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THOMAS A. EDISON Signed Letters to Employee

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Autographs

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Thomas Edison Approves a Pay Raise for His Employee

THOMAS A. EDISON, American Inventor and Manufacturer.
This is a wonderful set of correspondence between Thomas A. Edison and George W. Perry, an employee of Edison's in Orange, New Jersey in 1922-23. The two letters demonstrate how Edison treated his employee--approving a pay increase, but also providing detailed instructions on how he was "testing" the worker.
1. Autograph Letter Signed "Edison," in pencil, on tan, lined paper, no date, no place, 11" x 8.5", Choice Very Fine. In part: "Perry Give me a list of people used in trucking all over Disc dept. In what dept. employed & what they do. All with a view of putting in a system of conveyors etc wherever it is practicable to do so. The investment being determined by the saving--The investment to be returned from savings in the year--figure each dept. seperate [sic]. Edison."

2. Autograph Note Signed "Edison," at the bottom of a letter from Perry requesting a raise in salary, January 26, 1923, no place, 11" x 8.5", Fine. Perry notes that his $30 salary is not sufficient to pay his living expenses, and requests "work which would require administrative and organizing ability" rather than his "present work of testing raw materials and assisting in experimenting for the Powder Blank Department..." Edison replies, "Perry I am testing you & will ultimately find a place where you will fit in. I will raise you to $35 per week for the present." At the top of the letter, Edison wrote, "Put on desk." Some smudging.

These letters were part of an archive in the possession of the Perry family since the 1920s. The correspondence is unique--reflecting the inventor's relationship with one of his employees, who ultimately resigned in 1923 to take a job managing W.T. Grant department stores.

(2 items)



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