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The Columbia University Libraries reserve the right to refuse to accept a copying order if, in its judgement, fulfillment of the order would involve violation of the copyright law. Author: Edison Electric Light Company Title: A warning from the Edison Electric Light Co Place: [ N e w Yo r k] Date: [1 887] MASTER NEGATIVE * COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY LIBRARIES PRESERVATION DIVISION BIBLIOGRAPHIC MICROFORM TARGET ORIGINAL MATERIAL AS FILMED - EXISTING BIBLIOGRAPHIC RECORD lUSINES} 322 Ed4 Edison electric lifht company. New York. A warning from the Edison electric light co. el38-, 83 p. illus. RESTRICTIONS ON USE: TECHNICAL MICROFORM DATA RLM SIZE: 3^-*^^ REDUCTION RATIO: Ox IMAGE PLACEMENT: lA (llAJ IB IIB ® DATE RLMED: /o- .20 -1 ^ INITIALS; TRACKING # : Mh\\ Q-^O^/ FILMED BY PRESERVATION RESOURCES, BETHLEHEM, PA. N BIBLIOGRAPHIC IRREGULARITIES MAIN ENTRY: Edison Electric Light Company A warning from the Edison Electric Light Co, Bibliographic Irregularities in the Original Document: List all volumes and pages affected; include name of institution if filming borrowed text. Page(s) missing/not available: yolume(s) missing/not available; X Illegible and/or damaged page(s): illustration preceding title page Page(s) or volume(s) misnumbered: Bound out of sequence: .Page(s) or volume(s) filmed from copy borrowed from:. X Other: Illustration preceding title page filmed as found - detached from text TRACKING#: MSH03031 Ca3 CJl 3 3 O > IS CO ^ en ^^ 00 NJ 3 3 > Q) O o m OQ ^■S o X N ^ ^ ^ ^-^ .*■ * 'iX*- A^^ a? '^: ^. 'c^ ^ M O O 3 3 t e 3 3 a^' > Ul . U'«^^^-^*-- : J i« > (( <( ti/i 1 CAUTION 1. PATENTB. Incandescent electric lighting throughout the world is foimded upon the inventions of Mr. Thomas A. Edison, to whom patents were granted therefor in all patent granting countries of the world. One of these inventions is broadly claimed in the XJ. S. Patent Na 223,898, dated January 27th, 1880, application filed November 4, 1879, in the following words : " An electric lamp for giving light by incandescence consisting of a filament of carbon of high resistance^ made as de- scribed and secured to metallic wires as set forth '* (see Appendix B). This claim has been litigated three times in Germany and twice in England, and been sustained in both countries each and every time. Suits on it have been brought and are now pending in the U. S. Courts against the Consolidated (Sawyer-Man), the United States and The Brush-Swan Companies. These suits are being vigorously and carefully litigated with every evidence of an ultimate issue as satisfactory as that obtained in Europe (see Appendix C). The lamp covered by the above-mentioned patent is the Izey to the entire industry of incandescent electric lighting. The invention and the claim which describes it have never been the subject-matter of interference in the Patent Office, the more or less direct and inferential assertions of the various parties to the " combination " to the contrary notwithstanding. Furthermore, the patent itself is of prior date to the worthless claim on paper carbon which was in interference with Edison and which constitutes in large part the treacherous foundation of the hope of the combination. Assimiing, therefore, for the sake of more clearly defining the status of the Edison Company as contrasted with that of its notorious infringers, that the patents of both interests be sustained in their broadest sense, the relative position of the two would be as follows : The Edison Company would simply be compelled to make its filament lO A WARNING FROM THE EDISON ELECTRIC LIGHT CO. It of non-flbrous material— a material, by the way, from which hundreds of thousands of commercial lamps have already been made. The " combination " would be unable to use the fundamental ^i^a- ment at aU, and therefore would possess, even if their claim were maintained, merely a subordinate improvement, under which they could make no lamp. Thus we see that, in any event, Edison possesses the key- stone, but it is of equal importance to note the fact that the entire arch was his invention and that it is secured to the Edison Company by a patent as broad and comprehensive as was ever issued by the Pat- ent Office of the United States. We refer to the patent which protects his system of electrical distribution (see Appendix D). Those famihar with the history of the invention wiU readily re- call the furor created by Edison's announcement, not that he had discovered how to obtain electric hght by incandescence (that was old), but that he had succeeded in sub-dividing the electric current by & practical application of incandescence. True the practical application involved a new departure in incandescent lamps, viz.: A filament or thread of carbon of high resistance, which invention covers the modem incandescent lamp, but the filament lamp was only a part— though an essential part— of the whole problem of subdivision. It will be remembered that the above announcement, though received with implicit faith by the great body of the lay world, was, by the professional element, absolutely denied credence. The technical world contradicted, ridiculed and proved by mathematical formulae, Edison's claim to be an impossibihty ; never- theless, Edison's discoveries remained and were attested before the world by the Paris Electrical Exposition of 1881, and Mr. Edison was then and tiiere not only gi-anted a diploma, but was also ad- vanced from a Chevalier to an Officier of the Legion of Honor, as a further mark of appreciation of his great work (see Appendix E). The Patent Office of the United States, in granting Mr. Edison a broad patent on the comprehensive system thus recognized by the learned scientists of Europe, exercised such caution and hesitancy as to allow the patent to issue only after the lapse of seven years, during U< ''--^ r -> w I > I ■' L \. . which period the several principles and methods enunciated and claimed in the patent have come to be established aa fundamental and controlling, to such an extent as to extort an outcry against the patent on the ground of its very comprehensiveness. The fact that its claims were drawn seven years ago when their mean- ing and value was known and realized only by the inventor is now overlooked, but the very phraseology of the patent itself discloses and emphasizes its original and historic character, and carries con- viction as to its equity. Its legality will be taken care of by this company in due course (see Appendix A). This patent, therefore, constitutes the arc^ and the filamentpatent the keystone of the industry of incandescent electric lighting. Both the arch and the keystone must be declared public prop- erty by the courts ere Mr. Edison can be safely deprived of his just right to that reward for his great services, which is the object and motive of a patent. The industry offered to the public by the Edison Company does not therefore depend upon a single issue; for quite apart from the filament patent, the enterprise is abundantly protected by the " system " patent ; and quite apart from either or both of these, the detail patents owned by this company, numbering some hundreds, and all bearing date as of the pioneer epoch, suffice to debar others from a free appropriation of our property. The system patent in question is No. 369,280, dated Aug. 30, 1887, application filed Feb. 6, 1880 (see Appendix D). Numerous other patents forming the subject matter of some hun- dred and odd suits now pending, likewise and additionally hedge about and protect the industry of incandescent electric lighting (see Appendix F). Both the seller and ihe purchaser of incandescent electric lamps, apparatus, or systems of electric distribution for incandescent Hghting, are hereby admonished and warned that they become subject to, and will be held in damages for, all violations of any of the above patents. Such result has been achieved and damages been 12 A WARNING FROM THE k' \ EDISON ELECTRIC LIGHT CO. ■3 awarded to Mr. Edison in Europe, as they most certainly will be in this country, when the law's delays shall have been finally OYercome (see Appendix G). VALIDITY DF PATENTB. The position taken by the infringers of the Edison Compan/s lamp patents is founded upon the assumption that those patents have met with a premature death by virtue of the supposed expiration of foreign patents ; that this position is a fallacious one and has no foundation in fact, we not only most emphatically assert but pre- sent in support of our assertion the following opinion of most emi- nent counsel: __ ^««« New York, Dec. 28, 1887. I>EAB SIR : Pursuant to your request we have care- fully examined the Letters Patent of the United States owned by your Company and issued upon the inventions of Mr. Thomas A. Edison, relating to incandescent electric lamps, with the view of advising you as to whether such patents are limited or affected by foreijrn patents covering the same inventions, the said foreign patents being subse- quent to the date of the applications upon which the United States patents were issued. After this examination and considering attentively the statutes bearing on this point and the judicial interpreta- tion of them, we have no hesitation in giving our opinion that the United States patents referred to are in no way limited or affected by such foreign patents, but are severally valid for seventeen years from their respective dates and that they wUl be upheld to this effect by the Supreme Court of the United States whenever the question shall be pre- sented for its decision. Yours respectfully, WM. M. EVAKTS, CLARENCE A. SEWARD, JOHN C. TOMLINSON. To EDWARD H. JOHNSON, Esq., President, &c. i^ r i' .J CAUTIDN 2. FUTILITY OF EUARANTEEB. As against the warnings of the Edison Co., its opponents proffer with great prodigality guarantees of all sorts. They will freely guar- antee immunity from damages as well as the superiority of their wares on all points. Let us investigate these guaratees. Natuke op Guarantee. 1st. Guarantee of patents offered. 2d. Guarantee against damages for infringement of patents of others. 3d. Guarantee of specific results from a given power expended — with accompanying guarantee of life of lamps. FoBM OP Guarantee. 1st Guarantees given by corporate bodies. 2d. Guarantees given by individuals. 3d. Guarantees accompanied by collateral security. We will consider them in the order named. 1st. To guarantee a patent is to guarantee its validity, i. e., to pre- determine the action of the Courts of last resort. This is an absurdity and a business folly of which only whoUy irresponsible and unscrupu- lous concerns would be guilty. That is to say, no one can guarantee the final action of the Courts. 2d. To guarantee against damages for the infringement of a patent held by others is a business risk; and as such it should (to be of any avail) possess a value equivalent to the aggregate of all possible damages. 14 A WARNING FROM THE 3d. To guarantee specific results for the purpose of establishing superior economy, it becomes necessary to take account of all the factors incidental thereto, as for instance : A. The effective candle power obtained per horse power expended. B. The loss of energy between dynamo and lamp. C. The life of the lamp itself. If one of these factors be absent the remainder may be readily made to bolster a dishonest guarantee. Impbacticability of Proving Guarantees. To measure accurately the horse power expended by any given motor is a task of such delicacy as to tax the resources of trained ex- perts and jurors of awards in industrial expositions. To measure accurately the candle power obtained is even more difficult and requires elaborate apparatus with surrounding con- ditions impracticable, since it is essential that the measurement, to be accurate, must be made with the lamps in the position of their designated use, otherwise the loss in the conductors and intermedi- ate apparatus is not taken into account. To obtain the life of lamps the element of time must be intro- duced, since they are guaranteed to average a given niunber of hours of burning at a rated candle power. This, of course, precludes an immediate determination as to their proper performance, and even an ultimate determination in this re- spect is surroimded with difficulties, since the guarantee of lamp life is invariably accompanied with qualifications as to the proper regu- lation of the electric pressure, &c., &c. The difficulties attendant upon the separate determinations of can- dle power, horse power and lamp life, become greater when, as is ab- solutely essential to an honest test, they are made at one and the same time. It will be observed that unless the measurements of power expended and candle power obtained are made simul- taneously, they are without value; and further, that unless the lamps employed in the test are such as are designed to come within the guarantee a& to life, the test will be without meaning, for the i H^-- EDISON ELECTRIC LIGHT CO. ( y ■4-^ i tv ri • \ '\ \ reason that it is entirely feasible, and we fear often the practice to, make an economy test with a high economy lamp of short life espe- cially provided for the purpose, subsequently substituting therefor a lower economy lamp with a life which vnll substantiate the guaran- tee given for it. In short, a guarantee of economy involves such complications as practically forbid the detection of dishonesty ; hence a guarantee of economy is simply a matter of what the leading and most reputable company will do; the others will promptly "offer even better" without reference to, and often without knowledge of, their ability to perform. In evidence of this, note the fact that all the so-called competitors of the Edison Co., have invariably guaranteed a small per- centage more than that company and jast as the development of the Edison lamp justified an advance of its guarantee^ the guai*antees of others have advanced. Does any one suppose that this coincidental and universal development has been a fact 1 No ; it means simply as we now point out, that anything may be guaranteed since detec- tion is impracticable (see Appendix H). Value of Various Forms of Guarantees. Guarantees by corporate bodies possess just that measure of value which is the standing of the corporation itself. If it is a bona fide organization with character and capital, then its guarantee becomes of a par with that of individuals of like repute. Otherwise it is not worth the paper upon which it is written. Assuming, how- ever, that the guarantee is given by a reputable concern we will class it with, and consider it, in the next following category. In considering guarantees given by individuals, it is useful to deal only with those of individuals who have rank in the commercial world. Our inquiry, therefore, is as to the sufficiency of a guarantee over the signature of a man whose private fortune is supposed to be large and whose pecuniary responsibihty is not questioned; the value of a guarantee of such an one, in the matter of the quality of the goods he supplies, is only dependent upon the ability of the ag- I t« A WARNING FROM THE EDISON ELECTRIC LIGHT CO. grieved party to prove short measure. This ability we have shown is only present with the purchaser in a meagre way. He can demon- strate gross failure only. He cannot detect the absence of that " superior economy " a guarantee of which induced him to buy of the guarantor and yet instead of possessing 10 or 205^ higher economy his plant may and very likely does fall that per cent short of the economy of the plant rejected. This, however, is of minor import- ance as compared with the efficacy of the guarantee as against damages for infringement of patents. Such liability is not dependent upon elaborate and complicated measure- ments, but is the direct result of an edict of a Court of law. It is, therefore, one which must either rest upon the guarantor or the party guaranteed. On Whom Will Damages Finally FallT We assert that they will fall upon the purchaser of the electric plant, and for this reason : the very responsibility of the party making the guarantee brings him numerous customers, all of whom receive like guarantees. These in the interim of the patent litigation aggregate vast sums. The larger and more prosperous the business of such an one the heavier the aggregation of responsibihty, and the less the value of the guarantee. No private fortune, however great, would in the event of award of damages avail, eiwn if it was not employed to evade by technicality such great responsibility. The one thing certain in such event would be that the guarantee would be unavaila- ble and the user not only be compelled to pay but also to cease the use of the infringing apparatus. Gum-antees accompanied by collateral security are therefore the sole guarantees of value as against the holders of a patent of prior date and fundamental in its character. Such guarantees are of course practically out of the question save in a few exceptional cases where the object of the guarantor is something more than the mere sale of goods ; it is useless therefore to consider them in the discus- sion of a piurely commercial question. In such transactions they would not be given. 17 t .r ^ / \r^ 'm Finally we must conclude that guarantees in patent matters do not guarantee. The only assurance of practical value is to deal with original owners who can show fundamental patents of prior dates, and whose business is conducted with special reference to a future rather than a present profit, thereby ^Rtabhshing by the strongest proof not only their original and f undar mental ownership, but confidence in their ultimate control of the industry. CAUTION 3. INVEBTMENT. Central Station Electbic Distbibution. Before investing his money, a prudent man will inquire as to the character and scope of the enterprise in which he contemplates em- barking. In this connection attention is caUed to the fact that the term « Electric Lighting " is so wholly inadequate as a description of the industry of manufacturing , distributing and selling electrical energy, as to be misleading in the extreme. Any « system " which is available only for the single purpose of Hghting is necessarily so heavily handicapped, as against a system which is capable of universal adaptation, as to be practically out of the race. It is imperative, therefore, that the intending investor shaU inquire as to the adaptability of the system presented to his notice, to aU the requirements of the community which he desires to serve, as for in- stance : Light, Power, Heat, Ventilation, and the manifold industiial «nd other uses to which eledridty is now being applied with phe- nomenal rapidity. To the end of directing the inquirer intelligently we will endeavor to indicate of what and how such a universal system is constituted. A universal system must possess the following elementary com- ponents : l8 A WARNING FROM THE EDISON ELECTRIC LIGHT CO. «9 1st. A continuous current.ln one direction. 2cl. Uniform pressure. 3d. Maximum of safety. 4th. Absolute reliability. 5th. A practically unlimited supply. 6th. Minimum- cost. 7th. Means of measuring. 8th. Complete control by the user of the energy supplied to him. It will be readily admitted that any system possessing these ele- ments must inherently possess that mean of simplidiy and elaborar tion, which in any industry can alone give a resultant of satisfaction to the producer and the user. The element of simplicity must pervade not only the individual unit but the entire system, whilst elaboration must go to the extent of pro- viding means for securing the essential conditions of a perfect service. In electrical distribution these essential conditions are as follows : 1st. Subdivision of generating units to secure reliability and econ- omy of production. 2d. Meshing of distributing conductors in a common net-work throughout the entire area supplied to secure uniform distribution. 3d. A system of special feeding conductors to apportion equally the supply of energy to the demand throughout the area of the system of conductors. 4th. A system of indicators to denote variations of pressure at any point in the area of consumption. 5th. A system of regulation to compensate for any variations of pressure (see Appendix D). It vrill be observed from the foregoing that our investor needs to enquire for an economic and reUable system of electrical distribution, and not simply for a method of electric lighting, or a method of electric power, or a method of electric heating, or a method of electric signalling, or a method for any other specific use. He wants a system which shall comprehend all these (see Appendix I). ^ ■'V|; % ■ « 41 tc / M } It is only from the use of such a system that he can derive the full measure of return upon his investment, and thereby secure him- self a practical guarantee against competition. Having now cast an introspective glance at the field which he would occupy, and learned the means whereby it may be satisfactorily accomplished, it behooves him to inquire as to which of the Electric Companies bidding for his favor, the most nearly approximates the requirements of the situation. To enable him to do this we will provide an analysis of the methods adopted and recommended by the various Electric CJom- panies, and indicate to him wherein they severally succeed or fail to fiU the bill. DiKBCT CUKBENT MeTHODS IN WHIOH THE INVESTMENT IN CONDTTOTOBS m Minimized by the use op High Pbessube. This idea has been advocated principally by the various Arc Light. Companies. Hundreds of plans, methods, devices and compromises, under the generic terms of " series," " multiple series," " distributing **^ devices and various compoundings thereof, have been tried and foimd lamentably wanting. They have one and all utterly failed for the simple reason that the translating unit, i.e., the lamp, the motor or other device, loses its individtuility in consequence of deriving its current through another like unit. One discontinued, either dis- continues the other, makes it necessary to substitute an unproduc- tive but current consuming imit for that discontinued, or throvra upon the accompanying unit additional work, thereby affecting dia« astrously both its life and its economy. The employment of high tension currents is furthermore objec- tionable on account of their unreliability and of being fraught with danger to life and property to such an extent as to be discouraged by Fire Boards and others having these things in keeping (see Appen- dix J). This method has in fact nothing to reconmiend it but the one item of minimizing investment in the conducting vrires. It is a. cheap make-shift only and possesses no element of permanency. I 30 A WARNING FROM THE It is furthermore incapable of filling even a small fraction of the essentials of a comprehensive system in that it can be applied to but few practical uses. It may, therefore, be dismissed by us as it has been by that part of the public who have tried it both in the capacity of investors and consumers. If further proof is needed of the uncommercial character of this compromise between judicious investment vnth its accompanying practical and financial success, and parsimonious economy, with its resultant of practical and financial failure, it is readily found in examples still extant, as, for instance, the Hotel Brunsvdck in this city, vnth its several hundred lights lit up en masse, hours be- fore they are all required, or even useful, and maintained an equal period after the great majority are no longer needed. Some one pays for this useless lighting. Or if this is not sufficiently convincing, note the present strife and acrimonious controversy among the companies heretofore employing this method over the last sensation in the way of high tension compromises, viz., the so-called " GOULABD & GlBBS* WeSTINGHOUSE ALTERNATING CuBRENT CoNVERTEh System." Having become convinced that for permanent investment the direct current high tension system oflfers no inducement, our inquirer naturally turns to its successor in the high tension line. The alternating current high tension with its converting (reducing) apparatus, like its predecessor, aims at minimizing investment in the conducting vnres by employment of the high tension currents, and, as we shall presently see, with the same or even more unsatisfactory results. An alternating current, i. e., a current changing its direction seversd hundred times per second, is employed simply because it affords a sim- ple and ready means of effecting a reduction of the high pressure employed in the street wires to the low pressure demanded by the lamps in the house systems. The advocates of this system claim that in it they have the advantage (?) of the economy of high tension combined vdth the essential requisite of low tension, and, therefore, H 4< i i'l v^, ^ ''/■ ih^ f 'si/ EDISON ELECTRIC LIGHT CO. 31 theoretically, the perfect system. Let us see if it sustains this daim in practice. The employment of alternating current generating machines forbids the harnessing together of two units or more on one circuit ; hence, the reliability and current capacity of that circuit is only that of a single machine. The alternating current forbids the use of economic motors, hence, power distribution is impracticable, and the system is thus seriously limited in its scope. For a like reason, many other applications, such as electrolysis, electro-plating, &c., are prohibited. Since the destructive effect, either upon life or property, is enor- mously enhanced even by the interruption of an ordinary current trav- ersing it, it follows that the complete reversal of the current causes it to assume the form of a real danger. Note the precautions and restrictions demanded by the Fire Board in their rules and regulations and the justification thereof in the deaths abeady caused by this system, although it has but just come into the field. Furthermore, its effect upon the adjacent vdres of other electrical enterprises, as, for in- stance, the telephone and telegraph, is disastrous. Note the suit of the New Orleans Telephone Company to restrain its use in proximity to their vdres (see Appendix K). The large engine unit requisite, the low economy of the generator, as compared with the direct current dynamos, the extralossof energy due to the interpolation of the converter and the constant demand upon the station made by the converters, irrespective of the work they are doing, all combine to render the system the most uneconomical yet offered to the pubHc. But, to the end that the absence of the main essentials of a perfect system may be made more apparent, we vnll before proceeding refresh our inquirer's mind as to the essential components of a perfect system by an examination of the saUent points of The Edison Direct Current Low Tension System. A continuous current always flowing^ in the same direction, and of the pressure required by a single lamp is made to suffice for an illimitable number of lamps, motors or other devicee. 33 A WARNING FROM THE and by virtue of these characteristics, the current becomes appli- cable to every use to which electricity is now or may he applied. It furthermore does not injuriously afifect (whatever its pressure) adjacent electrical service, such as telephone or telegraph systems, which services are seriously impaired by currents of interrupted or alternative character. A uniform pressure is essential to a uniform lighting, me- chanical or heating product ; hence its importance cannot be over-esti- mated, and in this system a imiform pressure is treated as a prime factor. A maximum of safety is obtained in part by the employment of comparatively low pressure, and in part by innumerable devices especially and originally designed therefor, as well as by virtue of the high standards of material, workmanship and methods employed in their construction and application. Absolute reliability. This desideratimi is obtained by a complete subdivision of all the several units employed, whether boil- ers, engines, dynamos or conductors, thereby relying in no respect upon a single thread, but so weaving all into one common web or network as to render the failure of any one or more a mere matter of a momentarily reduced aggregate product, insufficient in itself to effect the extinction of even so much as a single lamp or other con- suming imit, or, in fact, to make itself apparent to a consumer in any way whatever. A practically unlimited supply. This important req- uisite to a system that aims to meet aU demands is obtained by the meshing of conductors in a common network, thus permitting the current to flow toward a point of extraordinary demand from any and all directions and consequently availing of the law of general averages, viz., the interchanging of idle and active units. This interchangeability likewise results in a uniform general demand on the station notwith- standing that scattered consumers may be drawing upon it extraor- dinarily. The supply thus becomes for all practical purposes unlim- ited, inasmuch as ample notice and time is thus obtained to increase or diminish the supply at the station. Minimum cost of production. This commercial factor iV 'U > tl ir-, t M 4 > EDISON ELECTRIC LIGHT CO. 23 iB present in the system by virtue of the fact that each and every producing unit, itself of the highest efficiency, is only employed in the direct ratio of the consumption of its product, and further, by reason of the fact that no translating, converting or other energy- consuming apparatus intervene between the generating and the consuming units to waste a material percentage of the energy. Means of measuring the quantity consmned. Without accurate apparatus for determining the precise measure of energy used by the consumer, it is evident that no true commercial relation can exist between producer and user. Either one or the other will obtain an imdue advantage however honest may be their inten- tions. The Edison system is unique in this respect. It is the only system possessing a meter which has been demonstrated by years of practical and conamercial use to be accurate and reliable. The complete control by the user of the energry supplied to him is of paramount importance, since thereby only, can he call it into use when, and to what extent, and for what purpose he may wish, and, per contra, determine that use. This exceedingly important feature has received in the Edison system thorough treatment and practical development in the numerous uses to which electricity is applied (see Appendix L). Having thus reviewed a " system '* (because of its comprehensive character worthy of the title), let us place in juxtaposition a few examples illustrating the relative economy of operating and first cost of the Edison Direct and the Westinghouse Indirect or Converter System. Both systems start from the coal pile ; both employ steam boilers and engines. The Edison Direct system requires no apparatus be tween the dynamo and lamp ; the Westinghouse Indirect System in- terpolates pressiure reducer; the Edison Direct System permits of the use of a self -exciting high economy generator ; the indirect system demands an uneconomical generator with supplemental magnetic ex- citing apparatus. For example (employing only such efficiency figures as are a matter of record, which are, therefore, not dependent upon mere asseverations) : 1 '>. A WARNING FROM THE EDISON ELECTRIC LIGHT CO. Assumed a station doing commercial lighting from 4 P.M. until 7 A.M. Direct System. Indirect System. Ck)mmercial Efficiency. Losa Commercial Efficiency. Loss. Dvnamo 90% 10% *-7% 70 30 0.5% 4.8% Mean loss in conductors for 16 hours run. Mean loss in transform- ers for 15 hours mn (maximum efficiency 96%) Totals 14.7% 35.3% Difference in favor of Edison, 20.6%. This estimate does not take into account the losses in the dis- tributing conductors— that is, the service conductors from the converters to the houses— nor does it include the house wiring itself, which system of subordinate conductors requires a much larger amount of copper for a given number of lamps than does the Edison on account of the lower electrical pressure employed by their lamp^ viz : 60 units as against 110 in the Edison lamp. Further, this estimate is based upon a nearly perfect converter, whereas such converters are so expensive that to obtain the essential reduction of cost, cheaper and less efficient converters will be and are employed. Such cheaper converters possess only about half the economical efficiency of the more expensive ones, involving a loss of nearly 10% instead of the 4.8% we have allowed. Thus it appears that the economy of the indirect, as of all other high tension systems, is sacrificed to an effort to minimize investment Now, let us see if that effort is realized. Boilers, engines, dynamos, etc., may for all practical purposes be considered as costing per initial horse power, the same in each system. This leaves the con- / ( i K m 4 > «. • I ^ ductors alone in which to find an opportunity for reducing the invest- ment. FOR EXAMPLE. Given a problem — say the actual delivery of 10,000 lamps — ^we obtain the following : INVESTMENT. direct system. Copper sufficient to supply 10,- 000 lamps with low pressure. (See Appendix M.) INDIRECT SYSTEM. Copper to supply 10,000 lamps with high pressure, plus cost of converters to reduce to low press- ure,/?/?^ 20.6\ extra H. P. in boilers, engines, dynamos and converters to make good the short- age of 2,000 lamps, sacrificed to minimized investment by false economy. Our investor needs but little mathematical ability to satisfy himself that the saving is chimerical ; that the economy does not exist, that the adaptability is absent ; that, in short, the elements of reliability, safety and general utility are in the indirect as lament- ably wanting, if not more so, as in the preceding efforts to employ high tension. Capital is, and should be, conservative. "When seeking investment, it must consider the elements of permanency, fitness, economy and safety. The Edison low tension system alone offers these. All others are simply "catch penny" devices for ensnaring the unwary, put forth by "Cheap Johns" "the Apostles of Parsimony'* who would have our investor believe the Edison system one demanding undue and unnecessary capital because, forsooth, that system is offered only upon terms and conditions legitimately demanded by sound investment. A WARNING FROM THE CAUTIDN 4. DANGER. Human life is endangered by electricity only when the electric pressure employed is sufficient to overcome the resistance oflfered by the body. Testimony on this point has been taken by a Committee of the British House of Commons and 250 to 300 units was deter- mined upon as the safe limit ; such eminent electricians as Sir Wm. Thompson, Br. C. W. Siemens, Dr. John Hopkinson and others fully concurring in this conclusion. It is a matter of fact that any system employing high pressure, f. «., 500 to 2,000 units jeopardizes life. Furthermore, since the function of high pressure is to overcome resistance, and since insulation is only another name for resistance, it follows that high pressure demands extraordinary precautions in the matter of insulation, and even when so guarded occasionally escapes with disastrous consequences ; vide all Electric Lighting rules and regulations of Fire Boards and the many authentic cases of loss of life, from all of which it is a self-evident proposition that excess in this direction means greatly enhanced risks to life and property. (See Appendix P.) Any interruption of the flow of the current adds to its destructive property, whilst its complete reversal, as in the Alternating (Westing- house) system increases this destructiveness enormously. It is therefore dear that high pressure, particularly if accompanied by rapid alternations, is not destined to assume any permanent posi- tion. It would be legislated out of existence in a very brief period even if it did not previously die a natural death (see Appendix K). In confirmation of these deductions we have the fact of frequent and altogether unnecessary loss of life in Europe as well as in the United States due to the employment of high tension by the advo- cates of cheapness, and we now have the ratio of disasters multiplied v(^ '} l.v-r* ,'4 P^^, i ■•J t! •I I EDISON ELECTRIC LIGHT CO. 27 and increased by the introduction of that stiU more dangerous prac- tice, the alternating or reversal of an already dangerously high ten- sion current. As against the death record of the high tension systems which, if it stood as truly representing the measure of safety accompanying the use of electricity, would unquestionably condemn it, we have the glorious record of the Edison low tension system, from wMch there has never been a single instance of loss of life from the current employed. Furthermore, an important fact in relation to the employment of the high tension alternating current must not be overlooked. The present prac- tice is to place the pressure reducer upon the poles or other external fixtures, thus allowing only the low tension current to pass to interiors. But its advocates are already strenuously seek- ing to overcome the opposition of the Insurance Underwriters, and to place the converters vrithin the premises of the consimiers, thus bringing the dangerous element to the interiors ; nor must the fact be concealed that the slightest defect in the insulation of the converter vrill permit of the transfer of the high tension employed in the street circuits to the low tension circuits employed in the houses, even though the converter be itself placed in the open air. Examples of this insidious conveyance of the known dangerous ex- ternal force to the supposed safe internal circuits are not wanting, and must of necessity multiply with the grovdh of the systemu A flash of atmospheric electricity in a thunder storm effects a consolidation of the high and low pressure circuits vrithin the con- Tetter, thus instantly and without warning carrying a doubly death dealing element to the lamp containing fixtures which may at the moment or even subsequenUy be in contact vrith the person of the user. Instances exist of even more remote probabilities of the transfer of dangerous high tension currents, as, for instance, their traversing the iron beams, metal pipes or conducting material not constituting a portion of the electric system. (See Appendix K. ) tl i sS A WARNING FROM THE CAUTIDN S. MORAL Should the mind of our investor not be influenced by the fact of original ovmership of the patents which protect the industry of in- candescent electric lighting, nor by the fiUility of the guarantees which accompany the wares of the infringers thereof, nor by our presentar tion of the relative commercial merits of the Edison and other systems, nor yet by the liability to damages for loss of life and property to which he subjects himself and the members of his community by the introduction of the cheap methods, we would finally inquire of him whether he considers it safe to enter into business dealings and relations with men who give pubUc expression to statements which they ought to know to be imtrue. That the so-called competitors of the Edison Company have made such statements and do pursue such methods is abundantly evidenced by their own utterances. The first iofringer of Mr. Edison's invention, upon returning from a visit to Mr. Edison at Menlo Park, in 1880, is said to have announced his intention of pirating Mr. Edison's brains and prop- erty in these words: "I have been down to see Edison and the fool has showed me his hand and I mean to profit by it*' The result of his visit was the incandescent work of the U. S. Electric Lighting Company. The next infringer spent his sober moments endeavoring to convince the pubhc that Mr. Edison had not, oonld not, and would not maintain his lamp ahght an hour. From thence the Sawyer-Man, now The Consolidated Electric light Company (see Appendix Q). The next in- fringer modestly made no pretense at prior invention or other rights, but, lacking the moral courage to stand on his own great achievements and merits, went abroad and purchased the infringing product of a foreign pirate, from which we have the Brush- Swan Electric Light Co. The impetus cupidity thus obtained has grovm until the very atmosphere is full of its product. The next aspi- -i^ «.< > yr^ ' ,.v» '^,:^/j i .. ^^ .». ii v# EDISON ELECTRIC LIGHT CO. rants for ovniership and profits in this direction were Messrs. Thomson and Houston, and last, but not least, of the great efforts to deprive Edi- son of the credit and profit of his grand achievement in this branch of apphed electrical science comes George Westinghouse, Jr., who announces his plan in these words which are quoted from a pamphlet issued by Westinghouse, Church, Kerr & Company, rep- resenting the Westinghouse Electric Company, under the title of (t OUR BUSINESS POLICY ^' is to sell at a fair profit, and install electric lighting apparatus. To accom- ** plish this to the satisfaction of ourselves and our customers, we require *• only price, guarantee and result. These conditions satisfied, the transac- " tion is complete. ** We regard it as fortunate to ourselves and our customers that we have *' deferred entering the electrical field until the present moment. Raving thus ** profited by the public experience of other s^ we enter ourselves for competition^ ** Tiampered by a minimum of expense for experimental outlay, and backed by *' manufacturing facilities and experience second to none. In short, our •* organization is such that we are free in a large measure from the heavy " load with which electrical enterprises seem so far to be encumbered. The ** fruit of this and other economical measures we propose to share with the " customer." In further illustration of the character of the so-called competitors of the Edison Co., attention is called to the nature of their pub- lished statements upon the subject of the patent suits as hereinbe- fore set forth under the heading of patent suits. Li conclusion and by way of emphasizing the confidence of the Edison Company in its position, EntsT. Li respect of its rightful ownership of fundamental patents, and Second. In its beUef in the permanent and commercial value of the industry it has created, we beg to call our investors* attention to the fact that the business poHcy of the Edison Company is to dispose of the exclusive rights to operate its system vnthin the precinct of a given territory in consideration of a percentage of the capital stock of the corporations organized for that purpose. The Edison Co., thus 1* I I 30 A WARNING FROM THE participates only (having no interest whatever in the manufacturing' «Btablishments) in the net earnings of the industry when they shall materialize. Therefore, if the industry itself is non-productive of dividends, the patents have been acquired loithout consideration to the Edison Company. Hate: The consideration carries with it the right to purchase of the Edison manufacturing establishments aU electrical apparatus at the actual factory cost, plus only a minimum factory profit, fixed by the Edison Company. The corporations thus organized purchase a plant at the lowest cost at which the Edison Company is itself able to contract for its manufacture, and in not one dollar of the price thus paid for the installation of a plant does the Edison Company participate directly or indirectly. Its sole revenue for the use of its patents accrues from what the plant installed shall earn in net re- turns upon the money invested in it. All other companies dealing in incandescent lighting, knowing full well that their position is one of to-day only and subject to complete can- cellation to-morrow by action of the courts upon the Edison patents,, have adopted the poUcy of selling their plants at a profit upon the goods sold, thereby relinquishing all ownership thereof, " making hay while the sun shines,*' and incurring no responsibility for or staking no profits on the future prosperity of their customers. The Edison Company, thei-efore, pay common interest with the investor, whilst all other companies simply sell their goods to enter into competition with the Edison Company, and leave the purchaser to work out his own salvation and answer for himself when the day of judgment shall come. Attention is further called to the fact that the Edison Electric Light Company is not engaged in the business of creating a large stock interest to be sold to the confiding public at a profit (see Appendix R). The capital of the Edison Company is $1,500,000, of which $1,- 206,291 represents actual cash paid in, the balance standing against patents acquired from Mr. Edison, but it has, nevertheless, done four- fifths of all the business of incandescent electric lighting. EDISON ELECTRIC LIGHT CO. 31 .^ w k: -. { fk 111, Vk" Whereas, on the other hand, we have a fair sample of the methods pursued by other companies in the capitalization of the Westing- house Electric Company at $5,000,000, of which $100,000 are said to represent cash, $1,000,000 are declared to be ''for sale for cash/* and the remaining $3,900,000 are admitted to have been issued to Mr. Westinghouse for patents and contracts assigned ! ! Persistent and extraordinary efforts to give such capital a market value vnll perhaps supply a profit not obtainable in the legitimate channels of selling and installing electrical apparatus. EDISON ELECTRIC LIGHT CO., By Edwabd H. Johnson, President. S tf \ $2 A WARNING FROM THE EDISON ELECTRIC LIGHT CO. 15 APPENDIX A. EDISON'S FUNDAMENTAIi SYSTEM PATENT. From among the many notices of the technical press regarding the recent fundamental " Multiple Arc " patent, granted to Mr. Edison, we select the following : [Editorial frmn the Electrical World, September 10, 1887.1 Now and then the Patent Office grants patents of very broad sweep, but we are ready to give priority for aU-embracing comprehen- siveness to that which it has just issued to Mr. Edison, and of which we present aU the essential details this week, together with reproduc- tions of the drawings that accompanied the original application. This patent has a great many features of interest The application dates back to 1880, and locates Mr. Edison at Menlo Park, still en- gaged on the early work of developing his system. The language of the patent is quaint and archaic, and is, in itself, a revelation of the progress that was to be made. The method of exciting the succes- sive fields, as shown, is ahnost amusing in its primitive ingenuity. But aU these matters sink into insignificance beside the extraordinary scope given to Mr. Edison's dahns on distribution. This patent, should it be sustained as it stands, secures to Mr. Edison a monopoly of the whole art and system of multiple arc distribution, and, if we read aright, supplements that by the control of incandescent station operation. That is not enough, for on a modest interpretation « \xw^ lating devices " mw«« 6V6n iwc/w A l> same claims, the shortest limitation being that for England, which would bnng about an expiration here in 1895. l-Editorialfrom the Mectrical Beview, September 10, 1887.] An Important Electric liight Patent. A good deal of interest is manifested as to patent No. 369 280 issued August 30, 1887, to Mr. Edison, which is in the nature of a surpnse to the electric light fraternity. It is illustrated and de- scribed on page 9. If the patent is what it seems to be on its face, it would appear as if the entire field of multiple distribution from^- ttal stations were now in the hands of the owners of this patent It has been a long time getting through the entanglementa of the Pat- ent Office, having been filed February 5. 1880. The patent is about as broad as a patent can be, being regardless of specific devices and laying a powei-ful grasp on the fundamental idea of multiple distribu- tion from a number of generators through a metallic circuit There will doubUess be a bitter contest in the courts one of these days, with this patent as the bone of contention. We know nothing of the possible merits of such a contest, fix.m any point of view, and .t 18 not our business to go into such a matter, but it does look seriously hke wax. It certainly is food for reflection by those in- terested m general distribution of electrical energy from central sta- tions, and this class is growing larger ahnost daily. APPENDIX B. CI.AIMS OP EDISON'S FILAMENT PATENT. Mr. Edison's fundamental lamp patent No. 223,898 was applied for November 4, 1879, and issued January 27, 1880. The claims are as follows : nf h^^ ^^T^" "T^ ^"^ ^"^^ "^^* *'y incandescence, consisting rf a filamen o carbon of high resistance, made as described, and I cured to metaUic vnres, as set forth. 2. The combmation of carbon filaments, with a receiver made en- tirely of glass and conductors passing through the glass, and from which receiver the air is exhausted, for the purpose L for^ A J' "^ w T^*' °' '*^P '^^^ ^^ connected to electric con- ductors, so that only a portion of the surface of such carbon con- ductors shall be exposed for radiating light, as set forth I j 34 A WARNING FROM THE EDISON ELECTRIC LIGHT CO. 35 4. The method herein described of securing the platina contact wiieB to the carbon filament and carbonizing of the whole in a closed chamber substantially as set forth. APPENDIX C. BNGIilSH ANI> GERMAN DECISIONS SUPPORTING £I>ISON'S FILAMENT liAMP PATENT. The suit of the English Edison-Swan United Electric Light Company was brought against Woodhouse & Rawson for infringe- ment of the English patent corresponding with United States Patent No. 223,898 (the claims of which we give in Appendix B). In the trial before the English Court, the defense produced all the prior patents and publications which can be used in this country to defeat the patent, but it was held to be valid in spite of all these. The nearest previous approach to the Edison construction, and what was principally relied upon by defendants, was a lamp made in England by Swan ; which, however, cannot be legally used against the patent in this country, because no description of it was published before Mr. Edison's invention. Even this was held by the Court not to anticipate the Edison claim for a carbon " filament" This claim has now been upheld in the courts of Germany as well as England, and the result there foreshadows a like favorable ter- mination here. In this connection the following data on the percentage of patent suits resulting in the confirmation of the patent will prove of exceed- ing interest. It will answer most decisively the oft-repeated asser- tion of infringing concerns that the chance of Edison's patents being sustained is very slight. Patents in the Courts. BT GEO. H. STOCEBBIDOE. The statement that nine patents out of every ten are vacated V iZ^ > (1 when they come to be tested before the courts, has been repeated so often among those interested as to have become an adage ; but it happens, fortunately, that in the twenty-fifth volume of Myer's " Federal Decisions," published last year, we have at hand a table of patents adjudicated from 1776 to 1885, from which it is easy to com- pile hsts of sustained and vacated patents with a considerable degree of accuracy. Out of a total of 983 patents passed upon between 1776 and 1886, 269 were declared void, and 714 were sustained. Of the latter num- ber 480 were sustained broadly, and 234 were limited, in view of the state of the art, or by the appUcation of a strict interpretation to the claams. Assuming the above figures to be substantiaUy correct, the number of patents held valid is about 73 per cent, of the whole num- ber on which suit is brought. The above calculation leaves out of account those patents in which only a certain few of the claims were sustained or vacated. There were 167 of the former in the table and perhaps as many of the latter. ' Nine patents sustained to one vacated would not be far out of the way. While engaged upon the table, I have examined it with respect to the question, now much mooted, whether the attitude of the courts towards letters patent is growing more adverse. I find that, prior to 1860, 197 patents were sustained out of a total of 257 contested, a percentage of about 77. Between 1860 and 1870 the proportion remamed substantially the same, falling off a trifle more than one per cent, m the number upheld. Since 1869, however, there has been a marked increase in the relative number of patents which the courts have declared void. The number of patents vacated between that date and 1885 is 116, or more than 35 per cent, of the whole number tabulated. There is no apparent increase during the last part of the period as compared with the first, so that a just estimate of the present condition of things would be that about 35 patents out of 100 are now declared invalid by tiie courts. It should be stated that the proportion of patents sustained in the preceding analysis is reduced by the inclusion of reissue patents, which, since 1882, have been imiformly vacated. There need be no hesitation in saying that more than six patents out of every t^n are good property, and that the Federal courts will uphold their ovmers in the defense of them. I /). 1 36 A WARNING FROM THE APPENDIX D. CLAIMS OP EmSON'S MUIiTIPLE ABC SYSTEM PATENT. Mr. Edison's fundamental multiple axe patent, No. 369,280, was applied for February, 1880, and issued August 30, 1887. Its claims, as allowed by the Patent Office, are as follows : 1. In a system of electrical distribution, the combination, with a complete or round metallic circuit, of a number of generators con- nected in multiple arc with such circuit, and consisting each of an armature revolving in a magnetic field, and a number of translating devices, also connected in multiple arc with said circuit, substantially as set forth. 2. In a system of electrical distribution, the combination, with a complete or round metallic circuit, of a number of generators con- nected in multiple arc with such circuit, and consisting each of an armature of low resistance revolving in a magnetic field of great strength, and a number of translating devices, also connected in mul- tiple arc with said circuit, substantially as set forth. 3. In a system of electrical distribution, the combination, with a complete or roimd metallic circuit, of a number of generators con- nected in multiple arc with such circuit, and consisting each of an armature revolving in a magnetic field and having the coils of its field-of-fbrce magnet and its generating coils separate, {i.e., not con- nected in series), and a number of translating devices, also connected in multiple arc with said circuit, substantially as set forth. 4. In a system of electrical distribution, the combination, vnth a complete or round metallic circuit, of a nimiber of generators con- nected in multiple arc with such circuit, and consisting each of an armature revolving in a magnetic field, a number of translating de- vices, also connected in multiple arc with said circuit, and a regulator for regulating the supply of current to such circuit, substantially as set forth. 5. In a system of electrical distribution, the combination, with a complete or round metallic circuit, of means for generating electricity connected with such circuit, and consisting of one or more dynamo or magneto-electric machines, translating devices connected in multiple arc with said circuit, an indicator of the electric pressure upon such V <•> /• EDISON ELECTRIC LIGHT CO. 37 circuit, and a regulator under control of the operator for regulating the supply of current to such circuit, substantially as set forth. 6. In a system of electrical distribution, the combination, with a complete or round metalHc circuit, of a number of generators con- nected in multiple arc with such circuit, and consisting each of an armature revolving in a magnetic field, translating devices connected in multiple arc with said circuit, an indicator of the electric pressure upon such circuit, and a regulator under control of the operator for regulating the supply of current to such circuit, substantially as set forth. 7. In a system for the generation and distribution of electridiy for light or power, through cities or towns or districts thereof, a cen- tral station whereat are combined a number of generators of electric- ity connected in multiple arc, and consisting each of an armature revolving in a magnetic field, an indicator of the electric pressure, and a regulator of the current generated, conductors forming com- plete or round metallic circuits leading from such station, to distrib- ute the current throughout the system, and translating devices con- nected in multiple arc with such conductors, substantially as set forth. 8. In a system for the generation and distribution of electricity for Ught or power through cities or towns or districts thereof, a cen- tral station whereat are combined a number of generators of electri- city connected in multiple arc, and consisting each of an armature revolving in a magnetic field, an indicator of the electric pressure, and a regulator of the current generated, conductors forming complete or round metallic circuits leading from such station to distribute the current throughout the system, translating devices connected in mul- tiple arc vdth such conductors, and meters at the houses for measur- ing the current supplied to such translating devices, substantially as set forth. APPENDIX E. HIGHEST HONORS TO THE EDISON lilGHT.— PARIS, 1881. The prizes have been awarded by the Electrical Exposition at Paris, and Edison has received two gold medals and a diploma of honor, the highest honor conferred upon any exhibitor. Edison has received from Paris the following cable : " Official list, published to-day, shows you in ^ae I b I 38 A WARNING FROM THE the highest class of inventors. No other exhibitor of electric light in that class. Swan, Fox, and Maxim receive medals in class below. The sub-juries had voted you five gold medals, but General Congress promoted you to the diploma of honor. This is complete success, the Congress having nothing higher to give." Professor Barker, of the University of Pennsylvania, present at the Exposition in Paris, also telegraphed Edison as follows : " Accept my congratulations. You have distanced all competitors and obtained a diploma of honor, the highest award given in the Exposition. No person in any class in which you were an exhibitor received a like award." Swan sent Edison a cable complimenting him as follows : "You have received the highest award the jury had to give. I congratulate you." [" Independent," Nov. 5, 1881.] There are a few salient points in the chronicles of the Paris Ex- position of 1881 which the historian of the electric hghting industry will some day write in letters which " he who runs may read.*' Among these shining sentences will be seen the frank and manly statement of the Count du Moncel, who, when convinced of the re- ality of Mr. Edison's long strides of real progress, led the scientific world in paying tribute to his success. We quote from " Journal des Debats,'* Paris, of September 8, 1881 : " Our readers will recollect the furor raised among scientific men " of France by the news of the discovery of his system of illumination. ** It first caused enthusiasm, soon modified by the criticism of competent " scientists, one particularly, M. du Moncel, the eminent electrician, " manifesting an opposition to Edison's system in an article that " caused a great sensation among the most celebrated electricians, " and denied its practicability. To be sure, an ocean lay between " the laboratory of the hermit of Menlo Park and the study of M. " du Moncel ; but since Edison's system has crossed the sea, M. du " Moncel has changed his opinion, for, in a letter which has been " shown us, he welcomes the new arrival, after enumerating the ex- " periments with other incandescent lamps, in these words : " * All these experiments achieved but moderate success, to say " * no more, and when, in 1879, the new Edison incandescent carbon ** * lamp was announced, many of the scientists, and I, particularly, " * doubted the accuracy of the reports which came from America. " * This horse-shoe of carbonized paper seemed incapable to resist " * mechanical shocks, and to mamtain incandescence for any con- _-M Cl.^ ^1 > EDISON ELECTRIC LIGHT CO. 39 \ > EDISON ELECTRIC LIGHT CO. 4t 10. Frank J. Sprague, No. 335,045, dated Januaiy 26, 1883, on Systems of Electrical Distribution. 11. William S. Andrews, No. 317,700, dated May 12, 1885, on Systems of Electrical Distribution. Suits have been instituted by the Edison Company upon these patents against Westinghouse, Church, Kerr <& Co., who are act- ing as the exploiters of what is called the Westinghouse system (which so-called system I am informed is the one you contemplate using), in the United States Circuit a>urt for the District of New Jersey. Should the decisions in these suits be favorable to the Edison Company, they will at once proceed to obtain injunctions throughout the country against all infringers of their patents, and will at the same time bring action to recover damages for past in- fringements. Li addition to the suits referred to above, the Edison Company had previously instituted, and are now pressing suits in the Circuit Court of the United States for the Southern District of New York, against the United States Electric Light Company and others, upon the foUovFing patents: Nos. 265,311, 251,554, 223,898, 227,229, 265,777, 239,149, 239,153, 248,419, 264,698, 230,255, 266,447, 248,- 424, 288,318, 263,140, 307,029. These patents are also infringed by Westinghouse, Church, Kerr & Co., and vnll also be infringed by you in case you erect and operate the station referred to. Upon the determination of these suits, proceedings for injimctions and damages vrill likewise be instituted against all infringers throughout the country, including Westinghouse. It is entirely impractical at the present time for the Edison Company to multiply litigations upon the same patents indifferent sections of the coimtry, and they have adopted the course usually followed in such cases, of proceeding against the responsible pro- moters of the infringements and awaiting the determinations of these litigations before instituting proceedings against the users. The object of this communication is to furnish you with exact in- formation of the patents which it is claimed you vrill infringe, and of the suits now pending before the courts against the promoters of these infringements, and of what you may expect in case you deter- mine to disregard the patents referred to. Having furnished you with this information and notice, you can procure copies of the patents referred to, and can determine for yourselves whether the > >> » 1 ( 42 A WARNING FROM THE Station you contemplate erecting and the apparatus and methods you desire using will infringe the same, and you can also easily verify the statement I have made in regard to the pendency of these suits by communication with the clerks of the courts to which I have re- ferred. This communication is dictated by a still further object, and that is, by giving you the information referred to, to deprive you from saying hereafter when suits shaU be brought against you, that you acted innocentiy and without knowledge of the rights of others. (Signed,) John C. Tomunson, Counsellor for the Edison Electric Light Company. In the more recent exploiting of the « Converter" system, many of the same principles of current distribution and regulation are in- volved, and the Edison Company claim that ahnost as many of their principal patents are infringed in the latest Westinghouse installa- tions as at Trenton. The Philadelphia suite, which are brought against the Keystone Light and Power Company of that city, a sub- company of the Westinghouse, are upon Nos. 4, 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10, as in above letter of Mr. Tomlinson, and patent of Thomas A. Edison, No. 283,984, dated August 28th, 1883, on Systems of Electrical Dis- tiibution, and patent of Charles Bradley, No. 280,563, dated July 3d, 1883, on Electrical Measuring Apparatus. APPENDIX a. ROYALTIES COLLECTED IN ENGLAND AND ELSE- WHERE. Mr. Justice Butt's decision of May, 1886, in favor of the English Edison Company, not only decided Edison's priority of invention, but ordered all otiier lamps desti-oyed or given into the possession of the Edison Company, and an accounting of the profite made by tiie sale of the infringing lamps and other electrical appUances already sold. This virtually threw all other incandescent lamps out of the United Kingdom except upon payment of royalty to the Edison Company. V I 4 tK^ K^ EDISON ELECTRIC LIGHT CO. 43 The secretary of this organization at once issued circular letters to private parties using the Woodhouse & Kawson and other lamps, of which the following copy is taken from the " Electrical Beview " of July 9, 1886: " Edison and Swan United Elec. Lt. Co., Limited, " 13 Albert Mansions, Victoria St., « Westminster, S. W. June 29th, 1886. " Deab Sm — ^We find that you are using incandescent electric lamps which are made in infringement of this company's patents which have been recentiy upheld by the decree of the High Court of Justice under proceedings instituted by the company against other infringers. " I have to request that you vrill at once discontinue the use of those lamps, and upon your notifying me of your willingness to do this, I will make arrangements for sending for the lamps at such early date as may be convenient to you. " If I hear from you not later than Monday next, 5th July, with the undertaking above referred to, the company wiU abstain from taking proceedings against you, either for an injunction or for dam- ages — a course which the directors have authorized me to take, in the belief that you were not aware that by the use of the lamps in question you were infringing the companies* rights. " I am, dear sir, yours faithfully, " (Signed) S. Flood Page, " Secretary." On receipt of one of these, accidentally sent to one of their agents, the following humorous reply was returned : " We think this a most unwarrantable and vexatious proceeding on your part, calcu- lated to leave a very prejudicial effect on our interests and yours. We are using your lamps exclusively, and think that you owe us an apol- ogy for this procedure.** (Signed, Muir Mavor, C. M.) The " Review," in a lengthy editorial, concedes the legality of this course, but doubts its policy. One extract vriU illustrate the great strength of the position thus fortified by the potency of patents when sustained by the courts : I' n ^i 1 n A WARNING FROM THE "We think the Edison Company would act much more sensibly " if it allowed instaUations actually in operation previous to the recent " legal suit to remain in statu quo, enforcing its rights against in- " fringing manufacturers and all future users of infringing articles " as fully as it thinks fit. Now is the time when the company has it " in its pow«- either to make friends or enemies." In the Heview of July 30, 1886, appears a report of the directors of the Edison-Swan United E. L. Co., Limited. It is there stated that, " The amount due from Messrs. Woodhouse & Rawson under " the judgment could not yet be estimated, and had not been brought " into the accounts. The order was now in form and they would " endeavor to take the account, which, he understood, meant going " through the books of Messrs. Woodhouse & Rawson, and tracing « what they had done with the infringing lamps. He had reason to "believe that they had sold an enormous number, and, therefore, " there was a considerable sum of money to come from those gentle^ " men." APPENDIX tt BECKLESS GUABANTEES NEVER MABE GOOD. In the Louisville Courier-Journal of October 29, 1883, appeared the following statement made for the United States Electric Light Company : •* I have demonstrated that we can run a great many more lamps " with the same power than the Edison people can. Of this the " Palmer House people are entirely convinced." (Signed) C. C. Wabben. " The United States Company wish it stated with II emphasis that it guarantees thirteen lamps of ** sixteen candle power per horse power, being ** double the number guaranteed by any competitor, " and its machines are automatic." (Signed) J. E. Lockwood. This is but one illustration of the wild guarantees which have been put forward by companies having in some cases not so much as a lamp which would Hve 100 hours. The character of these "ff ^ - ^••%r"w > .'» ^ EDISON ELECTRIC LIGHT CO. 45 professions was clearly exposed by the Franklin Institute tests at Philadelphia in 1885. In a trial of 1000 hours the record of break- age was as follows: Edison, 1 out of 21. Woodhouse & Eawson, all of 11. Stanley, 19 out of 22. The U. S. C5o. (Weston), 17 out of 24. Edison thus lost 5 % ; and Weston 65 %. The value of an Edison lamp was thus shown to be twelve or thirteen times that of any other. These tests have been confirmed by those made at Berlin, Vienna, London, Paris, Louisville, Cincinnati and elsewhere. APPENDIX L PROSPECTIVE IMPORTANCE OF MOTORS IN CEN- TRAL STATION WORK. It is sufficient, in illustrating the great importance of the busi- ness of the future in the transmission of small powers, to cite the grovdng use of motors in the Boston and New York stations. At present, after only a year of eflfort, Boston has 100 motors, aggregat- ing a capacity of 300 horse power, in daily operation, and the demand constantly increasing. The New York company has attached within a few months over 150 horse power. The franchises of Edison central stations include not only this profitable application of the power they distribute ; but that of heating by electricity, which is now clearly made apparent is the next immediate practical applica- tion of electricity on a vast scale. APPENDIX J. DANGERS FROM HIGH POTENTIAIiS Might be illustrated at great length. The few which are of more re- cent date are given vdthout comment : II jl \ A WARNING FROM THE IDetroU Ptess, Oct. 4th, 1887] Deadly Electric Light WIres.-The Shocking Sight which Met the Gaze of Passers-By on a Detroit Street Detboit JOch, Oct. 4.-A corpse skly feet from the earth han^- mg m a "««* of wires, the arms and legs moving perceptibly, wa« the ghastly sight which greeted people last night at the comer of Wood- ward avenue and the Campus Martius. The discoverer of this shock- mg sight caUed the fire department The dead man was got down ^ an extension ladder. He had been dead for some time and his body had recer^ed the electric current of the entire Brush system, which had made his hmbs move as if in convulsions. Thus perished laneman Hiram Corhss. Nobody knows how long he had hung on tte wires. TTie securing of the body was attended with great danger because the electnc current was still on. Corliss, in repairing or leak- ing for a break, had made a fatal find. [J^ Y. /iun, Oct. 2itA, 1887.] Yon Can't Hnsh It Up.-When an Electric Ught Kills a Man there's no Keeping Mnm About It George Schneizer the young man who was killed on Saturday in the H^lem Hectnc Light Company's biulding, 244 East One Hundred ^d Twenfy-second street, was au inspector of lamps for the company He received his death stroke from a defectively insulated lamp which hung in tte ceUar of the building. It was an arc Hght of the familiar steeet hght pattern. It hung in front of a big dynamo machine in the ceUar. Two men were working about the dynamo, and Schneizer aune down to look at them. As he leaned forward his hat struck the lamp and set it swinging. Without a thought of danger he caught hold of the round, brass-finished tube which holds the bottom carbon With a spasmodic shiver he feU to the ground. The men wised hun up and one of them ran across the street for Dr T H Hay. It was not more than five minutes after the shock thatDr Hav arrived He found Schneizer just gasping his last breath ' At the office of the Harlem Electric Light a>mpany no one would gve any mf onnation yesterday about the accident Lamps of this hnd are extoemely dangerous. The current used is one of great mtensity. If aielampis in order the wires and carbons aSS nisulated from the frame. In this case there was a contact some- Ick*! I -^ ■► -•§ r* ^ f EDISON ELECTRIC LIGHT CO. 47 where, and when Schneizer caught the lamp the whole strength of the current passed through his body to the ground. Schneizer was unmarried and lived with an uncle at One Hundred and Seventeenth street and First avenue. [i^. y. Sun, Dec. Sth, 1887.] Fatal Shock From an Electric Wire. Lyons, N. Y., Dec. 5.--Elmer E. Wood, Manager of the Canandaigua Electric Light Company, was killed by an electric shock in that village last evening. He started to go home, but noticing that an electric lamp on the street did not bum clearly, he attempted to fix the carbon in it. His kid glove was wet, and coming in contact vdth the wire, he received a terrible shock. He was heard to groan, and then dropped unconscious on the ground. He was picked up a moment later and breathed his last. The only mark on him was a small and black hole in his thumb. \_Vhicago Tribune, Dec. 12, 1887.] Killed by a Flash— A Theatrical Manag^er Struck Dead by an Electric Current. Cincinnati, O., Dec. 11.— [Special.]— James O'Connell, stage man- ager of the Michael Strogoff company of Harris' Museum, was in- stantly killed by receiving an electric shock from the speaking-tube on the stage while the matinee on Saturday afternoon was in progress. It seems that the insulated covering, where the vnre was attached to the electric light, covered the speaking-tube leading across the stage to the prompter's box, had worn away and the current thus diverted ran along the metal tube, and charged with the same intensity that is usually applied to the lamps. But it could be touched in perfect safety by any one who did not insert himself in the circuit O'Con- nell unfortunately did the latter, the other side of the connection being made by laying his right hand on the zinc-covered box from which the gas-burners are controlled. The instant he seized the brass ring of the bell wire the current was changed from the circuit and passed through his body to the ground. Standing at his side were the stage carpenter and the costumer. The latter declares that when O'Connell took his hand from the pipe in the act of falling a spark fully five inches in length followed it seeming to connect with f V [ I 48 A WARNING FROM THE EDISON ELECTRIC LIGHT CO. 49 II the tips of his fingers. A stage hand hearing O'Connell's cry rang down the curtain. Springing over O'Connell's body he accidentally laid his hand on the zinc-coYered box and received a powerful shock. In the palm of O'Connell's right hand was a whitish streak from the wrist to the finger. Closer examination showed it to be a blister, which seemed to pierce abnost through the hand. On the left hand the thumb and index finger were dreadfully torn. The skin was burned to snowy whiteness, as was the flesh beneath. The dead man was about 28 years of age and has been a stage manager and carpenter for eight years, being with Shook & Collier of Union Square, New York, for six years. Two years ago he took a place with the present organization, the Charles Edwards Michael Strogoff company. One of the most pathetic features of the sad affair was that it occurred almost in sight of the dead man's affianced wife, Nellie Collins, a member of the company. Her grief as she tried to detect some sign of life in his still face was extremely touching. O'Connell's home is in Chicago, where his remains will be shipped to-morrow. From the conversation of those in the theatre he was re- garded as a general favorite among his fellow-employes. The audience was entirely unaware of the fataHty. The accident is thought attributable in a great degree to the humidity of the air, this affecting the insulation of the wire, causing the current to turn to the tin tube. Had it been a dry day it is not believed that it would have occurred. [Brooklyn Eagle, Dec. 11, 1887.] Me Fooled with Lightningr. About 8 o'clock last evening Ambrose Hilbert, of 35 Moore street, aged 14 years, while crossing Broadway, at Debevoise street, caught hold of the end of a broken telegraph wire, which was held sus- pended by an electric light wire, across which it had fallen. Instantly he gave a scream and fell stunned on the street. A number of citi- zens immediately ran to his assistance, and it was found that his left hand had been badly burned by the electric current and that in fall- ing he had sustained a severe scalp woimd. He was removed to his home. [iV: Y, aSw/i, Dec. 20, '87.] Killed by JBlectricity. Mabion, Ind., Dec. 19. — A team of horses owned by D. P. Mc- ) ''■•m ^ 4 A Kinney was kiUed here this evening under peculiar drcmnstances. One of the natural gas arches was torn down by a passing load of straw, and the electric light wire which was attached dropped to the street. McKinney's team following a few minutes later, stepped on the charged wire and both horses fell dead from the shock. APPENDIX E. SOME DANGERS OF THE ALTERNATING SYSTEM. Dr. Otto Moses, the apostle of the alternating system, made the following statement in August last, before the National Electric Light Association, at its session in Boston : "A friend of mine was testing a 400 light 1050 volt alternating dynamo fully loaded only a few days ago, and going towards the machine, his foot slipped and he fell quite close to it ; in his con- fusion he quickly reached out his hands and unfortunately placed them directly upon the poles of the dynamo. He said from where he fell to the walls behind him was about fifteen feet, and it seemed to him as if that dynamo was suddenly converted into an electrical gun, and he got shot across the room until the velocity of his movement was iuterfered virith by the walL" At the same meeting, W. R. Kimball of Boston, electrical expert, said: " The question of the insulation of high potential wires is one whicS" appeals to every part of the electric Hght station, whether he be line- man or manager. In the one case, it is his own Ufe and limb that are involved; and in the other case it is property. And yet there is danger in carrying high potential wires into cellars and basements." "The question of the insulation between the primary and the sec- ondary of the inductive coil is governed by a variety of causes. "Where converters are placed out of doors moisture will get in. No matter how careful the wires may be placed, the current will be af- fected. This bold expedient of grounding the inside wire has been brought to the attention of this Convention and the public by some of the electrical papers. It seems to me that it opens a field for dis- cussion. The question naturally arises in the minds of insurance men whether running electrical wires down to the ground is not an imheard of thing." 4 1' -^ I ll 50 A WARNING FROM THE One of the prominent exponents of the Westinghouse methods also said at the same session : "In Pittsburgh, where we were running lights in a rather poor neighborhood, we found it cheaper to run secondary mains, attaching our hghts in the houses from the secondary ciurent, using fifty or one hundred volts as we pleased. In other parts of the town, where they were using fifteen or twenty lights in each house, we foimd it better to carry the converters into the building or fasten them as close as possible on the outside wall, so as to enable us to use the fifty-volt lamps exclusively. In the case of hotels, we would run a high-press- ure wire down the centre of the corridor, and place converters at each group." In marked contrast with this confidence inspired by ignorance and recklessness, we find that a year ago the eminent European elec- trical firm of Siemens & Halske, in a pamphlet issued by them on al- ternating currents, gave an alarm of no uncertain sound. The fact should be borne in mind that they were really the inventors and the builders of the best alternating machinery which has ever been offered to the public, that the product of their mammoth factory has been widely used for a long series of years, and they have discontinued building this apparatus as being dangerous. They conclude in these words: " SO FAR LEGISLATION HAS NOT CONCERNED ITSELF WITH THE DANGERS OF THIS SYSTEM, BUT SOONER OR LATER WILL BE COMPELLED TO DO SO." Recent advices show that action has since been taken to prohibit the use of high-tension alternating currents. It is also noteworthy that in the United States the insurance com- panies have been independently led, because of actual burning out of converters, and explosion of their metal cases, to absolutely pro- hibit their placement in buildings. This restriction has recently been enforced, even in cases where underground services had been introduced and the converters placed on the walls of cellars. No more forcible commentary can be imagined of the distrust felt by the underwriters in subjecting their risks to 4 < '^^'9 > Y EDISON ELECTRIC LIGHT CO. 51 the hazards of high-pressure currents, than the rule issued November 1, 1887, by the Boston Board of Fire Underwriters : " Converters on alternating circuits must be outeide of buildings, and must be placed high enough from the roof to prevent possible injury to firemen," Witlun a few days of this issue (November 4, 1887) the New Eng- land Insurance Exchange, at a meeting of representatives of all the electric light companies doing business in the Eastern States, called to consider this subject, gave notice that they should under no cir- cumstances allow converters to be placed within the walls of build- mgs. In Philadelphia, the only city where these silent dynamos are thus tolerated inside the walls of buildings under any intelligent super- vision. Inspector McDevitt of the Insurance Patrol confines them strictly to cellars, and states distinctly that they wiU be obliged to go to the street the moment any one of them explodes or sets a fire. In Chicago, City Inspector Haskins absolutely prohibits the use of any alternating current system or other high-pressure makeshift for incandescent Ughting. [^Extracts from the Daily States {New Orleans), Sept 23, 1887.] Electric Wire Danglers. How Linemen are Injured or Killed. Tlie Alternatingr Current as Contrasted with the Low Tension Direct Current, Several accidents have happened of late to linemen of electric Hght companies, who have been knocked senseless by coming in con- tact with wires while in the performance of their duties. Tuesday last a lineman in the employ of the Edison Light Company was knocked from a pole at the comer of Canal and Carondelet Streets by receiving a shock from a vdre charged with the alternating high tension current from the Westinghouse machines used by the Brush Electric Light Company. The accident was the second serious occurrence in this city from the Westinghouse altematmg current. Fortunately it has not so far turned out to be fatal as did the accident of a month ago, which occurred as follows : The unf ortimate man who was killed iM 'f I 52 A WARNING FROM THE was at work on a pole pulling up a dead arc wire, when his foot slipped and he fell across the wires carrying the alternating current, which wires had been bai*ed of insulation in order to tie them in firmly to the insulators. The man was suspended by the wires, and the current passed through his body from the inside of one thigh to the upper ribs on the other side, the flesh being burned to the bone in both places. It was probably five minutes before they could switch off the current from him and by that time he was stone dead. Two serious accidents, one being fatal from the alternating cur- rent in the course of five weeks, render it necessary to call attention to this new element of danger in the streets, and to consider what precautions should be taken. The alternating system is new in this country, and very little experience has been had with it compared with the arc system. However, this experience has shown that this current is quite as dangerous, if not more so, than the arc current, which has killed so many men. There are two reasons for this : first — the full pressure of current (1,000 to 1,200 volts) is on every pole-line circuit ; second — the wires running parallel with one an- other only a short distance apart, it is very easy to obtain a shock ; in fact it is very difficult for a man working on a pole to avoid receiv- ing a shock sufficient to knock him from a pole, and should he be suspended and unable to free himself, as occurred in the fatal acci- dent referred to, the shock quickly proves fatal The effects of an alternating shock merely . from leakage are graphically described in the records of the convention before referred to. Mr. Smith of the Westinghouse Company detailed the prostration of a veteran lineman who was unable to release himself, became black in the face, was treated for asphyxia, and was so severely biuned that his hand was opened by the attending surgeon. Those who went to his assistance were painfully shocked in spite of careful pro- tection to their own persons. Not alone is this current dangerous to station employes. The « New York World " of December 12, 1887, has the following account of the death of a horse : Killed by Electricity. A Horse Toucbes a Telepbone Wire on Staten Island and Drops Dead. " A singular accident resulting in the death of a horse belonging to C. F. Gaellis, a cracker dealer, at Mariners* Harbor, S. L, occured I < V EDISON ELECTRIC LIGHT CO. 53 this morning at 4:30 o'clock. Mr. Gaellis sends his wagon with a double team to this city early every Monday morning. While his driver. Christian Klengel, was passing in front or near the residence of Dr. W. C. Walsh at Port Eichmond, S. I., one of the horses became entangled in a telephone wire which was dangling in the street, being broken, and in a twinkling the horse, valued at $250, was dead. Policeman Finan, who was near by, attempted to remove the horse from the middle of the street to the gutter, when he received a severe electric shock which knocked him senseless. He soon recov- ered. Some time during the night one of the telephone wires broke, and, falling across the electric light wire, became charged with elec- tricity, and when the horse was entangled, the circuit to the ground was complete. Hence the accident' ft New Obleans, La., November 29th, 1887. E. H. Johnson, Esq., Prest. Edison Electric Light Company, New York. Deab Sm: As New Orleans is with one exception the largest and most important station now supplying incandescent lights on the Westinghouse Alternating system, you will doubtless be interested to hear some account of its operation during the eight months of its existence. Their record during this period has been a continual series of mishaps. They have suffered damages and interruptions from almost every possible cause, viz.: engines, dynamos, line wires and converters. The alternating current has killed two men and has injured several others. One of these accidents has resulted in a lawsuit for $25,000 damages, and it is rumored that another suit is contemplated on behalf of the relatives of one of the men killed. This was a tele- phone lineman and was at the time stringing wires in the ordinary way. The telephone company have applied to the courts for an in- junction against the Brush company using a Westinghouse alternat- ing system to prevent them from running their wires in proximity to telephone wires or poles. Some time ago one of their high tension alternating circuits dropped on to a tin roof and set the woodwork imdemeath on fire. The fire department were called out and had considerable difficulty in extinguishing the flames. The short circuit burnt out a 1,300 light ''i II i 54 A WARNING FROM THE annature, whereupon the dynamo man threw another machine into circuit, and a second armature burned out. About ten days ago they knocked out a cylinder head and broke the cross-head of one of their large Corliss engines, carrying a 1,300 light and a 650 light dynamo. Having no reserve, all the lights sup- pUed by these dynamos were out a week, their customers having to resort to gas, candles or kerosene. After four days they got their engine repaired and started again. Shortly after starting one of the 1,300 light armatures burned out from no apparent cause. Putting in the only spare armature they had they ran all right for about twelve hours, when the second armature burned out in the same way. This caused another delay of three days, and made a total to date of four armatures burnt out. On a recent Saturday evening a pulley came off one of the 1,300 light machines, putting a theatre, among the rest, in darkness for half an hour. Until their dynamos were fairly loaded they ran vnth a fair amoimt of satisfaction except during thunderstorms, during which the lightning played havoc vnth the converters, burning out from three to seven every time. In addition to the above they have had a large number of mishaps of which I have not heard the details. Naturally their customers are all very much dissatisfied, and it is a very common thing to see the Westinghouse lights helped out by gas, or arc lights burning at the same time. They light up the prominent clubs, and unfortunately for them they are all supplied by the ciicuit which was disabled for a week through the breaking down of the engine and the burning out of the two armatures. The operation of the Westinghouse system has been disastrous financially to the local Brush company. Previous to commencing with it they were in a sound financial condition. Now they are nearly bankrupt and are at their wits' end to know how to raise money to go on. Their hundred dollar stock is unsalable at twenty- five ; in fact a block was recently sold at twenty-two. A gentleman whom I know has a large amount of stock which he could have sold a year ago at $85, and he would now be glad to get $30. The daily paper for Jan. 13, 1887, quotes Brush stock at $73 " asked," to- day's paper gives $35 " asked " and $20 offered. On the other hand \ .> ♦,^ ^ < 1 EDISON ELECTRIC LIGHT CO. $$ the recent breakdovm of the Westinghouse system has caused gas stock to go up five points within a week. Yours very truly, Wm. T. M. MOITBAM. PROF. CARHAKT'S WARNING. In a communication to " The American Engineer,*' Prof. HL S. Carhart thus sums up the salient points of an interesting discus- sion : '^ It is not probable that an estimate of the danger point of a current can be made by a calculation of the energy involved. It is absolutely certain that quite a powerful current can be taken through the body, provided it be perfectly steady, while a fluctuating current of much smaller intensity may prove fataL The one imphes the steady passage of energy through the person, while the other applies a series of shocks. A single blow may prove fatal, but a succession of them vnll be more certain to do so. A single flash of lightning may kill or in some cases char the body to a cinder, and a succession of a thousand or more shocks a second from a mechanical generator of electricity may prove no less dangerous. In short, the danger lies more in the discontinuity of the current than in its absolute intensify. With a given discontinuity, the higher the E. M. F. the greater the danger. Hence, also, alternating cinrent generators are far more dangerous than those of the Gramme type yielding continuous car- rents. On this accoimt the system distribution by a main alternat- ing current of high pressure, producing secondary currents by means of induction coils, is not to be commended, however efficient it may be." APPENDIX L The Edison Elbctrio Illuminatinq Co. op Nkw Tobk, 16 and 18 Broad Street Spencer Trask, President. Jonn L Beggs, Vice-President and General Manager. J. B. Skehan, Secretary and Treasurer. New York, December 27th, 1887. E. H. Johnson, Esq., President Edison Electric Light Co.: Deab Sib — ^Replying to your inquiry as to the accuracy and d&- 1? 56 A WARNING FROM THE EDISON ELECTIRC LIGHT CO. ti 57 ^ of rehance placed upon the Edison meter in the commercial transactions between this company and its customers, it affords me pleasure to state that our experience has established confidence in the meter, not only on our part, but also on the part of our cus- tomers, m consideration of which I offer you the following facts : The Pearl Street Station was started September 4th, 1882 and with the exception of but two hours during iJie first year, has' con- tinued uninterruptly to date. The stetion is at present supplying current for 15,000 incandes- cent lamps and 150 H. P. of Sprague Electric Motoi-s to 647 cus- tomers through a like number of meters. Our bills are paid cheerfully with but an occasional exception, in which mstances a verification of the meter is had, and the customer thereby thoroughly convinced of its accuracy. Eepeated tests of the meter, comparative and otherwise, made by ourselves show a maximum variation of not greater than 2 per cent and a variation from accuracy of not more than 1 per cent. These tests, combmed with the practical results of five years actual use of several hundred meters, have demonstrated conclusively to the com- pany and its customers the efficacy of the apparatiis for the pur- pose mtended. Yours truly, The Edison Electric Illuminating Co. of New Yobk, By John L Beogs, Vice-President and General Manager. APPENDIX M. "THE DEADLY PARAIXEJL "-ACTUAL FIGURES SHOW WESTINGHOUSE INDIRECT CONDUCT- ORS COST MORE THAN EDISON DIRECT, IN EACH OF TWO RECENT ESTIMATES. Denver, Col., recently secured from the Edison Company an estimate to be used as the basis of a contract. The figures below show a summary of cost for which the Edison contractors were pre- pared to equip and guarantee the operation of the system. The figures representing the Westinghouse plant now under con- struction show money stated to have been expended, leaving this por- tion of the installation still incomplete,with no assurance of being able to V" -i * ^ < > < > < > * '■ operate successfully, on account of retardation in underground con- ductors and other imdetermined factors. Denver, Col, Edison Direct System Estimate^ 10,000 Lights. Mains, Feeders (all under- ground) and Laying Underground — Total $88,456 JVhich makes the Contract Price of Underground Conductors (complete) per lamp $8.85 In contrast with this record of necessary expenditure, with no demonstration of satisfactory service as a fully loaded system up to the present, notice the following estimate of the Westinghouse Com- pany for Minneapolis. Even here the "deadly parallel " shows no saving in cost of copper in the indirect alternating method, after making all possible allowance for the difference in the estimated capacity : Minneapolis, Minn. WestinghoiLse Indirect System, 6,500 LighU, Mains (overhead) and feeders (underground) with pole lines, con- duits and other necessary construc- tion with converters, but without secondary mains or services (all of which are of necessity a portion of the conductor system), over $100,- 000, or $15.40 per lamp. Estimate made May, 1887, as planned by the Edison Co. for 21,700 Lights : Copper in Feeders, 254,000 lbs. @ .17. .$43,180 Copper in Mains, 61,680 lbs. @. 17.... $8,785 Feeders $2.00 per light. Mains 40 Westinghouse Indirect System, for 8,^00 Lights : Copper in Feeders and Primary Mains, 71,200 lbs. @. 17.... $12,100 Converters @ $1.50 per Hght $12,600 Total Copper.. $2.40 (( « iC cc $24,700 This does not include the sec- ondary mains, which are essential to good distribution, and which on account of the use of a 50 volt lamp are necessarily very heavy. Feeders and Converters and pri- mary mains, $2.94 per light 4 _ ^, A WARNING FROM THE In the above estimate we have assumed that the prices of con- verters may have fallen fifty per cent, since the issue of the pamphlet of some months ago (elsewhere desciibed), in which (page 70, Sched- ule K) fifty light converters are quoted at $3 per lamp, or even since Mr. Wm. Stanley Jr., now before the public, as the Electrician of the Westinghouse Company, has had an opportunity of correcting his note book in the laboratory. This gentleman in an address before the Society of Arts in Boston, December 22, 1887, conceded that converters should be calculated at $3 per lamp. This raises the above Minneapolis estimate to $4 38 per lamp. These figures, taken from actual working specifications and plans issued from the office of the Westinghouse Company, tell a story radically at variance with the professions of their purchasing agent, and one of their original stockholders and directors (See Appendix R), Mr. Frank L. Pope, through the columns of the journal conducted by him, which has for several months past been used as the organ of the alternating school. (See Electrical Engineer, Sept., 1887, page 342.) APPENDIX P. iC£:COGNIZ£I> DANGERS OF HIGH EliECTBIGAIj PRESSURES. The experience of the most successful managers of arc plants in this country has been to discourage the use of dynamos giving more than 35 to 40 lamps in series, on account of the high pressure re- quired by very long circuits. An instance in point is the recent order of the manager of the Brush Company of New York, for 25 dynamos of 30 lamps capacity ("Electrical World," Dec. 24, 1887). The position taken by Mr. Chas. Lever in the article in the English " Electrical Review" of Oct. 31, 1885, to which we have elsewhere referred, is startling in the correctness of its forecast : " But, it is this eternal desire to get as many lamps in series from one machine as possible, which no doubt prevents such a course from being adopted in regard to increment of current. Whatever may be the advantages of this high tension supply system, they are com- pletely annulled by the element of danger introduced thereby. De- mo lo vi>,| 8 IS \ > (» ^ 5 ^ ^ S Q CD So ■i 4^^ to 3 s»3 s S5 II S GO O m o a CD 3 ^8 was - Woo Sss9 ooPOr s O 15 on O -< 30 O •oa- S Wi ^ g a o a QD " 3 8 g i 00 s o o w OD QD H 00 8 O w o o d OD QD in O ■ > Q r ^ > Q Q b H Q ,^^ 1^ 6o A WARNING FROM THE spite all that may be argued to the contrary, men wiU continue to be killed in the future as in the past by such systems. During the past two or three years the electro-motive force of certain dynamos has risen in America from 2,000 volts to 3,000 volts. In other words, 40 lighters have given way to 60 lighters. The danger ah-eady exists, and would not be greater even if 100 lighters are built in the future." To give an idea of the keen sense of danger felt by the Under- writers, after nearly ten years' experience with high pressure cur- rents, we quote as follows : Rules of New £ng:land Insurance Excliange. No attempt must be made to join a separated or broken wire while the current is on. The running of concealed wires to electroliers or lamps, under any circumstances, is strictly prohibited. They must be entirely open to view. Conducting wires should not approach each other nearer than one foot They must be at least seven feet above the highest point of flat roofs. Rules of the Boston Manufacturers' Mutual Fire Insurance Company. Wires should not approach each other nearer than one foot, and twice that distance is preferable in conducting electricity of high tension. Rules of the Phoenix Fire Office, London, of 1887 : " Where secondary generators (converters) are employed, and the " alternating primary current is of high electro-motive force, it is " preferable that neither the secondary generators nor any portion of " the primary circuit in connection with them be placed inside any " building, but in a fire-proof structure apart." " The switches and cutouts must be enclosed in fire-proof boxes " outside of the building." ** The whole of the primary work (including conductors, second- " ary generators, switches and cutouts) should be so placed and pro- " tected that it could not be tampered or interfered with by un- " authorized persons." APPENDIX Q. Sawyer's Eably Ignorance and Subsequent Enlightment. The following extracts from statements of W. E. Sawyer, pub- * £ £> t -* > it.1 {■^ I EDISON ELECTRIC LIGHT CO. 6i lished within the first three months of 1880, forcibly illustrate the ig- norance, at that period, of the experimenter, on whose claims the loud professions of the Sawyer-Man people are now based : " The use of a platinum as holder for the incandescent carbon conductor is fatal to the diurabiliiy of a lamp."— N. Y. Tribune, Jan. 2, 1880. " The longer the pencil the more current required."— N. Y. Tribune, Jan. 2, 1880. " To place less lamps in series and more in multiple is as hazard- ous as to go the other way."— N. Y. Tribune, Jan. 2, 1880. " No lamp can be practical unless of low resistance." — ^N. Y. Tribune, Jan. 2, 1880. " Notwithstanding the assertion that one of Mr. Edison's electric lamps has been running 240 hours, I still assert, and am prepared to back up my assertion, that Mr. Edison cannot run one of his lamps up to the light of a single gas jet (to be more definite, let us call it twelve candle power) for more than three hours." — ^N. Y. Sun, Jan. 6 1880. " Mr. Edison has not yet learned that the greater the resistance of a lamp the greater the power required to operate it"— N. Y. Tribune, Mar. 26, 1880. But Mr. Sawyer could not always remain blind to Edison's suc- cess; he lived long enough to show the better side of his nature by writing a fairly unbiased account of the history of incandescent electric Hghting in his book published in 1881, and entitled "Electric Lighting by Incandescence, and Its Application to Interior Illumina- tion." He indulged in this work his higher literary taste, and un- doubtedly intended it as a monument to his sincerest convictions. He says (page 71) : " The Sawyer-Man lamps, as exhibited in New York, were all furnished with carbons of this character (deposited carbons of pe- cuhar shape), and to the perfection of these boat-shaped electri- cally formed carbons was due their comparative success. To the necessiiy of frequent renewal and the time and rIHII required to " produce the carbons was due the commercial failure of these " lampsy On page 88 occurs this statement : « (( (( « it II H 4 62 A WARNING FROM THE " To replace a Sawyer-Man carbon required a workman's time ** from two to three hours, and the re-charging of the lamp with ab- " solutely pure nitrogen, cost about seventy cents, without taking into " consideration the cost of carbon. It was therefore an impracti- cable lampJ* €i M The position of Sawyer and Man as inyentors in the art of elec- tric lighting, and that of their assignee, the Consolidated Company, in the commercial arena, seems to be accurately stated in an article published in " The Electrical World *' : u It I( t( i( (( (( l( (( M ti « it it it " In 1878, W. E. Sawyer, of New York, went over the ground well worn by prior electricians and produced the improvements in details that have been patented in the joint names of Sawyer and Man. He displayed great ingenuity, but was bound by the dogmas of the art, and sought for the solution of the problem of lighting by incandescence in low resistance carbons, separable globes and inert gases. He produced no new type of lamp, but confined himself to improvements in detail, useful only upon the type of lamp then well known. Some notoriety was given Sawyer's experi- ments by the press, but no more so than the inventions of Starr, Staite and Lodyguine received in their times and in the localities where the lamps were exhibited. Sawyer's lamp was never capable of being put into practical use. *^ The facts that his experiments were contemporaneons with those of Edison, that the company incorporated to exploit them suryiyed the time when Edison made lighting hy in- candescence a success, technically and commercially, and that the field promised money returns sufficiently large to dnll the conscience of capitalists already ont of pocket in the same direction, account for the present existence of a company which manufactures the Edison lamp and seeks to shield itself behind the Sawyer and Man patents." Nothing can more graphically describe the emptiness of the Sawyer-Man claims for recognition as originators of any commercial type of lamp than the views of (1) the best efforts of Sawyer in 1880, (2) the Edison or filament type the same in all essential features to- day as seven years ago, and (3) the present Sawyer-Man imitation thereof : '•i f > EDISON*ELECTRIC LIGHT CO. 63 Sawyer-Man Lamp. The Sawyer and Man Lamp, as patented by them May 12, 1886, the application for the patent having been filed January 9, 1880. Referring to the letters on the illus- tration, A IS a piece of carbon ^ of an ohm in resistance ; the globe B is filled with nitrogen gas, and has its base flange x clamped by rings and bolts to the plate y ; the cup D is filled with wax ; the conductors C C are known as "radiators," and serve to radiate the heat generated by waste of energy in the lamp. Sawyer Laiup. After the failure of Saivyer and Man, Sawyer alone produced what he called his " feeder '* lamp, shown by this cut This lamp has the burner of the old Werderman Lamp placed in a Sawyer and Man structure. Like the Sawyer and Man Lamp it was a failure. f^t'l Base of ixnola. Hag material, V with two con. V, tacts upon it. Edison Pats. 251,. 864, 266,311, 817.. «8l. 264.^. Metal casiiur OircTtit eon. troller. Edi. ■onFM.a8MU. GMirfpeorfiz. tOFB ami. Edi. Exhausted Rlass globe. EdU son Pats. ^898. 287,22J. ^ High resistance carbon filament. Edison Pat. 230.. 26fi. , Blade of bam. boo. Edison Pat. 251,640. Heated to in- candescence while lamp was being exhausted. Edison Pat 26B.. 777. Support abore point of seaUng. Edison Pat. 289^. of socket. Em-^ •imPat.26UML . FlataeaL Edi- aon Pat. ^64.086. Wires sealed in S'iss. Edison ts. 228,896, 237.. 229. Screw threads to hold lamp socket positlyely together. Edison Pat. 261.564. Socket OOD* tacts correspond, ing to lamp con- tacts. Edison Rits. 261.664. 266.. wIL Detachable socket. Edison Pats. 251,5o4. 266.. 811. Point where two parts are loined by fusion PM.880JV ^ Baseof insnlat. %..„ ing material with ^^"•*»«^ two contacts '^ ' upon it. Pat. 951.654, 366.311. WjSSl, 864.787. Screw threads to hold lamp and socket positively together. Pat. 861,554: socket contacts corre. •ponding to lamp contacts. Pat. 961.664. 965.81L •J h' 1 I Detachable < socket. Pat 96V IB • Consolidated Co. (Sawyer-Man) Inftrln^omente of the Edieon Patent.. Sxhausted trlaas globe. Pat 2i3.8N8 k 887.S8. Blown from »t glaaa. Brt^ .447. Highrenstanoe carbon filament Pat.lB(Lj6o;made of baiubno. Pat ^"^1.540: h*«ted to mcandesceuce while lamp was beiugexhaostad. II FlatisaL Bit . Wires aealadia glass. lR«gnlaij|Je« m shape. 86tlS7. Olrcult troUer. Pat aaapipeorflK. ture^araa. Val. THE^ KDlfcJOJNT LrAMF*, INTENTIONAL SECOND EXPOSURE Base of insnla. ting material, V. with two con- \^ tacts upon it. Ellison Pats. 2.)1,. 664. 266.;ill. :il7.- 63!. 264.737. Motal ca.«finfr of socket. I-^li- ^ _ Hon Pat. 261.596, Circuit con- troller. Edi- son Pat. 266.311. Oa« pipe or fix- tore arm. Edi- son Fat. 265,311. Exhausted KlasB Klobe. Edi- son Pats. ^2.3,898. 227.229. HiKh resiBtance carbon fUamont. Edison Pat. 230,- 256. Mado of bam- Ikk). ^kli80uPat. 251..T40. Ht-attHi to in- candfiscunce whilo lamp waa Iw'in^ exhaiiHtf-d. Edison Pat. 266.- 7J;. Support above joint ofHoalin.fir. i:fmatondiuf4:tolarap contacts. Pat 361.664. 265.311. Detachable *' socket. Pat. 251,. 664. 385.311. Exhausted -rlawj »flobe. Pat. ■Jj;i.8H8 fc 227.±9l Blown f r o nt ix>t ulnae. Pat. 266.447. Hi?h remstanoe carbon filaments Piit.2:{u.-255. made ot bamboo. Pat. '^Sl.»4U; h»'at»^ to iucaudf Hceuce while l»iup was hei uic exhausted. I'at. 265,777. FlatsesL Pat. Wires sealed !■ Irretrularities in shape. Put. 264,737. Metal cacdoff of socket. Pat. 361.. 6ML Circuit t roller. Pat. 311. Gas pipe or fiit cure arm. Pat 3iia,Sll. TlriU KOl^OJST LrAMP. i 66 A WARNING FROM THE APPENDIX R THE WESTINGHOUSE STOCK BOOM. One of the methods employed in booming business at the home of the company, where the stations are controlled by George West- inghouse, Jr., and operated by natural gas, is to cause the stock to be listed at a high price " asked " when no " bids " can be quoted. For instance, in the Pittsburgh Post of October 12th, 1887, under the heading of " Electric Light," Westinghouse stock is given as*' par 50, bid — ; asked 99 >^." These papers are marked and distributed to prospective investors. It would appear that even so transparent a scheme as this is de- pendent for bare probability upon a showing involving the use of a fuel which lavish Nature gives away. The fact should be noted that the stock of the Philadelphia Com- pany, vdth the same face value and genuine bids, is quoted in the same paper as below par. One other instance, from another station, owned by the Westing- house fraternity : [^' Borne News,'' Neu) Brunsvsick, N. J., Plainjield, Dec. 10«A, 1887.] Plaiufield I>oing:s. Plainfield, Dec. 10 (Special). — The Borough Council of North Plainfield last night ordered the Electric Light Company to remove its poles. This the Company refuses to do and vriU fight the matter in the courts. This Company is using the Thompson-Houston system vnth the Westinghouse Incandescent. The reason for the order to remove the poles is that the Company refused to light the streets unless the borough would take $5,000 worth of stock. The streets are now in total darkness, but the borough will return to the oil light, procuring 170 lights for $3,000 per year. The method repeatedly adopted in the organization of sub-com- panies includes the sale of apparatus at low prices and a subsequent effort to induce local capitalists to invest in the stock of the Westing- house Electric Co., a large amount of which Mr. Westinghouse re- > 'r\V # * '\ EDISON ELECTRIC LIGHT CO. 67 ceived for the claims brought as assets to the treasury of the present organization. Hereby hangs a tale of v^ddespread interest. In fact the present value of this stock, thus in process of unloading, hinges upon the very questionable " property " represented by certain United States patents acquired from Mr. Westinghouse. Let us dissect the anat- omy of the organization. In the original incorporation of the Westinghouse Electric Com- pany, the capital ($1,000,000), represented $100,000 paid up in cash and $900,000 paid Mr. Westinghouse for patents and contracte. Great sound of trumpets was made over the Stanley-Thompson in- ventions. The incorporators and directors were : Geo. Westinghouse, Jr 19,300 shares C. H. Jackson joo " H. H. Westinghouse joo " John DalzeU joo « Frank L. Pope jqo " John R. McGinley *' jqq « John Caldwell joQ " Robert Pitcaim ^ ^ ^ joo " The par value of these shares was $50, and Mr. Geo. Westing- house, Jr., received 18,000 shares, full paid (!!) and non-assessable, in consideration of the transfer of the patents detailed in the charter, which was recorded in the office of the Secretary of State at Harris^ burgh. Pa., Jan. 11, 1886. The first of tiiese, the Chinese hair carbon patent, is the oldest and probably the most valuable lamp patent of WilLam Stanley, Jr. Its importance may be estimated from the fact that early in'the business it wa^ assigned to the Swan Incandescent Electric Light Company of Boston. Even with its aid, however, they failed of conmaercial results. Many of the others represent methods long since abandoned Three contracts also formed a part of the consideration for the $900,000 paid Mr. Westinghouse in stock. One was with Mr Stan ley, dated May 20, 1884, and expiring Jan. 1, 1888, covering his ^ A WARNING FROM THE EDISON ELECTRIC LIGHT CO. «9 services ^' in experimenting in the field of electrical engineering, and « all inventions made therein, and letters patent secured therefor.'* The others vrere with Fairbanks, Morse & Co., of Chicago, and vdth "Westinghouse, Church, Kerr & Co., of New York, " for the sale of ** appliances to be made by the Westinghouse Electric Co." " All '* the said patents and the benefits of the said contracts are stated bj « the charter to be necessary for the purpose of organization and " business of this company." The records in the office of the Secretary of the State of Penn- sylvania also show how the increase of the capital stock of the Westinghouse Electric Company from $1,000,000 to $5,000,000 was effected. September 15, 1886, the directors resolved to call a meeting of stockholders, and on the same day the Secretary issued the notices. October 7, 1886, the meeting convened and adjourned till November 4, 1886, when each stockholder signed a paper waiving the 60 days* notice by publication required by law of the holding of a meeting for increase of capital, and all the stock (16,110 shares) yoted for the increase. The Treasurer's certificate is here given in full : To Hon. W. S. Stenger, Secretary of the Commonwealth : This is to certify that by vii*tue of the consent of the stockholders of the Westinghouse Electric Company, authorizing an increase in the capital stock thereof from one million of dollars to five million of dollars given at an election duly held for that purpose on the 4th day of November, 1886, the capital stock has been increased from one million of dollars to five million of dollars ; said additional stock being issued as follows, viz.: for sale for cash at par, one million of dollars : To George Westinghouse, Jr.: Three million of dollars in pay- ment for inventions secured by Letters Patent of the United States No. 297,924, dated April 29, 1884, and Letters Patent No, 351,589, dated October 26, 1886. John Caldwell, [seal.] Treasurer. ^J h >» vS » ^1 ^ -ss.: Alleghany Coimty, ) John Caldwell, above-named, being duly sworn, says that the facts set forth in the foregoing certificate are trua John Caldwell. Sworn and subscribed before) me this 7th day of Janu- y ary, 1887. J Waltee D. Uptegratf, [SK^] Notary Public. Kled in the office of the Secretary of the Commonwealth on the 16th day of February, A. D. 1887. Charles W. Stone, Secretary of the Commonwealth. A certificate signed by the Deputy Secretary of the Common- wealtii accompanies the copy of the retiims from which the above are extracted. Stockholders and others interested can form an opinion of whether $3,000,000 is a just estimate of tiie commercial value of the two patents described in Appendix V. Kegarding tiie recent combination of Westinghouse, Sawyer-Man and Thomson Houston it may not be amiss to state tiiat tiie Westing- house Electric Company has purchased a conti'olhng interest in tiie stock of tiie Consolidated Electric Light Company, tiie last shares being lately secured. The Westinghouse Company is tiius causing tiie ConsoHdated Company to execute a series of advertising gymnastics, including the farcical purchase of tiie "valuable electric lampfa^tory and equipment at Pittsburgh," tiie ti^nsfer of tiiis famed institution to New York ; tiie concentration in tiie metropolis of tiie admiring crowd of courtiers where tiiey can make a stiU greater display, and is compelling the Thomson-Houston Electric Company to dance to the same music. A r -^ 70 A WARNING FROM THE EDISON ELECTRIC LIGHT CO. APPENDIX S. AXIOMS OF SAFETY AND TRUE ECONOMY. Extracts from article of Thomas D. Lockwood of the American BeU Telephone Company, in the December number of the « Electrical Engineer." "Whatever is worth doing at all is woriih doing just as weU as it can be done.*' " As long as his delinquencies only cuhninated in the waate of property It was well enough to keep still ; but when human life is mvolyed (and the Cheap John himself will concede that the humanfonn cannot, when aUve, be treated with safety to a strong cuirent of elec tncity). It behooves those of us who stand for the right to use our pens and tongues in protest." "One human life outweighs aU the commercial interests in the country.' « The remedy should be made compulsory, for the apostle of par- sunony cannot be trusted with an option." "Of course the moneyed man who invests is not an electrician, and he tiimks tiie advocate of cheapness is, so he accedes to ev^ proposibon." ■' '• All dectridaiis who believe in the future of electricity ought to nmte m a war of extermination against cheapness in appHed elec- tnaty, wherever they see that it involves inefficiency and danger » APPENDIX T. „ „ „ „ Newabk, N. J., December 2d, 1887. JJ . ». itAsmros, Esq., Secy, and Treas.: Deab Sm-I have investigated the operation of the Westinghouse stataon, m Trenton. An ampere diagram would show a maximum load of 98 and a minimum of 30 amperes on a recent Saturday at noon, to Sunday, at 7:45 A. M. Assuming the coirectness of their statement, that there are 20 lamps to the ampere, this shows a maxi- mum load of 1960 lamps and a minimum of 600. As the smallest load isdunngthe hours from 12 to 4 P. M.,and from 12 P. M to 7-46 TlC*' '^f°^™*^ *« general principles of the great loss of cur- rent through the converters. This demonstrates conclusively that after the load drops to one- Ifi -4' ^1 > ^* r ^1 h u^ • 71 thn-d, it matters not how few lamps are in use, the consumption of current is the same, through the heavy loss in the converters. Through the use of tiie 60 volt lamp a heavy loss is also sustained m the circuits of the secondary wires, and to reduce this loss the number of converters has been multiplied, so that nearly every pole has two, and some three, beside tiie large number that have lately been hidden behind sign-boards, and, in other cases, naUed to the buildings. In a distance of 300 feet, where not more tiian 100 lamps were in use, I counted seven large converters. They have recentiy burned out two alternating armatiires and have had pari; of the Hghts extinguished on two different occasions. Tours, very truly, J. W. SCHBOEDEB. APPENDIX U. There is a mine of wisdom in the few lines which we extinct from a communication by Mr. Chas. Lever to tiie "English Electiical Review" of Oct. 31, 1885 : "As regards working arc and incandescent Hghts together it is an unfortunate thing that we, in England, have ah-eady advocates and admirers of the high tension supply system. During tiie past two years, a system has cropped up in the United States, whereby incandescent lamps are worked on tiie same circuit as tiie arc li-hts by means of high tension currents. An automatic arrangement is provided witii each incandescent lamp, so tiiat in tiie event of said lamp giving out, a resistance equivalent thereto is thrown in circuit It is a system which has not made much headway, and it is hoped that it never wiU. Notwitiistanding the theoretical « bosh " wH^ has been put forth by the advocates of tiie high tension system in tiiis countiy, tiie practical electrician knows perfectiy well tiiat tiiis is not tiie field to work in, if we are to make a success of our future electiic light supply stations. As ahready stated, Mr. Edison has led the way by making his supply station in New York a practical under- taking and a commercial success. K we wish to be successful witii tiie future electiic light supply stations in tiiis countiy, we should act wisely by foUowing in his footsteps. And, when these lighting stations have developed into undertakings of any magnitude thB supply of electiicity must eventually fall into the hands of tiie muni- -/r 7S A WARNING FROM THE dpal authorities — as in the case of gas and water undertakings — ^in order to secure the best results for the public benefit." APPENDIX V. OTH£B UNSUPPORTED CLAIMS OF THE WESTING- HOUSE COMPANY. Some of the extravagant and often absurd claims advanced bj the Westinghouse Company were taken up almost a year ago by some practical writer, not connected with any of the electric lighting com- panies, and handled without gloves. In his letter to the Trenton (N. J.) " Grazette," Jan. 24, 1887, this vigorous writer says : " An interesting document has just been jointly issued by The Fuel, Gas and Electric Engineering Company, Limited, and the Westinghouse Electric Company, setting forth their agreement not to grant exclusive control of the apparatus or methods of either, unless both are contracted with ; also giving forms of agreement, prices of apparatus and other entertaining information, especially estimates of efficiency based upon twice the pressure thus far es- sayed by them in practice. In this manifesto one statement appears to embody the spirit of the policy — namely, that the magic of a method of limitless possibilities has at last been invoked. On page 9 the reader is startled by the revelation : * The alternate system of the Westinghouse Electric Company, on the contrary, is free from limitations of any nature.' This is the literature which the long- expectant world sighs for — something untrammeled by the vexatious restrictions which Nature throws aroimd the operation of the present methods. Evidently we have heretofore only seen through a glass, darkly." The same article took up the methods of the founder of this syndicate of conspirators in prodaiming the acquisition of the Gaulard & Gibbs patent : " The cunningly-phrased annoimcement sent broadcast over the wires of the Associated Press has faQed to immortalize the name of George H. Westinghouse, as the inventor of the vaimted system of distribution which is to-day recognized by every thoroughly-read electrician as only an ignis fatuus, in following which the Pittsburg company have at every step sunk deeper in the quagmire of disap- pointment. The enticing glimmer of this transitory will-o'-tho-vnsp 'U > V. -w ■^ t A ^ ^ f i \r ♦ f < t A y ^r * t EDISON ELECTRIC LIGHT CO. 73 led them to negotiate, through a so-called " expert " agency, for an assignment of a claim then in the Patent Office. The curious coinci- dence of the couching of the news of their acquisition in mysterious and ambiguous language, in combination veith the peculiar and un- usual scarcity of the specifications of this patent, at the time of its issue, have been naturally enough widely commented upon. The fact that the electrician of the company gave some months of experi- ment to the system in an isolated locality, without even as much as being able to teU how many lamps he got to a horse-power expended; the fact that while the company was using an exhibition in Pittsburg as a platform by which to mount to public favor, their decrepit two- wire installation in East Liberty (Pittsburg) was transmogrified into a burlesque upon Mr. Edison's three-wire system ; the fact that the Gaulard and Gibbs system, covered by this assignment, has never in any instance been worked to a successful issue by the Westinghouse Company, and camiot be so worked by anybody ; the fact that it is not even a fair representative of the electrical principles sought to be embodied : all these show, as if by a burst of sunlight, the ridiculous and comfortiess situation of those who, lured by the fascinating gleam of this phosphorescent decoy, have by a great eflfort reached, not the electrical palace which their fancy has pictured, but a whited sepulchre, full of dead men's bones." It is instructive to glance at the exact groimd covered by this much vaunted patent of Lucien Gaulard and John Dixon Gibbs — as- signed to George Westiaghouse, Jr. — ^No. 351,589, dated Oct. 26, 1886. Gaulard and Gibbs* specification says : " We do not herein claim the connection of the converters in the line in any other arrangement than we have illustrated in the draw- ings." The drawings referred to, where they show the use of more than one converter shows them connected in series. The patent there- fore covers only the series arrangement, the use of converters in multiple arc, which appears to be the only practical way, being ex- pressly disclaimed by the alleged inventors as forming no part of their system. The claims as a whole, were refused by the primary examiner on the ground of lack of patentable novelty, but were allowed on appeal to the Board of Examiuers-in-Chief only as drcum- Bcribed in the specifications by this disclaimer. < r 74 A WARNING FROM THE The other patent on which reliance is placed is No. 297,924. It relates simply to details of the internal construction of converters expressly stated to be operated in series. It was issued April 29 1884. It wiU be interesting for the Westinghouse enthusiast to glance at Patent No, 278,418, allowed to Mr. Edison May 29, 1883 for « trans- lating electric currents from high to low Tensions " and to speculate as to whether, if there were any financial value to the Westinghouse claims, the Edison Company would allow a competitor to revel in undisturbed enjoyment of it. Persistent efforts, betraying latterly the energy of desperation, have been made to show the ability of the manufacturers to run two or more Westinghouse dynamos in multiple arc (i. e., feeding their current into a common system of conductors), and thus to meet one of the cardinal requirements of comprehensive central station econ- omy. One of the the first was at Carbondale, Pa.; then at Plainfield, N. J.; then for a long time at Buffalo, N. T., where it was at last given up and the main conductors so divided, Nov. 13, 1887, that, as at aU other stations of any great capacity, it is impossible for the attendant to hazard the operation of the dynamos by throwing them accident- ally together. A letter from New Orleans, last September, describing the opera- tion of the Westinghouse plant, says : "Then again, they cannot run the generators in unison in the « same circuit, except under very exceptional circumstances. The local « electrician has been trying for months to get his machines to work « together, but he has not succeeded so far. This is a source of great " trouble and annoyance, and handicaps the system very heavily." The "very exceptional circumstances" above referred to are re- stricted to those cases where two dynamos, each capable of carrying the entire load of lamps and also running the other dynamo as a motor, are so operated to convey a faJse impression. Such an ar- rangement has been placed at Greensburgh, Pa., where two 300-Hght dynamos have been used. In consequence of this peculiar and restiicting feature of these ^ V EDISON ELECTRIC LIGHT CO. n dynamos, the Westinghouse Company has been forced to construct very large sizes, rated as high as 2,500 lamps, thus practically placing " all their eggs in one basket." In the face of these facts, William Stanley, Jr., the experimenter whose name wiU go down in history as the inventor of the Chinese hair carbon (Pat. No. 269,132, issued Dec. 12, 1882), posing as the electrician of the Westinghouse Company, in an address before the American Institute of Electrical Engineers, Dec. 6, 1887, when closely questioned, stated after much hesitation : " I think at Denver, Col., a station of 5,000 lights is run with dy- " namos in multiple ai-c, although I am not sure. The Pittsburgh " station has been run in multiple arc. Our policy is not to run in " multiple arc. We prefer not to."--[" Electrical World," Dec. 24.] Had Mr. Stanley been fully informed regarding his system he would have known that the Denver plant, though sold under the great necessity of this multiple operation as one of the cardinal conditions of success, has been constructed so that it cannot be thus operated, and that the station had not at the date of his address even been started. It was not put in operation for about two weeks thereafter and with less than one-third the number of hghts claimed by Mr. Stanley. The accuracy of the following telegram can be easily veri- fied: ** Denver, Dec. 28. Westinghouse plant started about week ** ago, sixteen himdred lights operated." APPENDIX W. EDISON PATENTS. We need hardly offer any comment on the list of the Edison Electric Light Company's patents which is here appended. If the patent laws of the United States represent any protection what- ever to the inventor, surely these must represent such values in the detail, as well as in the fundamental principles of the indus- try, as will most certainly comprise a monopoly. A WARNING FROM THE ^ g'-H hj ^ i 4 KDISON COMPANIES Operate Under the Patents Enumerated Below. Granted to MR. THOMAS A. EDISON AND OTHERS. 1 181,613 2 214,636 3 214,637 4 218,166 6 218,167 6 218,866 7 219,393 8219,628 9222,881 10,223,112 11223,898 12 224.329 13 227.226 14227,237 151227,228 16227.229 17,228,617 18 230,255 19237.732 20 238,868 21239,147 22 239,148 23 239,149 24 239,150 25,239,151 Title of Patbht. August April 29, 1876. 22, 1879. (1 22, August 5, 5, 26, 9, 16, 23, 80, 27, 1880. 10, Sept. Dec (( Jan. Feb. May it t( t( June July Feb. March It tt tt tt tt tt tt tt tt it 4, 4, 4, 4, 8, 20, 15, 1881 15, 22, 22, 22, 22, tt tt tt April 26 239,152 27 239,153 28 239,372 29 239,373 80239,374 31|239.745 82 240.678 33 242,896 June 84 242,8971 35 242,898 36 242,899 37 242.900 38 242,901 39 248,416 Oct. 40248,417 41 248,418 42 248,419 43 248,420 44 248,421 45 248.422 46 248,4231 it it tt tt 22, 22, 29. 29, 6, 26, 14, 14, 14, 14, 14, 14, 18, 18, 18, 18, 18, 18, 18, 18, it If It It It It II It It It It ft ft it It it It It (f It It II ft If ft If It Electric Lighting. Improvement in Electric Lights. Improvement in Thermal Regulators. Improvement in Magneto-electric Machines. Improvement in Apparatus for Electric Lights. Improvement in Electric Lighting Apparatus. Improvement in Dvnamo-electric Machines. Improvement in Electric Lights. Improvement in Magneto-electric Machines, Method for Measuring Electricity. Electric Lamp. Electric Lighting Apparatus. Safety-conductor for Electric Liehts. Electric Light. Electric Light. Electric Li^ht. Brake for Electro-magnetic Motors. Method of Manufacturing Electric Lamns. Electric Light. Manufacture of Carbons, Incandescent Lamps. System of Electric Lighting. Treating Carbons for Electric Lamps. Incandescing Electric Lamp. Electric Lamp. Method of Forming Enlarged Ends on CarboD Filaments. System of Electric Lighting. Electric Lamp. Testing Electric Light Carbons. Electric Lamp. Regulating the Generation of Electric Currents. Electric Lamp. Webermeter. Incandescent, Electric Lamp. Incandescent Electric Lamp. Magneto or Dynamo-electric Machine. Electric Lighting. Manufacturing Carbons for Electric Lamps. Electric Meter. Manufacture of Carbons for Electric Lamps. Manufacturing Carbons for Electric Lamps. Electric Lamp. Electric Lamp. Fixture and Attachment for Electric Lamp. Current Regulator for Dynamo-electric Machines ' System of Electric Lighting. Carbonizer. ■r t t ^ f EDISON ELECTRIC LIGHT CO. 77 47 48 49 60 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 248,424 248,425 248,426 248,427 248,428 248,429 248,430 248,433 248.434 248,435 248,436 Oct. It if (i ti (t ft ft ft ft ft 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 6? 68 69 70 18, 1881. 18, " 18, 18, 18, 18, 18, 18, 18, 18, 18, tt tf ft It ft ft ft ft tf TiTLK OF Patent. 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 80 81 82 83 84 85 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 248,437 248.565 251,536 251,537 251,538 251,539 251,540 251,541 251,542 251,543 251,544 251,545 251,546 711251,547 72251,548 251,549 261,550 251,551 251,562 251,553 251,554 251,565 251,656 251,557 251,558 251,559 251,696 253,955 266,701 257,146 257,276 257,277 259,235 260.562 12,631 262.271 262.272 263,103 263,133 263,184 98 99 ft ft Dec. tf ft ft tf ft ft ft ft ff ft if ff ft ff ft t f ft ft ft ft ft ft ff ff Feb. April May it ff June July 18, 18, 27, 27, 27, 27, 27, 27, 27, 27, 27, 27, 27, 27, 27, 27, 27, 27, 27, 27, 27, 27, 27, 27, 27, 27, 27, 21, 1882 18, ft tt tt ft tf If ft ff ft ff ft ft ft ft tf ft ft ft ft ft ft ft tt It ft ft ft 263,135 263,136 100263,137 10l|263,138 2, 2, 2, 6, 24, 27, August 8, 8. 22, 22, 22, It tf (f if ft ff ft ff 22, 22, 22, ft tf ft ft It ft ft ft tf ft ft ft ft ft tt ft Fitting and Fixture for Electric Lamps. Apparatus for Producing High Vacuums. Apparatus for Treating Carbons. Apparatus for Treating Carbons. Manufacture of Incandescent Electric Lamps. Electric Motor. Electro-magnetic Brake. Vacuum Apparatus. Governor for Electric Engines. Utilizing Electricity as a Motive Power. Depositing Cell for Plating the Connections of Electric Lamps. Apparatus for Treating Carbons. Meter. Vacuum Pump. Dynamo-electric Machine. Electric Light. Electric Lamp. Carbon for Electric Lamps. Electro-magnetic Motor. System of Electric Lighting. Electric Lamp. Manufacture of Electric Lamps. Electric Meter. Electric Lamps. Electric Governor. Incandescent Electric Lamp. Electric Lamp and the Manufacture thereof. Magneto or Dynamo-electric Machine. System of Electric Lighting. Underground Conductor. Electric Chandelier. Electric Lamp and Socket. Regulator for D3mamo-electric Machine. Regulator for Dynamo-electric Machine. Webermeter. Webermeter. Electrical Drop-light. Socket for Electric Lamps. Lantern for Electric and other Lights. Combined Gas and Electric Light Fixture. Shade-holder for Electric Lamps. Switch for Electric Light Circuits. Socket for Electric Lamps. Electrical Fixture. Switch and Indicator for Electric Lamps. Design for an Incandescent Electric Lamp. Combined Gas and Electric Light Fixture. Electrical Extension Chandelier. Electrical Chandelier. Dynamo or Magneto-electric Machine. Regulator for Dynamo or Magneto-electric Ma- chines. Electric Lamp. Regulator for Dynamo or Magneto-electric Ma- chines. Electric Chandelier. Electric Arc Light. I r8 A WARNING FROM THE 103 104 105 106 107 106 109 110 111 112 113 114 115 116 117 118 119 263,140 263,141 263,142 263,143 263,144 263,145 263,146 263,147 263,148 263,149 263,150 263,878 264,298 264,299 264,642 264,643 264,645 August 22, 22, It (( (( (i (i «t i< It (t 4t 125 126 127 128 129 130 131 132 133 134 135 136 137 138 139 140 141 120 264,646 121 264,647 122 264,648 123 264,649 124264.650 264,651 264.652 264,653 264,654 264,655 264,656 264,657 264,658 264,659 264,660 264,661 264,662 264,663 264,664 264,665 264,666 264,667 Sept. (I 142 264,668 143 144 145 146 147 148 149 150 151 152 153 154 155 156 264.669 264,670 264,671 264,672 264,673 264.698 364,737 265,311 265,774 26,5.775 265,776 365.777 265,779 266,780 A WARNING FROM THE 210 211 212 213 214 215 216 217 218 278,418 278,419 278,465 278,535 280,563 280,727 281,349 281,a50 281,a51 May 29, 1883. ti July 219 281,352 220 281,353 221 281,576 222 283,270 223 283,983 224283,984 225 283,985 226 283,986 227 2S6,350 228 287,501 229,287,511 230 287,512 23l|287,513 232 287,514 233 287,515 234 287,516 235 287,517 236 287,518 237 287,519 238 287,520 239 287,521 240 287,522 241 287,523 242 287.524 243 287,525 244 287,532 2451287,533 246|288,318 247288,454 248 239.837 249 239,838 it (( (( 250 293,432 251 293,434 252 293.435 253 293,552 354 293,553 255 293.879 256 294.697 267 295,398 258 296,185 2591297,269 260297,580 261i297,581 262 297,582 2631297,583 264 297,584 265 297,585 266i297,586 29, 29, 29, 3. 8, 17, 17. 17, 17, 17, 17. August 14, 28. 28, 28, 28, 9, 80, 30, 30, 30, 80, 30, 80, 80, 30. 30. 30. 30, 30. 80. 30, 30, 30, 30, 13. 13. 11. 11, 12, 1884 Oct. {« i( (i ti (( ii ii ti ft it It tt ti ft it tt it it Nov. it Dec. .t Feb. tt it II it <( {( it n it tt it ii ii ii n ii it it tt it tt • i tt it it ti t( it tt it ti tt tt tt tt ii (t TiTLB OF Patent. ^ it 12. it ti 12. It ti 13. a tt 12, n ft 19, it Mareb 4, it it 18, it April 1. it ti 22. n it 29, 11 it 29, tt tt 29. it it 29. tt it 29. ti ft 29. n ft 19, tt Apparatus for Translating Electric Currentfl from High to Low Tension. Dynamo-electric Machine. Support for Electric Light Conductor. System of Electrical Distribution. Electrical Measuriag Apparatus. System of Electrical Distribution. Regulator for Dynamo-electric Machines. Regulator for Dynamo-electric Machines. Electrical Generator. Webermeter. Djrnamo-electric Machine. Safety-catch for Electric Light Circuits. Incandescing Electric Lamp. System of Electrical Distribution. System of Electrical Distribution. System of Electrical Distribution. System of Electrical Distribution. Electric Stand Lamp. Electrical Testing. Electric Regulator. Dynamo-electric Machine. Dynamo-electric Machine. D3mamo-electric Machine. System of Electrical Distribution. System of Electrical Distribution. System of Electrical Distribution. Manufacturing Incandescing Electric Lamps. Incandescing Electric Lamp. Incandescing Conductor for Electric Lamps. Dynamo-electric Machine. Mold for Carbonizing. Dynamo-electric Machine. Regulator for Dynamo-electric Machine. Regulator for Systems of Electric Distribution. Junction for Electrical Conductors. Safety-catch for Electric Circuits. Regulator for Dynamo-electric Machine. Machine for Electric Conductor. Manufacture of Electric Lamps. Manufacture of Electric Lamps. Electrical Generator or Motor. Incandescent Electric Lamp. Electrical Meter. Socket for Electric Lamps. Combined Gas and Electric Light Fixture. Manufacture of Electric Lamps. Combined Gas and Electric Light Fixture. Manufacture of Electric Lamps. Electrical Conductor. Electric Light Fixture. Electric Arc Lights. Incandescent Electric Lamp. Dynamo-electric Machine. Dynamo-electric Machine. Dynamo-electric Machine. Incandescing Conductor for Electric Lamps^ Electrical Conductor. i i \ 'U «i ( X EDISON ELECTRIC LIGHT CO. 8i 267 268 269 270 271 272 273 274 276 276 277 278 279 280 281 282 283 284 285 286 287 288 289 290 291 292 293 294 295 296 297 298 299 300 301 302 303 804 305 306 807 308 309 810 311 312 313 814 815 816 817 818 819 820 821 822 823 297,587 298,658 298,679 298,954 298,955 298,956 304,082 304,083 804,084 804,085 804,086 304,087 805,191 805,200 307,029 307,030 307,031 307,879 308,801 308,712 308,718 309,167 811,181 314,582 317,610 317,682 817,633 317,700 818,167 319,884 328.572 328,678 828,674 828,575 830,244 334,868 335,045 335,048 336,099 337,199 337,296 887,336 338,883 339,058 339,279 339,298 341,644 341,728 341,778 341,839 341,990 342,751 343,087 343,017 348,371 351,644 April 29, 1884. May 18, 18, 20, 20, 20, August 26, *' 26. " 26, ft ft tt tt ti it it tt TiTLB OF Patent. (t tt tt Sept if Oct. it Nov. if tt tt it Jan. March May tt it it it June Oct. it it tt Nov. Jan. ft it tt March it it it ft April ft May tt tt if if ft June it Aug. Oct. 851,866|Nov. ft it tt It tt tt tt It tt tt it it tt 36, 26. 26. 16, 16, 21, 21, 21, 11, 18, 2, 2, 9, 20, 1886. 21, 12. 12. 12, 12. 19, 2, 20, 20, 20, 20, 10, 26, 26, 26, 26, 2, 2, 2, 28, 80, 6, 6, 11, 11, 11, 11, 18, 26, 1, 1, 81, 1886. 26, *' 2, " if ft if ft ft ti ft tf ft ft tf ft ft ft ft ft ft ft ft ft ft f f it ft ft it it ti it it it Dynamo-electric Machine. Socket for Incandescent Electric Lamps. Treating Carbons for Electric Lights. Dynamo-electric Machine. Dynamo-electric Machine. Operating Dynamo-electric Machines. Electrical Meter. Dynamo-electric Machine. Device for Protecting Electric Light Systemi from Lightning. System of Electrical Distribution. Incandescent Electric Lamp. Electrical Conductor. Incandescent Electric Lamp. Reflector for Incandescent Lamp. Filament for Incandescent Lamps. Electrical Meter. Electrical Indicator. Combined Gas and Electric Light Fixture. Machine for Shaving Electric Lamp Conductors. Electric Light Fixture. Electric Light Conductor for Structures. Adjustable Resistance Electric Currents. Shade for Electric Lamp. Safety-catch for Electric Circuits. Electric Lighting System and Switch. Incandescent Electric Lamp. Incandescent Electric Lamp. System of Electric Distribution. Systems of Electric Lighting. Safety-catch Plug. Dynamo Commutator. System of Electric Lighting. System of Electric Lighting. System of Electric Lighting. Regulator for Electric Lights. Mold for Carbonizing. System of Electrical Distribution. System of Electrical Distribution. System of Electrical Distribution. Eirtension Electrolier. Electric Light Fixture. Shade for Electric Lamps. Dynamo-electric Machine. Electrical Indicator. System of Electrical Distribution. Electric Switch. Incandescent Electric Lamp. Electrical Switch. Incandescent Electric Lamp. Incandescent Electric Lamp. Dynamo-electric Machine. Electrical Connecting Device. House wiring for Electric Lights. Systems of Electrical Distribution. Safety-catch. Dynamo-electric Machinery. Incandescent Electric Lamps. ''f f A WARNING FROM THE EDISON ELECTRIC LIGHT CO. 824 825 826 827 828 829 880 881 882 883 884 885 886 887 888 889 840 841 842 843 844 845 No 851,856 352,691 353,035 358,649 358,788 358,915 854,310 854,320 356,041 356,042 356,199 357,050 358,599 358,600 859,726 860,258 360,259 361,782 365,509 865,978 866,173 866,174 Datx. Nov. Dec (4 Jan. 2, 1886. 16, 28, 30, 7, 7, 14, U, 11, 1887. 11. n (( (t (i it it t« ii 18, Feb. 1, March 1, it 1, 11 22, t« 29, II 29, April 26, June 28, July 5, ti fi. «( 5. 1 1 i« h ge *• « \f z ■< O x 7i t 9 Q I s C/3 ! S GO GO \ mmmm DUE DATE ^ll^l 94 1 / MAR 2 -, IOC * 1 201-6603 Printsd in USA ^ , 4 '\ i f k, f' / "!! COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY 0026268990 1)322 Uf NEH I >\> \> ^61994 '^M 7 1947 END OF TITLE