THOMAS A. EDISON - AUTOGRAPH DOCUMENT UNSIGNED 09/27/1879 - HFSID 348032

THOMAS A. EDISON
The famous inventor penned a section of answers on this questionnaire!
Printed Questionnaire filled out by an assistant who has signed: "Thomas A. Edison" at the conclusion, but with 11 words in Edison's hand, 1p, 7¾x10½. J.K. Macomber, Professor of Physics at the Physical Laboratory Agricultural College in Ames, Iowa, sent Edison and other authorities in the field, a printed questionnaire, dated September 27, 1879. Macomber message, in part: "The people of the Western States have been imposed upon by lightning-rod peddlers more, perhaps, than by any other class of swindlers. Among other rods being sold in Iowa is one known as the 'Chambers' rod, widely has been patented by the 'Chambers' National Lightning Protection Company,' of Cincinnati, Ohio. Briefly, this system consists on an Iron rod running along the ridge of the building with points at each end projecting upward…Many public buildings in thus State have been furnished with these rods…I beg leave to submit the following interrogations." Macomber lists seven questions for Edison to answer. Edison dictated his answers to an assistant who handwrote his replies in a hand resembling Edison's. EDISON HIMSELF HANDWROTE: "(practically speaking)" next to question two, and handwrote an answer to question three: "The larger the cross section the better the protection". The questionnaire is headed: "PHYSICAL LABRATORY AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE". J.K. MACOMBER was Professor of Physics at Ames Agricultural College from 1878-1883, when he resigned to practice law.  Benjamin Franklin invented the lightning rod, shielding buildings from lightning, in 1752. On August 14, 1877, JOSEPHUS C. CHAMBERS obtained a patent for improving lightning rods in lightning rods. At the time Thomas A. Edison replied to this questionnaire, in the fall of 1879, after experimenting for a year with metal filaments for his incandescent lamp, Edison turned his attention to carbon. On December 31, 1879, just three months after this questionnaire, Edison demonstrated the first practical incandescent electric lamp in Menlo Park, filing a patent on January 27, 1880. SCIENTIFIC CONTENT DOCUMENTS BY EDISON, OF WHICH THIS IS ONE, RARELY APPEAR ON THE MARKET. Altogether, 11 words in Edison's hand. Horizontal and vertical folds, with slight tear at one edge. Small area of surface damage in blank upper right. Irregularly cut at top blank edge. Paper backing of frame ripped in numerous places. Framed by unknown individual: 13½x17. Not reviewed by us for conservation integrity. "As is" framing purchase.