The Telephone's Beginning
The telephone's basic idea, that sounds could conveyed to a distance by a distended wire, was demonstrated by Robert Hook in 1667. Johaun Philipp Reis, a German scientist and professor in the institute at Friedrichsdorf. April 25, 1861, Reis exhibited his telephone at Frankfort. This contained all the essential features of the modern telephone, but as its commercial value was not at all comprehended, little attention was paid to it. Reis, after trying in vain to arouse the interest of scientists in his discovery, died in 1874, without having reaped any advantage from it, and there is no doubt that his death was hastened by the distress of mind caused by his continual rebuffs(Random Facts About the History of the Telephone).
While all of this was happening in Germany and in Europe, Professor Elisha Gray and Professor Alexander Graham Bell were working to develop a more practical version of the telephone in America.
While all of this was happening in Germany and in Europe, Professor Elisha Gray and Professor Alexander Graham Bell were working to develop a more practical version of the telephone in America.