Antoine BREGUET - Set of four letters to Gaston TISSANDIER.

Antoine BREGUET (1851.1882)

Set of four autograph letters signed to Gaston Tissandier.  

Maison Breguet letterhead Revue Scientifique letterhead )

Paris. September 1 ^,

Interesting correspondence between the two French scientists, initiated by Breguet proposing to Tissandier – then editor-in-chief of the journal La Nature – his work on the history of electric light and on the telephone to Mercury.

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September 1 ^, .

“Dear Sir, I have had fun lately collecting some notes on the history of electric light up to its production by means of magneto-electric machines (exclusively). Would you like to host this study in your journal? If so, please let me know, and I'll take care of it. I think there would be copy for two, maybe three articles. But I really only see a few figures to illustrate them. Believe me, dear sir, your devoted friend. Antoine Breguet. »

September 7, 1877.

“Dear Sir, This is the first article on the history of electric light. You could perhaps have some figures made: 1° - Dufay drawing a spark from a human body. The patient is suspended in the air on silk cords. 2°- the egret spark which is found in a large number of physics treatises : Gavarret, Mascart among others. ; What do you think ? Yours faithfully. Antoine Breguet. If you find this first ^article too short, I can easily extend it. I have all my notes in order. I will be able to easily make two other articles of the same length (at least) and the figures will be easier to place there. »

April 8, 1878.

“Dear Sir, I will send you in two or three days the rest of the story of electric light. As for the mercury telephone, I was still waiting to send you the photo until I had obtained some new results. But I don't have time to work, so I'll send you the figure straight away. Yours faithfully. Antoine Breguet. PS I will be obliged if you send me the latest issue of Nature , because apart from my father's subscription, I like to keep the issues where my articles are inserted. »

February 5, 1880.

“My dear Mr. Tissandier, You may know that, from February 20, I am taking over the management of the scientific journal in collaboration with my friend Ch. Richet; I know that you were kind enough to promise Mr. Alglave a copy of your conference for the magazine. Can I hope that you will keep your promise for his successor? You will be entitled to the recognition of your devoted friend Antoine Breguet, 5 rue de Savoie. Paris "

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Antoine Breguet (1851.1882) is the great-grandson of Abraham Breguet, founder of the legendary watchmaking house. Builder of the Gramme machines, the first modern current generator, he is also the author of a work on the theory of the Gramme machine. He built many other instruments including a recording anemometer powered by electricity and a mercury telephone. In 1881, he transformed the family watchmaking business into a limited company under the name Maison Breguet with the aim of “the construction, installation and trade of electrical equipment”. Head of the installations department at the international electricity exhibition of 1881, during his short life he made considerable progress in electrotechnical science.

Gaston Tissandier (1843.1899), dedicated his life to science. A chemist and physicist by training, attracted by all natural sciences and fascinated by the world of techniques and invention, in the 1870s he became the editor of scientific journals, including La Nature (here requested by Breguet). An adventurer of the air, passionate about ballooning, he made more than forty climbs. During the Electricity Exhibition in 1881, he contributed, with his brother Albert, to the first model of an airship powered by electricity.