Thomas Edison Congratulates the Son of His Longtime Laboratory Manager, Who Was Born and Raised at Menlo Park, on Being Appointed Assistant Secretary of Commerce Under Herbert Hoover

A very uncommon warm-hearted letter from a man not known for exhibiting his feelings

John Kruesi apprenticed as a clock maker in Switzerland, and migrated to the United States. He met Thomas Edison, who first employed him for his workshop in 1872. Kruesi became Edison’s head machinist through his Newark and Menlo Park years, and was responsible for translating Edison’s rough sketches into working devices. Since constructing and testing models was central to Edison’s method of inventing, Kruesi’s skill in doing this was critical to Edison’s success as an inventor. Kruesi was involved in many of Edison’s key inventions. Including the microphone, phonograph, incandescent light, and system of electric lighting. With the development of this last system, Kruesi moved to more management positions. In 1881, Edison put Kruesi in charge of the Edison Electric Tube Company, making him responsible for the installation of underground power distribution cables from the central generating station. Kruesi became assistant general manager of the lower Manhattan Edison Machine Works in 1894. When that company merged with several others to form General Electric Company in 1892, Kruesi was promoted to General Manager.

Kruesi’s son Paul was born at Menlo Park in 1878, and Edison watched him grow up. Young Kruesi was surrounded by an atmosphere of science, invention and industrialism. In 1898 he started his career working for the Edison company in Chicago, and went on to become an electrical engineer. In 1902 he founded American Lava Company, a firm that produced ceramic insulators for electrical equipment. He was a member of the American Institute of Electrical Engineers and The Electrochemical Society, whom he served for a time as president. He was also a successful banker and was active in the Chamber of Commerce. In June 1922 Kruesi was named Acting Assistant Secretary of Commerce under Commerce Secretary and future President Herbert Hoover. This was an important and prestigious appointment, and Edison sought to congratulate Kruesi – the man he had seen born and raised at Menlo Park, and who he had given a start in life. Although Kruesi was already a success in business, it was his being named to the Commerce Department post that Edison saw as the real accomplishment.

William H. Meadowcroft was Edison’s secretary and author of several books, notably including “The A B C of Electricity”.

Typed letter signed, on his letterhead, June 3, 1922. “Mr. Meadowcroft has shown me your letter of May 29 and the newspaper clippings announcing your appointment as Assistant Secretary to Secretary Hoover. I am delighted to learn of your advancement in life, and while it is nothing less than I have expected or hoped for you, I beg you to accept my hearty congratulations and all good wishes.”

This is a very uncommon warm-hearted letter from a man not known for exhibiting his feelings.