Letter, James Gleason to William Gleason
A letter from James Gleason to his father, William Gleason. Jim shares with William his low opinion of the machines in the shops of San Francisco and discusses work with sales agents to sell Gleason tools. He mentions his mother’s health and asks if Kate will send them more money.
Jim’s letter is dated February 17, 1891, but based on the context of other letters dated on and around February 17, 1892, this is apparently when it was actually written.
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Commercial Hotel
Corner
Montgomery Ave.
& Kearny St.
Edward Holland Proprietor
San Francisco. Cal.
Feb 17, 1891
Dear Father;
I have spent a great deal
of time around the shops in this city and
in Sacramento and must repeat a
statement that I made in a previous
letter, they are a lot of junk shops.
It would take us years to replace the
old machines in San Francisco, alone.
I have about completed a deal with
the Union Iron Wks for a 42” G.P. and
this day turned the matter over to Rix
and Birrell as they are very anxious to
do something with the Union Iron Wks
themselves. I am more impressed
with the firm of Rix and Birrell than
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2
at first as evidenced by my letter of
this date to the Co. which was written
expressly to be read by Rix and
Birrell. We are talking and figuring
on a 72” Lathe with overhanging end to
spindle and 30 ft bed beside some
others a 72” planer. Rix & Birrell will
send you particulars they say tomorrow.
Some of the Iron Wks here are waking up
to the fact that they need new tools so
I did not go to work this week but
visited them all again. If nothing
happens I will go to work at the Risdon
Iron Wks next Monday morning and
have it to say that I worked in that
classic ruins. I could go to the Union
Iron Wks but the Risdon are the firm
that want the big tools. You may
think that I spent a good deal of
time and money drumming up the
trade here but when I get home and
report the case more fully I am sure
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3
you will think it all right.
The Gleason Tool Co are unknown in
the large shops here so I strained a
point to introduce that gear planer
in the Union Iron Wks as it will
certainly lead to more. It is full
price $1250. with freight at 2½ cts on 650 lbs.
and a little interest for keeping the
money tied up for 60 days. If we get the
order the machine can come in a car
load from McIntosh & Seymour to
Rix & Birrell. There is absolutely
no risk in shipping the machine this way
for they have lots of work for it that is
now sent to Bilgrim in Philadelphia.
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4.
and if they should by any possible
chance find fault The Risdon Iron
Wks would take it. The Superintendent
at the Union is a very fair nice man
and said he had to have the machine
and sent me to Mr Scott the President
who wanted that 60 day trial business
put in. I had the order then you see
but partly on account of the freight
advantage of shipping to Rix and Birrell
and partly because I thought it was
what you would want not being too
close with them I turned the business
over to Rix & Birrell
Yours
Jim
P.S. All goes well went with mother when
I left her a week ago. Will Kate send
us a little more yours money. JG.