Winter Discovery Auction Nov 14
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 11/14/2013
This interesting TLS, from Edison's laboratory in Orange NJ, dated October 29, 1917 is about Edison's Government work during WW1, in part the letter says" Samuel C. Shaffner .."is one of the experimenters’ from my Laboratory and is engaged in Government work. Any information or courtesies extended will be a appreciated on behalf of the government". letter in good condition, does have small fold breaks which where reinforced with tape, showing through with discoloring now, but great fountain pen Edison signature on Laboratory Stationary.
This letter is within 5 days of the hire of Mr. Shaffner by his friend and Chief engineer Miller Reese Hutchison, He was first hired to help with underwater sound detection experiments at Sandy Hook, New Jersey for protection from Torpedoes.
Edison's role as chairman (later president) of the Naval Consulting Board (NCB), as well as to his personal research for the U.S. Navy, which began in 1917 shortly before the United States entered the war. The major problem that occupied Edison and other inventors was the preservation of merchant shipping capacity in the face of Germany's unrestricted submarine warfare. U-boats were sinking cargo tonnage faster than it could be replaced, jeopardizing the Allied ability to continue the war. Research projects undertaken by Edison and his staff focused on enabling ships to detect and evade torpedoes and to avoid being detected by the enemy.
Thomas Edison TLS, Torpedo Research
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