THOMAS A. EDISON - AUTOGRAPH NOTE SIGNED - HFSID 147231

THOMAS EDISON. ANS: "E" in pencil, 1p, 5x8 lined sheet. No place, no date. To "Moore". In full: "Did you polish the set you I & Folsom went over & had Neill rerate --". THOMAS A. Edison, who writes to laboratory supervisor, S.A. Moore, is likely discussing refinements in the design of his disc phonograph. Originally, in 1877, Edison's phonograph had a receiver, a delicate metal needle that operated on a phonograph blank of white wax. The surface of the wax blank (which looked like an ivory box) could record from 1,000 to 1,200 words or several musical compositions. The wax blank then could be automatically pared from 15-20 times for new records. Between 1912 and 1926, Edison continually refined his discs starting with the Edison Disc Records in 1912 and launching his marketing sensation, The Re-Creation Disk, in 1919. The up and down groove enabled the record to play 50% longer than the "talking machine" record of the same size. A 10-inch Edison Disc record played longer than a 12-inch lateral groove. His Re-Creation Disk was molded in greater thickness and from a harder substance than an ordinary record, making it more durable. The phonograph was Edison's favorite invention. Lightly creased with folds, horizontal fold at the lower portion of the "E". ¼-inch separation at blank right margin at upper horizontal fold, ¼-inch tear at upper blank edge. Chipped at upper and lower left and upper right blank corners and at mid-left edge. Shaded at perimeter. Overall, fragile condition.