The Edison Telephone Company of London Limited was floated on 2 August 1879 with its headquarters and an exchange at 6 Lombard Street, although the exchange was then transferred exchange to 11 Queen Victoria Street. It brought a legal case against The Telephone Company regarding the infringement of patent rights although this case was ultimately withdrawn due to the merger of these companies on 13 May 1880 to form The United Telephone Company.
In September 1879 representatives of the Edison Telephone Company went to Manchester and gave a practical demonstration by fitting instruments fitted at either end of an existing telegraph wire between Manchester and Dinting, a distance of 13 miles. Exchanges were then opened in Manchester on behalf of the company.
From the guide to the Records created and used by the Edison Telephone Company of London Limited, 1879-1880, (BT Archives)
