Description:

Edison Thomas 1847 - 1931 Edison, upset about the phonograph sales on the west coast, is "giving [his west coast manager] a lecture he won't soon forget. Things will be lively out there in the future. I am nearly eighty years old, if I was as dead as most of the jobbers I would want to die and join them."

Typed Letter Signed "Thos A Edison," 1 page, 8" x 8.5". From the Laboratory of Thomas A. Edison, Orange, N.J., August 6, 1924. To Frank S. Martin, Montana Phonograph Company, Helena, Montana. Martin was Assistant Manager. Trimmed, minor flaws, mounting remnants cover verso. Superb Edison umbrella signature! Very good condition.

In full, "I have received your letter of August 1st in which you ask for more reports from travellers in Utah, Oregon, Washington and California. We send all the reports we get from the Pacific Coast, but that is not many. Manager Ireton is here now at Orange and I am giving him a lecture he won't soon forget. Things will be lively out there in the future. I am nearly eighty years old, if I was as dead as most of the jobbers I would want to die and join them." Jobbers were company representatives selling Edison's phonographs to retailers.

Albert C. Ireton was Assistant Sales Manager of the Musical Phonograph Division of Thomas A. Edison, Inc., from 1903-1914, becoming General Sales Manager in 1914. In 1917, he was appointed Vice President and General Manager of Edison Phonographs, Ltd., a new company organized to job the Edison phonograph line in the San Francisco area. The Pacific Phonograph Co. had been jobbing the Edison line in the SF area.

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