Essay Sample about History of Telephone

On March 7th, 1876, communication in America was changed forever. The patent for the very first telephone was granted to Alexander Graham Bell. Bell, amongst other scientists, had been trying to find a more efficient and better way to communicate. They began by trying to discover a way to send more than one transmission at once. People had been trying to find a solution to this problem until Bell had finally solved it. Then once that had been achieved, there was a need for more. They wanted to send voices from one end to another, eventually being called the telephone.

The beginning of the telephone had been known as a harmonic telegraph, something that allowed multiple messages to be sent over a wire at the same time(!). Bell and his assistant Thomas Watson created the harmonic telegraph, but not without struggles. They had to create a membrane that transmitted signals, something that would be used in phones. After studying a cadaver ear given to Bell, they had eventually created a simple receiver that could turn electricity into sound. This receiver would eventually become the key piece in creating something that would change the world forever. 

What most people don’t know about the invention of the telephone was the fact that other scientists had started to race to create and patent this invention. Scientists like Antonio Meucci and Elisha Gray were working on prototypes as well. These people aren’t even mentioned where the telephone is involved. This is because it is believed that Bell was the first person to race to the patent office and be granted the patent for it. Therefore, he is given a majority of the credit for this apparatus. A few days after getting the patent Bell made the first-ever phone call to his assistant Watson saying, “Mr. Watson, come here. I want you.” (!) This was one of the most impactful moments in history, changing the conversation and human interaction for the rest of our lives.

After its creation, the telephone became very big, and improvements were made each time it jumped in popularity. For example, switchboards were installed and used frequently to connect callers. (!) Then, it continued to grow and improve into the small box that every person has in their hand or pocket every day. From the beginning of this modernization to where we are now, it would not have started without the invention of the telephone.

The development of the telephone was a long journey, but quite surprisingly not difficult. One of the biggest problems, as stated earlier, was the membrane that was used to transmit signals between point A and point B. The real struggle came after Bell had gotten the patent for the telephone and inevitably became incredibly famous. Once the patent had gotten out and Bell’s telephone company established, came a grueling legal battle with many other scientists who claimed that they had created telephone prototypes before Bell had patented it. There were claims from many scientists but the one that stood out the most was from Meucci.

It was said that Meucci had the patent idea in the office but could not pay for it for almost two years. (!) Other than him, some believed that their ideas had gotten leaked to Bell, and he had taken advantage of the discoveries that others had made. In the end, his company had to face over 500 court challenges over 20 years of battling each other in the legal setting before finally getting credit for his patent. After all the legal issues, Bell was able to spread his invention across America and reimagine human connection for many years to come.

The production of the telephone forever changed the world as people knew it in the 19th century. People would have to ride on horseback for miles on end to deliver messages that may be outdated by the time they were received, letters were limited based on how much a person could write on their papers, and there was no way for one to hear about news from afar. This way of life had been changed once the telephone was created and installed in almost every household in America. One of the major ways life had been changed was that people could communicate with one another instantly.

All one had to do was dial a phone number and there on the other end of the line was whoever they had intended to call. Maybe a servant of someone, a close relative, or even someone who lived across the country. Thomas Edison stated that the telephone, “annihilated time and space and brought the human family in closer touch.” (!) Instant communication was a huge development in America at that time and it allowed for conversations to be more enjoyable. Instead of waiting 3-6 months for a letter to arrive from the countryside, there was the phone, ready and available for someone to talk to. Gone were the days of having to wait to hear news from faraway relatives and in came the now very well-known days of being able to hear their voice with the touch of a button. 

Continuing, along with speedier communication, information was now passed along more accurately. As mentioned before, most messages and announcements were sent long distances by telegraph or by letters. Not many people could access the telegraph so often people would have to send letters to others. Delivery of these may take longer than expected and the information in the letters becomes outdated or miscommunicated. Also, the return of the letter was as long if not longer and the information continues to be outdated and no longer necessary. If there was an urgent need for someone there was no way to get a hold of someone instantly. It may be a little different for people who lived closer together because they could just find the other, however, for people who lived far distances, communication that way was harder. The phone made conversations not only instant but easier to understand and a clearer way to talk about news and events. 

Finally, the phone was helped America economically because communication became more efficient. Businesses wouldn’t have to send people far and wide to deliver messages to clients or interested consumers. Also, they wouldn’t have to use the telegraph, which oftentimes could lead to miscommunications. By having a telephone, businesses wouldn’t have to spend money on sending letters or trust the telegraph to send the right message. Conversations became more efficient and easier to have with the telephone. The advancements made from this invention not only impacted America’s society but also the economy.

When one considers the beginning of the telephone, one wouldn’t think of what it has turned into today. Just because a scientist many years ago created a way to communicate instantly with the people around us, we now have a way to talk to anyone anywhere in the world. This all began with this 19th-century invention that created a ripple effect that is still felt today. The continued improvements and advances made a once simple machine has become a central part of American culture specifically.