Before the Telephone
Harmonic/Multiple Telegraph
The telegraph had been in establishment for more than 30 years when Bell began experimenting with electrical signals. The telegraph was a successful system but it was very limited to receive messages, with its dot-and dash Morse code. Bell's knowledge of sound aloud him to extend the possibility of transmitting multiple messages over one wire. Even though, the multiple telegraph was present for some time, he demonstrated his own solution based on several notes sent simultaneously on the same wire when the notes differ in pitch. [9]
Telephone
Most of Bell's work was a chain of observation which led to one another. Bell's interest in sound and communication led him to improve the telegraph, which later led to the development of the telephone. In order, to study the reception of sound vibrations, Bell created an apparatus consisting of a mouthpiece, glass, and wooden lever. The apparatus did not prove successful, so Dr. Clarence Blake (ear specialist) gave Bell a cadaver ear. Bell studied the ear and used the accumulated knowledge from the research with the ear for his telephone In 1874, while Bell was in Brantford at the Grand River he realized from the currents in the river that the any sound can be transmitted over electricity. As a result of this new discovery he sketched several pictures of a primitive telephone. During the following two years he focused in developing this new apparatus. Than on the 10th of March 1876, he spoke the famous line to his assistant: "Mr. Watson - come here - I want to see you." His work soon destroyed the reputation of the multiple telegraph, which was only able to transmit dot-and-dash system. With his success with the telephone he promoted its development in the US, establishing the Bell Telephone Co in 1877. [5][1]
|