It's not very often we tool lovers and users can peer into the
mind of a tool inventor, but through the pile of papers of the
Providence Tool Co. we can look into the mind of the fellow who
patented the plane that sold for $27,000 at a recent auction.
And what horrific look it is into one M.B.Tidey's mind, if the
letters he wrote to the PTCo are any indication. Some of you may
recall the one letter I posted back during my serving time at the
geek joint. If that were the only letter of his hand extant, it
would be proof enough that the dude was whacked. However, what I've
found since then is another half dozen letters from Mr. Tidey, most
of which do nothing to diminish the perception that he was a certi-
fiable, card-carrying lunatic of the first degree.
I'm going to enter each letter separately and in chronological
order. I've tried to be faithful to the spelling Tidey used. I
didn't write the word "gauge" in the umpteen different ways Tidey
spelled it - I woulda never been able to rid myself of Tideyitis,
the affliction of spelling "gauge" as "gague" if I had been true
to his spelling.
There may be other letters from Mr. Tidey, and as I uncover them
I'll scribble them in, but the installments I present tonight are
really interesting. Wade through them, if you're at all fascinated
by the fine line between genius and insanity, as well as patented
planes.
I'll provide some Tidey-To-English/English-To-Tidey translations
to put things in context and perspective. At least I'll take a stab
at it, but some stuff may be lost in the translation. Afterall, only
Mr. Tidey knew what songs were playing on his mind's jukebox, and
my attempt to listen in, being quite the sane fellow I am, may only
hear skips, scratches, and feedback.
Donn the straight-jacket, hide the wimmin and chilluns, and hold
on. We're about to view life from the gutter.....
" Ithaca Oct 11th, 1856
J.B.Anthony
Providence
Dear Sir
Yours of the 4th inst. was
duly recd. which I of course consider final. But as Treman&Bros.
of this place will purchase a small bill at your store in N.Y. next
week I suspect that you may think I am procuring through
them which error should it exist I beg leave to correct though they
purchase of you through my recommendation. If I can use of
your manf. of irons it will be by a purchase directly from you -
and if I can propose dealing at cash and remitting payment
before shipment of goods and you thereupon ask of me
reference it is my privelege honourably sir to decline which
you may expect me to do in every of such instances
I was provoked sir to write as I did by my last. I was
in much want of the goods and the money was ready on receipt
of the bill either before or after shipment and considering the
notice of my first proposition which was that if you choose I would
deal at the present at cash I considered that you had no good
cause for subjecting me to the deprivation which you did with
out at least posting me also the cause. Your system if such
it is of "dealing with none at cash with whom you would not deal
on the usual time" I consider an absurdity.
Yours &c
M.B.Tidey
I'm an HONEST and HONOURABLE man }
and a FREMONTER GOODBYE }"
In this first letter, Tidey is very miffed at the PTCo.'s balking
at doing business with him. I came across a report sent to the Co.
about Tidey's business stature, and it wasn't at all favorable to
him. The report came right out and said he was a man of little means,
worth nothing, and a real credit risk.
It's obvious that Tidey is concerned about the PTCo's opinion of
him, where reading between the lines one can tell they'd rather not
deal with him, or, at the very least, they won't sell to him on
credit.
It also appears that Tidey is concerned that PTCo will think he's
buying irons at a local purveyor, but tries to allay their fear by
telling them that it was he who turned Treman&Co. onto the PTCo.
What's most laughable about this letter is that Tidey makes refer-
ence to his political leanings as a "Fremonter" (John Charles Fremont
was the Republican candidate for president during the same year) in
an attempt to change the Co. of their low opinion of him.
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Patrick Leach
Just say Think when I go for a loan and my telling Mr. Banker that
I'm a Gingricher that that will guarantee me instant credit?
etc.
Check IT out at http://www.intool.com
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