as it comes from the press, kept at ordinary temperature for 44 hours – gains 5 grams of Water. A fresh blank heated over hot plate to 224ø Fahr for 44 hours Lost 6 grams of water. So you see that it is possible to make a difference of Eleven grams of water. This shows blanks must be heated to about 220 and rapidly cooled and used at once – Then we will get rid of effects of weather & also moisture in mix both of which always are Variable.” By 1924, record sales, both cylinders and discs, had decreased with the advent of competition from radio. Operations were cut back, and Edison, now 77-years-old, began to experiment with long-playing records. The blanks Edison refers to in this letter are the blank phonograph records. These were introduced in October 1926 along with four new console disc phonographs. In very good condition, with uniform overall toning, chips to top edge, bisecting vertical fold, and staple holes to top left corners. Pre-certified PSA/DNA and RRAuction COA.
