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This series contains correspondence, interoffice memoranda, account books, minute books, letterbooks, and other records pertaining to the operations of Edison's companies. Among the companies incorporated during the period 1899-1910 were the Edison Manufacturing Co., Edison Portland Cement Co., and Edison Storage Battery Co. Edison companies conducting business abroad during these years included the foreign department, branches, and subsidiaries of the National Phonograph Co.; the Mining Exploration Co. of New Jersey; and the Edison Ore Milling Syndicate, Ltd. The records of many of these companies extend beyond 1910, and in most cases selections have been made from the entire record group and not merely from the records generated during the years 1899-1910.

The period 1899-1910 was one of increasing centralization for Edison's companies, many of which would be consolidated into Thomas A. Edison, Inc., in February 1911. The Legal Department and the Foreign Department, for example, both emerged from Edison's phonograph business but served the interests of several companies in addition to the National Phonograph Co. Much of the centralization was the work of Frank L. Dyer, general counsel of the Legal Department, who succeeded William E. Gilmore as president of the National Phonograph Co. and vice president of the Edison Manufacturing Co. in 1908. Dyer later helped establish central committees such as the Manufacturing Committee, some of the minutes for which can be found in the "1910. Edison, T. A. - General" folder in the Document File Series. The correspondence and case files of the Legal Department appear in the Legal Series, while most of the financial and administrative records of the Foreign Department are in the National Phonograph Company Records.

Most of the documents in the Company Records Series can be found in company record groups of the same name in the archives of the Edison National Historical Park (ENHP). However, the ledgers, journals, and other accounting records in this series are primarily from the Account Books record group. Bound volumes bearing archival N-numbers and PN-numbers are interfiled in the ENHP archives with Edison's laboratory notebooks and pocket notebooks. A few items are from the Legal Department record group.

Many of the documents comprising the company record groups in the ENHP archives were removed by archivists from the Document File during the 1980s and 1990s. Some Edison company records remain in the Document File and can be found in folders such as "Edison Crushing Roll Co.," "Edison Manufacturing Co.," "Legal Department," and "Phonograph - Edison Business Phonograph Co." Correspondence involving the National Phonograph Co., Ltd., and various other foreign subsidiaries of the National Phonograph Co. can be found in the National Phonograph Company Records. Printed promotional material generated by Edison's companies can be found in the Primary Printed Series.

The selected records are arranged in the following order: (1) Compagnie Français du Phonographe Edison; (2) Edison Manufacturing Company; (3) Edison Ore Milling Syndicate, Ltd.; (4) Edison Phonograph Works; (5) Edison Portland Cement Company; (6) Edison-Saunders Compressed Air Company; (7) Edison Storage Battery Company; (8) Mining Exploration Company of New Jersey; (9) Motion Picture Patents Company; (10) National Phonograph Company; (11) New Jersey Patent Company; and (12) North Jersey Paint Company.

Among the items not selected are two summary books prepared by or for Frank L. Dyer in 1908 and 1910. Both contain individual entries for many Edison companies and summarize incorporation data. The information in these books duplicates the material in the selected records.

OTHER EDISON COMPANIES

In addition to the twelve companies represented in the Company Records Series, there are other Edison companies with identifiable records for the period 1899-1910 for which no discrete record group exists in the ENHP archives. Financial records for these companies are from the Account Books record group, while correspondence and other material generated by and pertaining to these companies are from various record groups and can be found in several series in this edition.

Douglas Phonograph Company (1901-1911)

This company was formed in November 1904 and dealt in Victor talking machines as well as Edison phonographs. It was controlled by the National Phonograph Co. Correspondence regarding the company's organization and activities can be found in the Legal Series.

The unselected financial records consist of two ledgers (1901-1904), three journals (1902-1909), and six cash books (1901-1911) that detail the finances of the company and its predecessor, Douglas & Co.

Edison Business Phonograph Company (1908-1911)

This company was formed in June 1908 as a successor to the Commercial Department of the National Phonograph Co. It was absorbed into Thomas A. Edison, Inc., in February 1911. Correspondence regarding the company's activities can be found in the "Edison Business Phonograph Company" folders (1908-1910) in the Document File Series. Promotional publications issued by the company can be found in the Primary Printed Series.

The unselected financial records consist of a ledger (1908-1911), cash book (1908-1911), payroll book (1908-1911), and unbound journal and ledger sheets (1908-1911). The payroll book contains additional entries from 1914-1916, when Edison's business phonograph was handled by the Ediphone Division of Thomas A. Edison, Inc.

Edison Manufacturing Company, Ltd. (1903-1918)

This company was formed in London in August 1904 and registered in September. George Croyden Marks, Edison's patent agent, was appointed managing director. Edison was the majority stockholder and one of the directors. The company transferred its base of operations from London to West Orange in May 1915, and it was officially dissolved in 1918. During its existence the Edison Manufacturing Co., Ltd., conducted no business. According to a memorandum from 1904, "It is simply a means of protection for the present for the Edison Manufacturing Company that exists in America." A small amount of correspondence regarding the commercial exploitation of the American company's products in Great Britain can be found in the National Phonograph Company Records.

The unselected records consist primarily of a minute book (1903-1918) and a series of unbound annual corporation reports (1903-1918) that detail the shareholders and directors of the Edison Manufacturing Co., Ltd.

National Phonograph Company of Australia, Ltd. (1906-1933)

This company, probably formed in November 1905, was organized to sell Edison phonographs, records, and other products, including batteries, Bates numbering machines, and Edison films. Correspondence regarding the activities of the National Phonograph Co. of Australia, Ltd., can be found in the National Phonograph Company Records.

The unselected financial records consist of individually bound annual and semi-annual auditor's reports (1906-1933). Included are balance sheets, profit and loss reports, and trading accounts, as well as detailed statements of account with the Foreign Department of the National Phonograph Co. (1906-1911) and with the International Division of Thomas A. Edison, Inc. (1911-1933). The trading accounts usually indicate the Australian sales of each product individually. Several audits include covering letters from William W. Wyper, managing director of the National Phonograph Co. of Australia, Ltd.

National Phonograph Company of Chicago (1901-1907)

The Chicago branch of the National Phonograph Co. began keeping its own accounts in March 1901, and the branch was closed in February 1907. Correspondence regarding its activities, along with a profit and loss statement for the year ending March 1, 1904, can be found in the National Phonograph Company Records.

The unselected financial records consist of a ledger (1901-1907), journal (1901-1907), and four cash books (1901-1906).The journal contains a note that "No Accts were kept in Chgo from Jany 1st 1902 to Mch 1st 1903."

New England Phonograph Company (1905-1909)

The New England Phonograph Co. was one of the local phonograph companies licensed in 1888 by the North American Phonograph Co. In 1905 a struggle for control of the company, which had not conducted any business since the 1890s, developed between an Edison-aligned faction, led by President John E. Helm and Secretary Joseph F. McCoy, and a group led by James L. Andem. Correspondence regarding the control and activities of the New England Phonograph Co. can be found in the National Phonograph Company Records and in the Legal Series.

The unselected records consist primarily of a minute book (1905-1908) and three loose items enclosed in the book (1909). The minute book contains the records of shareholders' meetings and directors' meetings for the period October 1905-October 1908; the loose items refer to subsequent meetings not recorded in the book. The subjects covered include litigation brought by Andem against the New England Phonograph Co.; a criminal case against Andem; and the position of the New England company regarding ongoing litigation between the National Phonograph Co. and the New York Phonograph Co.