Buy Cipro wp-image-7 ” title=”edison” src=”http://www.trishautographs.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2008/09/edison-300×111.jpg” alt=”Thomas Edison Signed Check” width=”300″ height=”111″ />

Business check from the Edison Botonic Research Corporation, 8.5 x 3, filled out in another hand and signed “Thoas. A. Edison,” payable to W. A. Benney[?] for $438.72, April 6, 1928. Punch cancellations and a few faint creases touching signature, otherwise fine, clean condition. This item is available for sale right now at www.trishautographs.com

A brief history of the Edison Botonic Research Corporation

In 1927, Edison, Henry Ford, and Henry Firestone formed the Edison Botanic Research Corporation of Fort Myers. Plants were collected in Florida and throughout the southern United States by field collectors. Plants were grown under controlled conditions in Florida and at Edison’s laboratories in West Orange, New Jersey. The Edison employee most associated with this research was B. Jonas. Eventually, over 17,000 plants were tested for the quality and quantity of rubber they produced. It was determined that the goldenrod was the most likely candidate and after two years of cross-breeding a goldenrod was developed that yielded almost twelve percent rubber.  Source