The Telephone and Its Several Inventors: A History - Softcover

Coe, Lewis

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0786426098 ISBN 13: 9780786426096

Publisher: McFarland, 2006

Synopsis

On March 7, 1876, the U.S. Patent Office issued to a young inventor named Alexander Graham Bell what is arguably the most valuable patent ever: entitled “improvements in telegraphy,” in truth it secured for Bell the basic principles involved in a telephone. On the same day that Bell filed his patent application, a caveat (a preliminary patent document) was filed by Elisha Gray. This coincidence sparked the first of many debates over whether Bell was the true inventor of the telephone. In the early 1860s Johann Phillipp Reis developed a version of the instrument, but his claims against Bell were hampered by the bungling of his lawyers in demonstrating his instrument in court. This work is a first look at the many men who developed the telephone and an examination of their claims against Bell’s patent. A lay description of the phone is also provided, as well as a history of the development of the telephone system.

About this title

About the Author

Lewis Coe of Crown Point, Indiana, is also the author of Wireless Radio (1996) and The Telegraph (1993).

Review

“History buffs will find the book of interest. All levels” --Choice

“Labor of love...exceptionally well-researched...fine balance of technical and...historical information...grips the reader’s interest.” --Inventor’s Digest

“Excellent.” --Dots and Dashes

About this edition

• Publisher: McFarland
• Publication date: 2006
• ISBN 10: 0786426098
• ISBN 13: 9780786426096
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 240