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THE FIRST TELEPHONE
In the 1870s, two inventors Elisha Gray and Alexander Graham Bell both independently designed devices that could transmit speech electrically (the telephone). Both men rushed their respective designs to the patent office within hours of each other; Alexander Graham Bell patented his telephone first. -
FIGURED OUT HOW TO USE THE TELEPHONE
On June 2, 1875, Alexander Graham Bell while experimenting with his technique called "harmonic telegraph" discovered he could hear sound over a wire. The sound was that of a twanging clock spring. -
BELLS GREATEST SUCCESS
Bell's greatest success was achieved on March 10, 1876, marked not only the birth of the telephone but the death of the multiple telegraph as well. The communications potential contained in his demonstration of being able to "talk with electricity" far outweighed anything that simply increasing the capability of a dot-and-dash system could imply. -
MORE AND MORE TELEPHONES
In July of 1877, the Bell Telephone Company was formed by Gardiner Hubbard. The Charles Williams shop made the first telephones under the direction of Watson, who in effect was the Research and Development Department of the company. Alexander Graham Bell opting July of 1877, the Bell Telephone Company was formed by Gardiner Hubbard. The Charles Williams shop made the first telephones under the direction of Watson, who in effect was the Research and Development Department of the company. Alexande -
BATERY FOR TELEPHONE
The common battery system, developed by Hammond V. Hayes, permitted a central battery to supply all telephones on an exchange. -
THE FIRST REGULAR TELEPHONE
The first regular telephone exchange was established in New Haven in 1878. Early telephones were leased in pairs to subscribers. The subscriber was required to put up his own line to connect with another. In 1889, Almon B. Strowger a Kansas City undertaker invented a switch that could connect one line to any of 100 lines by using relays and sliders. This switch became known as "The Strowger Switch" and was still in use in some telephone offices well over 100 years later. -
CELL PHONE
Oliver Lodge demonstrates wireless communication over a distance of 150 yards. This is the beginnings of cell phone technology. -
THE TELEPHONE SATELIITE
Telstra, the world’s first international communications satellite, was rocketed into orbit on July 10 with the collaboration between NASA and the Bell System. Telephone calls could now be "bounced" off a satellite to a switching station. -
THE TOUCH PHONE
Bell System introduces the touch tone phone. This telephone made a different beep for each number instead of counted clicks for each number
