QI | Who Invented The Telephone?

29 November: On this day in 1877, Alexander Graham Bell demonstrateed the photograph for the first time.

From QI Series A, Episode 11 - 'Arts'
With Bill Bailey, Richard E. Grant, Linda Smith and Alan Davies

[nandep]

Just a side note: There's a telephone museum in Cle Elum, Washington, USA. They'd appreciate the visits and support, if any QI fans and friends happen to be in that area (central WA). Thank you. :)

[markworden]

The more I read about Meucci, the more it sounds (to me) that Alan Davies was right -- Meucci's patent caveat essentially describes a mechanism little different that two tin cans and a taut wire between them. Bells "invention" described the electrical workings of the phone in some exacting detail, and why it worked as it did, which I don't believe Meucci ever did, even after Bell's patent was recognized...

[johnnunn]

Meucci may well have invented the first telephone but it was pretty hopeless until the second one came along.

[Rathkryn]

Meucci developed a voice communication device, but there was no mention of electromagnetic transmission of the voice as there was in Bell's device.

[Observer]

Alexander Graham Kowalski, the first Telephone Pole!

[Qldgarbo]

Alexander Graham Bell is my great great great grandfather not a lie

[Jotari]

"November 29: On this day in 1877, Alexander Graham Bell demonstrateed the photograph for the first time." Eh, surely that should say Telephone instead of Photograph right? An even more assuredly, demonstrated should only be spelled with two Es total.

[dielaughing]

Wardrobe were having a shocker that day

[MiguelPerez-jone]

What about the german inventor Philipp Reis, who even coined the word "telephone"?

[davidmaxwaterman]

What did Alan say to 'Bell'?

[coferre]

wish i was a teacher so i could use the “and what do we say to alexander graham bell? get fucked” as a call and response anti plagiarism message

[Professicchio]

This is a bit of info everyone who's watched The Godfather pt.3 should know.

[howardsend]

So glad Davies mimes death ... never would have known what it was otherwise.

[gregory]

The more you look into almost any modern invention, it is not clear who invented it, and it is not a straightforward line or a single person who is responsible.

[abergethirty]

No, he didn't invent shit. He described a very basic idea of the telephone without any of the details that would make it work. It's like describing a Hover Car and patenting a flying car without telling its power source, the propellsion or any pesky details of an actual flying car.

[marthaanderson]

he demonstrated the "PHOTOGRAPH" ???? this day???

[MegaDonGallo]

'On this day in 1877, Alexander Graham Bell demonstrateed the photograph for the first time'

I fear you have "demonstrateed" a distinct misrepresentation of reality

[millomweb]

What is a 'telephone' ? Does a speaking tube not count ?

[Observer]

One day there will be a telephone in every town, home, room, pocket and we'll have what become known as "Butt Calls".
...
But...
...
Butt Calls are actually software glitches. I've had many calls from cell phones sitting on a table across the room.
...
The software gets lonely and calls someone!

[DavidAndersen]

He lost the right to claim his talking telegram by not being able to renew his "caveat", QI. Check your facts!