Who was Alexander Graham Bell?

History

	Tweet	Pin It

0

by Mya Kagan (whyzz writer) >> more about the author

Ring, ring! If you’ve ever used a phone, then you have Alexander Graham Bell to thank!

Alexander Graham Bell was a historical inventor who lived from 1847-1922. His most famous invention was the telephone, although he was also very well known for his other work related to things like sounds and science. For example, he worked as a teacher of the deaf and helped deaf people learn to speak using a special system his father had invented.

Bell’s well-known assistant during much of his work was Thomas Watson. In March 1876, when Bell’s new telephone invention first transmitted the sound of his voice, it was Watson who was on the other end of the line hearing the success of their efforts! In October of that same year, the two had the first-ever two-way phone conversation from two miles apart. – History!

As with many other new inventions, the telephone was such a good idea that Alexander Graham Bell wasn’t the only person at the time working to develop it. Among the most famous of these were Antonio Meucci and Elisha Gray, whose efforts to invent the first phone coincided very closely with Bell’s and whose discoveries are also very important to acknowledge!

Can you hear me?

Did you know that you can make your very own telephone at home? It’s easy!

All you need are two empty and clean tin cans, a long piece of string, and a grown-up to help!

Have the grown-up make a small hole in the bottom of each tin can. Push one end of the string into each can through the hole and tie a knot so that the string doesn’t slip back out.

Now, stand so that you and one other person are each holding a can and the string is pulled tightly between you. Try speaking into your can and having the other person listen to theirs, and vice-verse. Viola! – Your very own homemade phone!!