Александр Грэм Белл советует отложить сделку по канадскому патенту телефона

Bell urges patience as telephone patent proceeds Article content In our world of electronic communication, one wonders what evidence of daily life will remain for future generations. Modern technology keeps us constantly connected, but will today’s emails and texts survive a century from now? For decades, letter writing was a common practice. Staying in touch meant sitting down with pen and paper, and receiving a letter—especially from afar—was exciting. Many people, including Alexander Graham Bell and his family, preserved their correspondence rather than discarding it. Because the Bells were prolific writers, their story can be told today through thousands of surviving letters. Born in Scotland in 1847, Alexander Graham Bell led a remarkable life shaped by family and experience. His father, Melville, was a professor of elocution, and his mother, Eliza, was deaf. The deaths of his brothers and his marriage to his deaf pupil, Mabel Hubbard, also influenced him. Bell’s legacy is best understood through the letters exchanged among those closest to him. Here, we present those letters. Recommended Videos Alec informs his father that the Bell Telephone Company is preparing an offer for the Canadian patent and urges him not to finalize any agreements yet. Bell recommends encouraging competing interest from Jay Gould and the Dominion Telegraph Company to increase leverage, maximize value, and avoid legal complications. Cambridge, Mass Sept. 9th, 1879 Dear Papa Your telegram received. I spoke by telephone to the Telephone Company this morning and find that they are preparing to make you an offer for the Canadian Patent. I told Mr. Vail that I had just heard you were in negotiation with the Dominion Telegraph Company and Jay Gould and asked what had better be done. He said Telegraph to your father to do nothing till he has time to hear from us. I accordingly sent you per Atlantic and Pacific and Dominion Line the following message. Make no arrangement about Patent until you hear from Bell Telephone Company. They mean business. Shares fetch three thirtyseven. Mr. Vail says that the Company will make a proposition to you that he thinks will be mutually satisfactory. It will do no harm if you can manage to get a counter proposition from Jay Gould or the Dominion Company without fettering your free action. I have no doubt that at the present time while people are wild about Telephone shares that you and Williams could realize at least two hundred thousand dollars if you don’t seem to anxious to make a sale. The great thing I think is to get some interest shown in the matter by Jay Gould and the Dominion. In that case I am sure you will get all you want and more out of the Bell Telephone Company. I would not commit myself if I were you to the Dominion. Trade with the Bell Telephone Company if possible as it might put me in a very awkward predicament in case of Canadian Law-suits. The Bell Letters are annotated by the Bell Homestead National Historic Site