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13 FRANCIS BLAKE 1900s SIGNED LETTERS ALS TELEPHONE PART INVENTOR WESTON MA
13 FRANCIS BLAKE 1900s SIGNED LETTERS ALS TELEPHONE PART INVENTOR WESTON MA
13 FRANCIS BLAKE 1900s SIGNED LETTERS ALS TELEPHONE PART INVENTOR WESTON MA
13 FRANCIS BLAKE 1900s SIGNED LETTERS ALS TELEPHONE PART INVENTOR WESTON MA
13 FRANCIS BLAKE 1900s SIGNED LETTERS ALS TELEPHONE PART INVENTOR WESTON MA
13 FRANCIS BLAKE 1900s SIGNED LETTERS ALS TELEPHONE PART INVENTOR WESTON MA
13 FRANCIS BLAKE 1900s SIGNED LETTERS ALS TELEPHONE PART INVENTOR WESTON MA
13 FRANCIS BLAKE 1900s SIGNED LETTERS ALS TELEPHONE PART INVENTOR WESTON MA
13 FRANCIS BLAKE 1900s SIGNED LETTERS ALS TELEPHONE PART INVENTOR WESTON MA
13 FRANCIS BLAKE 1900s SIGNED LETTERS ALS TELEPHONE PART INVENTOR WESTON MA
13 FRANCIS BLAKE 1900s SIGNED LETTERS ALS TELEPHONE PART INVENTOR WESTON MA
13 FRANCIS BLAKE 1900s SIGNED LETTERS ALS TELEPHONE PART INVENTOR WESTON MA

13 FRANCIS BLAKE 1900s SIGNED LETTERS ALS TELEPHONE PART INVENTOR WESTON MA

$ 105.6

Availability: 35 in stock
  • Country/Region of Manufacture: United States
  • Original/Reproduction: Original
  • Condition: See photos and description below for details.
  • Signed by: Francis Blake
  • Autograph Authentication: Not Authenticated
  • Signed: Yes

    Description

    I am listing a few Antique Telephone Items this week, including an Extremely Rare 1894 Stromberg Carlson Model 1 "Coffee Grinder" Desk Set Telephone with Flip-Top Speaker Mechanism. I will also be listing a group of 1900's Signed Letters by FRANCIS BLAKE, the man credited with inventing a carbon microphone for use in the telephone in 1877. Blake was hired by Alexander Graham Bell and put him to work with Emile Berliner, and together they came up with the improved Berliner-Blake microphone which was standard with the Bell company for many years.
    ____________________________________________________________________________
    Here is a
    GROUP OF 13 SIGNED LETTERS AND LETTER DRAFTS by Noted Weston, MA Inventor and Photographer FRANCIS BLAKE (1850-1913).
    This group of Blake letters are coming out of the old Blake family estate located on Strawberry Hill in Dover, MA.
    FRANCIS BLAKE
    was born in Needham, MA. In 1877, Francis Blake invented a carbon microphone for use in the telephone. Alexander Graham Bell hired Blake and put him to work with Emile Berliner, and together they made the improved Berliner-Blake microphone that was standard with the Bell company for many years. Blake was also a pioneer in innovative high-speed photography which he was active with in the 1880's and 1890's. Blake designed and built "Keewaydin" estate in Weston, MA in 1875, where he had a laboratory to work on his inventions and photography. Some of the letterheads have the
    "Keewaydin. Weston.."
    at the top. In his latter years, Blake mostly retreated to Keewaydin and devoted himself to public service and local government. The letters in this group are in this period and category.
    These appear to be all Francis Blake's personal handwritten and signed copies of his letters to various people (copies that he kept for himself). One of them is a heavily corrected draft with the final draft written below it, done on a Weston Town Library piece of scrap paper. This 1909 letter concerns his failing health as the reason for notifying the Trustees of the Massachusetts General Hospital of his resignation from the Board of Trustees. There is an identical finished copy of this letter to the Trustee Chairman on Keewaydin stationery in the group as well. The correspondences date from 1900 to 1912. The 1900 letter concerns a Boston and Albany Railroad Lease in which he expresses the reasons for his opposition to the lease. Three of the letters concern the publication of a book entitled "The Heart of Us" which he has been working on. I guarantee these letters to be signed by Francis Blake. Large lot for one money.
    Will pack with care for buyer.
    S
    tate sales tax may apply depending on your state's ebay new tax collection guidelines.
    Look for my Antique Telephone Items I am listing as well.
    See listing for payment and shipping details. Payment is due within 5 days after auction end. Item is usually shipped within 2 business days after payment is received. My normal shipping days are Mon-Thurs. Feel free to email me with any questions. Thanks for looking!