Details

Manuscript copy of part of letter, which mentions Adams' illness [Edison's assistant working in London] and his lack of success with demonstrating Edison's telephones as 'the recent discoveries of Professor Hughes have thrown your telephones completely in the shade. Hughes' doings border so closely upon yours that it is difficult to distinguish between what you have done and what he has done. You were on the very threshold of a great discovery, in fact, had it not been for the phonograph distracting your attention you must have anticipated what Hughes has done.'