ABG Part 2 - 1877 - 1886

By Bookclub

  • Alec files and receives new patent application

    covering the refinements in transmitter and receiver
    -got this done in with uncharacteristic focus
  • Period: to

    Alec demonstrates the telephone as "shows"

    -gets great press

  • The business world takes note of Alec's invention

    realizes benefit to setting up 3-way conversations
    '-with this, Hubbard moves into high gear to lease phones

  • Hubbard draws up legal documents for Bell Telephone Company

    shareholders = Hubbard, Alec, Tom Watson, and Thomas Sanders

  • Alec sells part of his interest in British patent to William Reynolds

    Reynolds - Rhode Island cotton broker
  • Period: to

    phone service went from 200 to 1300 in 2 months

  • Alec (30) and Mabel (19) get married at Hubbard home

    Hubbards agree to wedding date due to commercial success
    Alec gave Mabel 30% of Bell Telephone - all but 10 of his shares as wedding present

  • Mabel meets Eliza for the first time

    Alec and Mabel visit Brantford following honeymoon in Niagara Falls

  • Alec and Mabel return home so Alec can attend first shareholders meeting

  • Period: to

    Mabel and Alec go to Scotland-end up staying a year in London

    Mabel is pregnant and can't travel
    Set up residence in London

  • Mabel and Alec move into their new home in London

  • Alec invited to demonstrated the telephone to Queen (Victoria)

    Demonstration went well, except he touched her hand to get her attention'

  • Baby arrives right on time - Elsie

    Elsie (Scottish variant of Eliza) May (for Mabel and birth month)
    -Mabel quickly adjusted to motherhood, her mother impressed
    -Alec worried about the baby's hearing, but blew a loud blast and the baby "startled"

  • Alec and family dock in Quebec City -- Watson there to greet them

    -Alec knew Watson was there to get him to Boston for preliminary testimony for suit against Western Union
    -however, Alec suffering acute stomach pains

  • Alec dictates statement from hospital bed

    statement arrives in DC just before the deadline

  • Alec leaves hospital to join Mabel and Elisa in Boston

    staying at Mary Blanchford's (spinster first cousin)
  • Period: to

    Bell Telephone Co lawsuit against Western Union

    -Elisha Gray gives his evidence
    -3 days later, Alec had a letter written by Gray March 1877 congratulating Bell on his invention where he claimed no part
    -Alec testifies…majestic bearing, steady gaze, nearly photographic memory
    -Western Union decided the risks of pursuing the case were too great (wants to settle)

  • Bell Telephone stock soars

    Court settlement a huge victory…
    -Bell a monopoly and 14 years to go on the patent
    -access to established agencies and customers
    -transferred at cost, telephones, lines, switchboards, patent rights to Bell Company
    -lawsuit an expensive blow to Western Union

  • Mabel's sister (called Sister)marries Hungarian actor

  • Baby #2 arrives .. Daisy

  • Melville and Eliza move to DC

    sometime in 1881 moved after 11 years in Canada
    to be close to Alec and grandchildren (

  • Alec makes presentation on the spectrophone

    -like the photophone no practical application

  • Pres Garfield shot…bullet lodged in his back

  • Alec takes apparatus experiment to locate metal using sound

    leaves Mabel - pregnant with 3rd child in Boston (escaping DC heatwave)

  • Mable gave birth premature to Edward (lived only a few hours)

    Alec started working on a mechanical device administering artificial respiration
    -the "vacuum jacket" precursor to the "iron lung"

  • Pres Garfield dies

    -bullet was too deep for Alec's apparatus to detect
    -bullet not the cause of death…bullet in harmlessly soft tissue
    -cause of death antisepsis (fingers/germs in the wound)
  • Period: to

    Bells arrive in London and spend 6 month touring Europe

    -Rome, Nice, Paris, London…first of many "Grand Tours" they would take

  • Alec becomes US citizen after living in the US for over 10 years

    -Mabel said Alec was irritatingly proud of his new status
    -Alec said I'm a citizen because I chose to be one

  • Paper submitted on deafness and inheritance (heredity)

    Alec still is (always will) be interested in deafness
    -submitted to National Academy of Sciences
    -with an fortunate title that outraged the deaf community
    -implied deaf people an inferior species

  • Mabel 7 months pregnant - not feeling well

    doc says it's a just cold
    that evening Mabel miscarries

  • Melville proposes Alec and family to join him exploring Newfoundland

    -Hubbard agrees because of coal mines at Glace Bay and wanted Alec to take a look
    -Alec agrees read euphoric description about Bras d'Or Lake
  • Period: to

    Melville proposes Alec and family to join him exploring Newfoundland

    -Hubbard agrees because of coal mines at Glace Bay and wanted Alec to take a look
    -Alec agrees read euphoric description about Bras d'Or Lake
    -after ship wreck experience did visit coal mine and explore Nova Scotia
    -AND fall in love with Bras 'Or Lake to return every summer and die there

  • Pan-Electric Co persuaded US gvt to file suit against Bell patents

    Another lawsuit claiming patent was won dishonestly and Alec a charlatan
    -1888 lawsuit ended... Alec emerged unscathed from this lawsuit

  • knock at door ,,,6 year old Helen Keller with her father

    -Alec could never turn away a deaf child
    -eye surgeon in B'more recommended the Keller's consult with Alec who focused on educating the deaf