Thomas A. Edison's Lost Former Equiptment!

T.A. Edison's Former Equipment Lost in move to Pearl Street Generating Plant. Found on eBay? Valued at $5 Million in 1928.

Mary had a little lamb & every one knows where the lamb went!. Thomas A Edison had a little lathe & for a long, long time no body has known where Tom's lathe went. Many photos of Mr. Edison and the little lathe with the most famous foot print in history, were made as they worked on the first electrict light bulb. Then in the rush from Menlow Park to Pearl Street Station in 1880 the little lathe was lost.

1928 Henery Ford tried to find the little lathe by putting up a $5 Million Dollar with interest reward! but he never got to see the little lathe except for the history book photos.

2002 i Tony Mac Crutchfield found Tom's lost lathe! that i told my Dad in 1968 that i wanted! Found it on ebay for $59.88 + $8.25 UPS shipping.

In 1928 Congress declared all Edison artifacts National Historic Treasure. After learning Edison had given the proto type of the phonograph to Great Briton they were told the United States wanted it back or ''WAR'' GB replied $5M or ' 'WAR' '. Edison's friend Henry Ford put up a: FIVE MILLION DOLLAR REWARD with interest for the hand cranked lathe, shown in many photos of the Great Man as he worked on the filaments of the first electric light bulb. It was last seen when it was packed up for the move to the Pearl Street Generating 1880s?
My knowledge of the lost lathe started in 1968 freshman high school, first period study hall. I was kicked out for talking and, sent the librarian. I had all ready made a service call with my uncle to her house and, he made me work on their TV. So Ms. Nancy Lambert sent me to the film room to show a film on T.A. Edison working on the light bulb. When i saw the lathe i knew that was the coil winder i was looking for!
I all ready had a three years working on Delco Car Radios and one year as a certified field repair tech. And realized that a larger number of components were nothing but bobbins wound of solid copper wire, coated with a varnish. And i wanted to know how to be able to do that so that by the time i got to be 50 i would be able to service the radios on GM great classic cars that they full expected a 57 Corvette to be worth at least $20,000.00.
Could not wait to get to the TV Shop and, talk to my dad about the lathe. For two weeks the lathe was all that was on my mind. Finally my dad told me to shut up about the dang lathe!
I found what is either the lathe in the history books or is a clone of it? On eBay when i found it up for auction i was looking to rewind a 6 Volt light coil on my 79 Honda Odssey adult go kart to 12 Volts and i said to my self. Self Edison's lath's jaws would do a perfect job.
When i opened up the auction it had just been listed. I had one of the worst sinus head aches of all time. AND DID NOT REALIZE WHAT WAS IN FRONT OF ME! However I did lock in on Cranky and knew i had to win this auction.
I did, i think it was on Wednesday, Thursday i received the UPS tracking code and was told it was in transit. Friday i put the check in the mail!!!! Monday morning about 2 AM headed to the bath room in a completely dark room. I saw the photo in my mind eye on eBay and it hit me! Wow! That is Eddy's Little Lost Lathe!
And, to me one of the most unbelievable parts of the whole story is that i actually had enough money to spend on the lathe and put food on the table for the rest of the week.

And, Yes Gorge Norway! i have another part of the story that will only be told on CoasttoCoastAM

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