Chapter 105

Chapter 105

Influence

White goods.

A term pointing to household medium to large electronic products.

Representative items refrigerator, washing machine, vacuum cleaner, air conditioner etc., starting to call all these white goods was from when the exterior was mainly manufactured white for a clean image.

Early 20th century, the company that led such white trend was America's representative electric product manufacturer General Electric company.

Right. Exactly that company Morgan robbed from Mr. Edison.

Now not even producing refrigerator let alone any white goods, just an ordinary manufacturer making only wires and light bulbs, generators degree, but after World War I transforms into a super giant conglomerate controlling America.

Literally the symbol itself of American economic growth in the mid to late 20th century.

Is this also history's irony?

That company that monopolized refrigerator related patent technology and monopolized in the manufacturing industry even in original history, reverse coveting my refrigerator technology.

But hanging a patent war on me? And that with stolen technology?

No matter how American law is written advantageously for financiers, with the two development subjects blatantly in front of the eyes it was a clear overreach.

This 100% is muddying.

Dragging into muddy water and tiring then dividing the pie with negotiation that intention seemed.

And the reason Morgan showed such absurd greed, one could immediately know as soon as seeing the prototype they brought.

Mr. Tesla and Mr. Edison instantly reassembled the disassembled parts and completed a unique iron square box.

The two people's hands matched perfectly like watching circus acrobatics.

"Honestly, we also didn't know such an excellent product would come out to this degree. How, Jean? Now seems one step closer to the level you wanted."

"Excellent! Excellent! Really you worked hard!"

"This is literally a great achievement no different from America's technology great victory! If knowing the match would fit this well I would have started research together long ago! If this product spreads all over Europe no one will be able to say America is a lagging 3rd rate country!"

"Mr. Edison, wait a moment. Refrigerator is also important but the promise of also doing the currently stopped Tesla Tower research together absolutely don't forget!"

"Now those words seem calluses will form on the ears. Anyway let's operate."

Mr. Edison plugged the plug into my kitchen outlet.

The moment a strong motor sound rang from the back of the refrigerator, and a sound like bubbling boiling flowed along the drain pipe.

And about five minutes passed, cool cold air started spreading from the back of the refrigerator!

I quickly brought the thermometer. Although there would be error, it pointed around 45 degrees Fahrenheit.

Converting to Celsius about 7 degrees above zero temperature. Success.

Mr. Edison as if strength left his legs plopped down on the surrounding chair and panted.

"Anxious! By any chance during the long voyage holes might have formed in the pipes!"

"45 degrees Fahrenheit! That degree would be sufficient, right? If more insufficient than this use even the ice of the icebox! Then one can drop the temperature a bit more!"

"For me it's sufficient! Really!"

Him having such worries was also natural.

In the telegram mentions about efficient refrigerant gas were also partially included, in the end they said they couldn't find a gas with better cooling effect than ammonia.

Only ammonia is toxic gas.

Cooling effect is excellent but if even a little leaks a nasty smell comes.

With current era technology one can't properly produce modern refrigerant hydrofluorocarbon of course even freon gas the main culprit of Antarctic ozone layer destruction so this was also fact thankful.

At least ammonia has less corrosiveness than sulfur dioxide, although smell is severe in terms of leak risk relatively safe side. If considering immediate mass production there is no better choice than this that talk.

One door refrigerator without freezer.

Height almost close to 3 meters, actually storage place not even half.

Sound loudly noisy, even opening the door no light or whatever, no tray for storing items of course, no rubber packing so door also has to hang a lock, outer surface just the metal quality as is rough square box.

But this no matter how looking was an unrealistic work like lost technology advancing three or four steps ahead of early 20th century technology!

Of course as much as the refrigerator draft I first sketched was actively reflected if not implementing this neatly it was troublesome.

I really don't know at all what the very early type refrigerator looked like exactly! So boldly ignored historical accuracy or whatever and the result reflecting the original appearance as is.

So Mr. Edison boasting America's technology victory, honestly wasn't wrong words.

If not these two people how touch a refrigerator in 1901?

And well, such impressions besides the two developers employees who participated in research, spies, and Morgan who received the content would have held the same.

Surely even took photos? That probability also couldn't ignore. Now in America Kodak Brownie No.1 camera would be spreading at a scary speed.

"On earth how far leaked? The core technology? The cooling technology patent agreement concluded in Germany last time?"

"That point is okay. Anxious so didn't even put the drawing in the safe and I always slept holding in my arms. Of course some parts other researchers designed, so through several tests principle degree might have flowed out, but core technology they won't know. Didn't expect, didn't know it would come out this dirty. Our mistake of letting guard down!"

"It's okay. Anyway even if the original design drawing leaked, in America they won't be able to properly mass produce."

"How confirm that...?"

"Ah, a few days ago sold the plug technology patent at an expensive price. Fortunate, right?"

"Sold the plug...?"

"Yes."

"Why? On earth? To whom?!"

"Questions please do slowly. Ears hurt."

Right before the Strand Magazine November issue comes out, Mr. Royce to prepare additional research funds agreed to sell half the shares as soon as the plug socket patent right is issued by government fast track.

Anyway the judgment that holding that continuously would be useless I persuaded.

Plug becomes the core and indispensable base technology of all modern home appliances ahead.

Modularity and ease of maintenance, safety and convenience, efficient power supply.

Rather than dangerously pulling wires from the distribution board and directly connecting to the motor using plug is a hundred times better.

And that all scholars who inspected the plug technology agreed with expressions as if breath would stop.

But to do so there was the problem that all products first have to be unified in the direction of applying plug, and me persuading factory owners one by one was also a bothersome matter.

But just leaving it, considerable time would take until this standard is standardized but my patience wasn't that long.

So sold. To whom? Among them to the people who couldn't hold breath the most.

"20% shares to the Royal Society of the British Empire, 15% shares to the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, 25% to the London Electric Supply Corporation. Okay, right? Even copying the refrigerator drawing as is one has to fight first with British academic institutions. Ah for reference applied for patent right in America over a month ago. No matter how they hurry there they won't be able to escape this trap."

For reference I didn't know any of those organizations. Roughly showing to Sir Samuel he connected on his own.

Cooking recipes can't file patents. But technology can. And in modern society there's exactly one good thing. Connections.

If only properly riding connections the time to obtain patents is half of half of half of half of usual. Just a society where backing does everything.

When I was just an ordinary chef the patent office also lukewarmly acted, but as soon as obtaining the Department of Food Innovation position completely processed at super speed. Probably the same telegram didn't go to America either.

And this was also the reason I requested them to immediately run to Britain if something problem arises.

If fighting in America I can't beat those people.

As already mentioned my fame and backing don't reach America. Moreover just an ordinary individual and no power to even do trade war with America over patent friction degree.

And accumulating this much fame also took only half a year so honestly American people might not even know who I am? People who have to wait over a month to receive the Strand Magazine November issue?

But if in my area Britain, at the current point honestly a provocation one snorts at.

"By any chance are there more patent rights to sort there? Cooling technology or whatever, exactly which part received the attack?"

"No documents have come over yet. As you said in the telegram received the threat letter and hurriedly fled holding only the prototype. It was sound of if not handing over the technology forcibly robbing the product. So can't even know what was stolen. Sorry, couldn't catch the traitor either. The only clue currently holding is these photos."

In the photos Mr. Tesla handed sand molds for producing the prototype were full photographed.

"Hmm... With only this don't know. Then roughly make documents looking existent within a few days."

"What? What to do with that?"

"Do provisional patent registration."

"Provisional registration...?"

"Yes, the countermeasure one can do immediately that is the fastest and best. The rest time will solve, and that side will also try to grasp the situation so responding then won't be late."

This was a strategy heard from financier Mr. Henry.

The Paris Convention concluded in 1883.

The first international treaty protecting the right to apply for patents on the same invention simultaneously in several countries, and recognizing the priority of each country's patents.

According to the treaty the inventor could claim priority and apply for patents in other member countries within 12 months after the first application.

That is, if passing 'fake patent' first in Britain before the patent passes in America, on the American side one absolutely can't claim patent rights with the same content that talk!

If insisting that would be a matter of trade friction arising!

Although abusing but so what? That side first dirty and meanly rushed, right?

"W-wait a moment! Is that really possible? Morgan also can't do such thing with patents! Jean-Paul Durand, wasn't your job an ordinary chef...?"

"Ah, this is disappointing. Does an ordinary chef operate such a restaurant? And connecting Mr. Royce was also me. Sir Crookes also who did he first look for? Wasn't it me?"

"That... Hmm, so. Thinking about it here also a lot changed? Electric products first seen here and there... That isn't using an ultra-small motor?!"

"Yes, well it's called grinder... First seeing."

"That's the grinder talked about in the telegram?! Smaller than my imagination?!"

Somehow late information delivery seemed not only other Americans.

Well there was a limit to content one can convey with only telegram, and we usually only conveyed news like technical problems or difficulties, not mentioning detailed recent situation.

Moreover until meeting these two people, I wasn't a figure that famous in London to that point. At that time didn't even establish the peanut butter company.

So these two people, actually not believing and running because I'll solve, but close to finding a refuge briefly escaping Morgan's field of view.

Coming to my restaurant holding the refrigerator was also because I was the first planner of the plan and an intimate related party, after this they might tear the refrigerator again and hide somewhere quiet.

I sighed. Trust and belief this lacking!

That was so, they didn't even know the fact that I'll soon have the knighthood investiture!

As soon as getting off at the port didn't even catch a hotel and immediately ran that said!

"Follow me. I'll let you experience. I'll show what happened to me. Then well even without explaining the patent part you'll accept I think."

"Experience...? The word is somehow meaningful?"

"Jean, in the meantime did you cause some fun matter? Talking as if obtaining the patent right that takes over 1 year to issue even tomorrow, something suspicious! Haha, by any chance did you even have an interview with your country's king His Majesty? Then the New York Times would have also greatly reported!"

Interview? Interview?!

Only interview?! I'm a body that even obtained samgyeopsal His Majesty Edward VII directly grilled?!

Moreover a week ago, summoned alone again and intensively interrogated who to make the dance partner again!

This time not even subtly! Forcibly pushed Princess Alice to me!

Last time going to Colonel Ludwig's house and solving the incident seemed to have scored greatly.

Actually completely expressed, but a kind of visit interview.

Anyway I decided to pull these two people out to the street.

"Teacher Durand, going out?"

Mr. Morris waiting in the room near the restaurant front door ran out.

Mr. Tesla and Mr. Edison looked at him and me alternately with puzzled eyes. A person looking like a butler speaking like a coachman so surprising is natural.

Understand. Because the coachman was correct.

"Uh... Thinking of briefly taking the guests and getting some air, is there a place to recommend today?"

"Wait a moment. Can I recite the invitation list?"

"Yes."

Mr. Morris took out a long paper.

He lately carried invitation letters that came to me organized as such lists.

Immediately couldn't obtain a secretary but didn't want to idle a smart person so just entrusted letter organization. Thanks to that put down one worry.

Fortunately Mr. Morris also seemed to have done similar work at Sir Samuel's mansion.

Early November, party season continuing without rest until the second week.

For indirectly experiencing the life of a London influencer literally the optimal time.