Hartford, Nov. 17/81.
Dear Charley—
A simple electrotype won’t do, because the hard part of it is no thicker than paper; the entire supporting material (type metal,) is soft, & would mash, under heavy [pressure. But] if you cast the whole thing in copper, it will answer; & besides, if your matrix was not injured you could cast two or three, at trifling cost, & these would outlast all the wear & tear likely to be inflicted on them.
I wonder if we couldn’t make copper pictures, for ordinary printing, as cheaply as one can make (& afterwards electrotype) a spelter cast?
What is the melting point of copper?
My idea about the ‸Pacific‸ coast ‸California‸ is to repeat the New Orleans contract there, (with a sum & time named for outright purchase) if you can agree upon [one.
Or,] I am willing to sell outright at once. And I should want the purchaser to do work for the Pacific coast in general, (paying us a royalty on that,) until we sell the districts outside of California.
I judge California is one of the best territories we have got. It is far away; there can’t be much competition; the region is very populous; business is well concentrated, with a great & growing city for a centre. Patterns f Copper-cast patterns for foundries ought to be a good trade there. I should think California ought to bring as much as $5,000 if sold outright. Don’t you?
I can’t call Payton to remembrance.
Ys Truly
S. L. Clemens
Textual Commentary
Source text(s):Previous publication:
MicroPUL, reel 2.
Provenance:
See McKinney Family Papers in Description of Provenance.
Emendations and textual notes:
pressure. But • ~.— | ~
one. [¶] Or, • ~.— | [¶] ~,
