She-Oak burled wood from the Edison & Ford Winter Estate

She-Oak burled wood from the Edison & Ford Winter Estate

All blanks will come with one COA per blank. COAs are 4" x 6" card stock with silver foil embossed COA seal.

Most blanks are cut as they are ordered.

Blank Tube Size Descriptions:

• Pen blanks are 3/4" sq
• Knife Scale blocks are 6" x 1-1/2" x 1"
• Ring blanks are 1-1/2" sq x 1/2"

Edison first visited southwest Florida and purchased the property to build a vacation home. Completed in 1886 and later named "Seminole Lodge", this home served as a winter retreat and place of relaxation until Edison's death in 1931. The Edison family enjoyed their home, hosting such guests as Henry Ford, and Harvey Firestone. Edison's good friend, Henry Ford, purchased the adjoining property, "The Mangoes" from Robert Smith of New York in 1916. Ford's craftsman style bungalow was built in 1911 by Smith.

 

In 1927, Edison, Ford, and Firestone formed the “Edison Botanic Research Corporation” to further their common interest of developing an independent source of rubber. The combined estates have 1700 plants and 400 species from six continents. Many of these were planted by the “Titans of Industry” themselves. Some of these plants were used to conduct experiments toward the common goal of self-sufficient rubber production.

 

In 1947, Mrs. Mina Edison deeded the Edison property to the City of Fort Myers in memory of her husband for the enjoyment of the public. It was opened for public tours soon after. The adjacent Ford winter estate was sold after Ford’s death in 1947, resold in 1988, and opened for public tours in 1990.

 

The Edison and Ford Winter Estates contain a historical museum and 21-acre botanical garden on the adjacent sites of the winter homes of Thomas Edison and Henry Ford. Both Edison and Ford estates along the Caloosahatchee River in southwestern Florida have been added to the National Register of Historical Places.