would make speech go across the wire.  He had the basic idea of the telephone.  When Alexander shared his idea with Mr. Sanders and Mr. Hubbard, they didn't think the telephone would be of any use, and coaxed him to focus on the multiple telegraph.  But Alexander received encouragement from someone important; Joseph Henry, one of the world's leading physicists.  Dr. Henry was very impressed with Alexander's telephone idea.  He thought the telephone would be a better thing to work on instead of the multiple telegraph.  Alexander liked the feedback, however he continued to work on the multiple telegraph.

            Most nights ended in disappointment, but on June 2, 1875, Watson sent vibration from one room, and Bell received it from another room.  After what had happened, Bell was sure speech could be sent.  The telephone was now on its way. 
 
         Watson and Bell took the telephone idea and made it a product.  It took time, hard work and patience.  Bell and Watson experimented all summer and had set aside the multiple telegraph.  Alexander and Tom could now send messages over the phone, however nothing was understood on the other end.  Since it was still unclear, they made another transmitter.  This transmitter was made with a wire that connected to a metal cup that was filled with diluted sulfuric acid.  It was now the 10th of March in 1876.  Tom got the telephone ready to test.  He picked up the receiver and placed it to his ear.  Moments later, the first telephone message had been sent.

           Alexander Graham Bell's telephone has over the years changed into a cell phone and into a handless phone.  But you know how Alexander's curiosity, perseverance, patience and problem solving gave the world a whole new way to communicate.  If Alexander were alive today, I think he would find different ways to communicate still.  But tragically, Alexander died on  August 2nd, 1922 from natural causes.  Bell, at only twenty-nine years old, found that this invention would truly change the world. 

Dunn, Andrew.  Alexander Graham Bell.  New                    York, Bookwright Press, 1991. 

Quiri, Patricia.  Alexander Graham Bell.  New York, Franklin Watts, 1991.



    Research and Web Page by Anisa