Graham Bell rings the bell
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Alexander Graham Bell
Alexander Graham Bell--the father of voice telephony--was born in 1847 in Edinburgh, Scotland. He moved to the United States, settling in Boston. Throughout his life, Bell had been interested in the education of deaf people. It was during such teaching--to Mabel whom he later married--he invented the microphone and, in 1876, his electrical speech machine which is now known as 'telephone'. News of his invention quickly spread not only throughout the country, but also throughout Europe. By 1878, Bell had set up the first telephone exchange in New Haven, Connecticut. By 1884, long distance connections were made between Boston, Massachusetts and New York City. Though Bell must have imagined great uses for his telephone untill his death in 1922, the telecommunication industry is making an impact on human life beyond anyone's imagination making it the most revolutionary technology. |
Bell's Liquid Transmitter
One of Bell's first 'telephones' was based on this Liquid Transmitter. Bell filed his patent on February 14, 1876. It was on March 10th, that his famous words "Mr. Watson---come here---I want to see you" were spoken over a telephone using a liquid transmitter. Bell's assistant Mr.Watson was the first to hear speech transmitted by a telephone. Bell was shouting in a microphone in another room as he had spilt acid on his trousers and was shouting for help. Mr.Watson had heard the shouting which had been picked up by the microphone,and transmitted through a wire to the receiver. However, the spoilt trousers were quickly forgotten as the success of the experiment dawned on them. |
Bell's Box Telephone of 1877
The first commercial telephone used by Bell was based on his patent of January 1877, and it consisted of a single transmitter/receiver placed within a retangular wooden box. One would speak into the opening in the box and then listen through the same opening. This telephone had essentially the same design as the patent drawing except for the shape, the patent drawing having round shape instead of square. Two or more of these box phones were connected in series on a line with a ground return. The first telephone line was installed in April 1877 between Charles William's electrical shop on Court Street, Boston and his home about three miles away. A month later the first rented installations were made making this line the first commercial telephone service. The box phone had no signaling device to determine incoming calls. In June of 1877, Thomas Watson devised a "thumper" that would strike the diaphram of the box phone to make a tapping sound on the receiving telephone as a signal device. This is how that made it look. |
