idea similar to that of Bourseul's. Bell saw in the vibrating disk a
resemblance to the drum of the human ear. In imagination he beheld "two
iron disks, or ear drums, far apart and connected by an electrified
wire, catching vibrations of sound at one end and reproducing them at
the other." With this conception in mind he went to work to construct an
apparatus that would actually catch the sounds of the voice and
reproduce them at a distance. Bell, like Morse, was without means to
conduct his experiments, but friends came to his aid and furnished him
with the necessary money and by 1876 his labors had resulted in making a
machine that would carry the human voice; he had invented the telephone.
At first the telephone was only a toy and would operate at only short
distances, but as improvements were made the distances grew greater and
greater until at last one could talk in Boston and be heard in Denver,
or talk in New York and be heard in London. The telephone grew rapidly
into favor as a means of communication and in a short time it was used
more than the telegraph. It is estimated that in the entire world about
ten billion conversations are held over the telephone in the course of a
single year.
[Illustration: FIG. 13.--PROFESSOR ALEXANDER GRAHAM BELL SPEAKING OVER
THE FIRST LONG DISTANCE TELEPHONE BETWEEN NEW YORK AND CHICAGO.]
As wonderful as the telephone was it was quickly followed by an
invention even more wonderful. Almost as soon as men had thoroughly
mastered the art of sending messages by the aid of wires they set about
trying to find a way by which messages could be sent long distances
without any wires at all. In 1889, Heinrich Hertz, a German scientist,
showed that electric waves could be sent out in all directions just as
light waves go out in all directions. He also showed how these waves
might be produced and how they might be detected or caught as they
passed through space. In 1896, William Marconi, an Italian electrician,
making use of the facts discovered by Hertz, sent a message a distance
of 300 feet without the use of wires. This was the first _wireless
telegraph_. Marconi continued his experiments, sending wireless messages
between places further and further apart, and by 1911 he was able to
signal without cables across the Atlantic Ocean.
[Illustration: FIG. 14.--A WIRELESS TELEGRAPH STATION.]
And now it seems that the wireless telegraph is to be followed by an
invention still more wonderful. Men are now working upon a _wireless
telephone_. Already it is possible to talk without the aid of wires
between places so far apart as Newark and Philadelphia, and many
inventors believe that it is only a matter of time when the wireless
telephone will be used side by side with the wireless telegraph.
FOOTNOTES:
[21] In the payment of the postage no stamps were as yet used. Indeed
the postage stamp is a late invention. Postage stamps were not used in
England until the year 1840, while in the United States they were not
regularly used until 1847.
[22] In 1840, the English government following the recommendations of
Sir Rowland Hill, adopted throughout the United Kingdom a uniform rate
of one penny for letters not exceeding half an ounce in weight, and
after this cheap postage became the rule in all countries.
[23] The verb telegraph means to write at a distance afar off.
[24] As there are only 24 letters in the Greek alphabet, the last group
was one letter short, but this did not interfere with the working of the
system.
[25] Just as the word telegraph means to "write afar off," so the word
telephone means to "sound afar off."
INDEX
A
Aerial messages, 228.
Aerial telegraphy, 229-233.
African loom, 115.
Alfred the Great, 196.
Alphabet, 208-211.
Alphabetical Code, 229, 236.
Amphora, 193.
Anacharsis, 170.
Anchor, 169, 170.
Arch, 135, 137.
Arc-light, 36.
Argand, 34.
Arkwright, 119.
Atrium, 16.
Automobile, 161.
Axle, 147.
B
Balance-wheel (of a watch), 199.
Bamboo dwelling, 128.
Basket weaving, 110.
Batten (of loom), 115.
Beam (of plow), 75, 80.
Bell, Alexander Graham, 239.
Bellows, 43, 47.
Bessemer, Sir Henry, 51.
"Black room," 16.
Blast-furnace, 46-52.
Block-book, 219.
BOAT, history of, 166-186.
Boiling, 15.
Bolting (flour), 107.
BOOK, history of, 203-221.
Bourseul's telephone, 239.
Branca's engine, 58, 71.
Brazier, 18.
Bresnier, 163, 164.
Bronze, 38-40.
Bronze Age, 38.
Burning glass, 9.
C
Cable, Atlantic, 238.
Calamus, 213.
Candles, 30-32, 190.
Canoe, 168.
Capital (of column), 133.
Car, electric, 161.
CARRIAGE, history of, 144-165.
Cart, 147-151.
Cast iron, 47.
Cave dwellings, 125.
Chappe, Claude, 231.
Charcoal, 42, 48, 49.
Charlemagne's clock, 196.
Chariots, 151-152.
_Charlotte Dundas_, 182.
Chemical matches, 9.
Chilcoot loom, 113.
Chimneys, 21.
China, 175, 191.
Clepsydra, 193-195.
_Clermont, the_, 183.
CLOCK, history of, 187-202.
Cliff dwellings, 125.
Coach, 153.
Coke, 49.
Cologne, cathedral, 138.
Colonial architecture, 141.
Columns, 131, 132.
Compass, mariner's, 175.
Complete harvester, 95.
Condenser, 69.
Cooking, 15, 19.
Corinthian column, 133.
Cradle (for scythe), 86.
Cradle scythe, 87.
Cugnot's steam-engine, 156.
Cutter (for reaper), 90, 92.
D
Darby, Abraham, 49.
Deck (of a boat), 172.
De Vick, Henry, 197.
Digging-stick, 74.
Doric column, 132.
Drag, 147.
Dudley, Dud, 49.
Dutch plow, 79.
E
Edison, Thomas, 37.
Egypt (ancient), 76, 85, 128, 151, 153, 208, 211, 222.
Electric car, 161.
Electric light, 36.
Electric stove, 27.
Electric telegraph, 232-239.
Electro-magnet, 232.
Elevator architecture, 142.
England, 22, 49, 59, 89, 176, 178, 227.
Ericsson, John, 184.
Escapement, 198.
F
Faust, John, 221.
Felly, 152.
Field, Cyrus W., 238.
Firebrands, 4.
Fire-clock, 189.
Fire drill, 6.
Fireflies, 28.
Fireplace, 14, 20.
Fire signals, 228.
Fitch, John, 181.
Flying-machine, 163.
Flying shuttle, 116.
FORGE, history of, 38-53.
France, 23, 178.
Franklin, Benjamin, 233.
Friction-chemical match, 10.
Fulton, Robert, 183.
Furnaces, 25, 46.
G
Gable, 131, 136.
Galley, 171.
Gang plow, 78, 83.
Gas, 35.
Germany, 46, 221.
Gothic architecture, 137.
Gray's electric telegraph, 233.
Greeks (ancient), 18, 32, 57, 86, 131, 152, 171, 192, 215, 224.
Gutenberg, John, 221.
H
Haimault scythe, 87.
Hargreaves, 119.
Harvester, complete, 95.
Heating, 7.
Hebrews (ancient), 86, 102, 222.
Heddle, 112, 114.
Henry, Joseph, 234.
Hero's Engine, 55, 71.
Hertz, Heinrich, 241.
Hieroglyphics, 208.
Hill, Sir Rowland, 227.
Hooke, Robert, 230.
Hopper (for mill), 100.
Horse, 146.
Horseless carriage, 161.
Hot blast, 50.
HOUSE, history of, 123-147.
Hub, 151.
Hussey, Obed, 91.
Huygens, Christian, 201.
Hypocaust, 18.
I
Ideographs, 207.
Incandescent light, 37.
Industrial revolution, 119, 158.
Ionic column, 133.
Iron Age, 44-52.
IRON, history of, 41-63.
Iron plow, 81.
J
Jacquard's attachment, 122.
Jacquard, Joseph, 120.
Jefferson, Thomas, 81.
Job's plow, 75.
Jouffroy, Marquis, 178.
K
Katta, 74.
Kay, John, 116.
Keel, 169.
Knocking-stone, 97.
Koster, Laurence, 221.
Knots (for writing), 204.
L
Lake dwellings, 126.
LAMP, history of, 28-37.
Langley, Professor, 165.
Lathe (of loom), 115.
Letter, 222.
Livingstone (quoted), 99.
Llama, 145.
Locomotive, 156-161.
LOOM, history of, 109-122.
M
McCormick, Cyrus, 91.
Magnetic needle, 175.
Manuscript volumes, 217.
Marconi, William, 240.
Mariner's compass, 175.
MATCH, history of, 4-12.
Memory aids, 204.
MESSAGE, history of the, 222-241.
Message sticks, 205.
Meteoric iron, 41.
MILL, history of, 97-108.
Millstone, 100.
Mortar, 97.
Moldboards, 78, 81.
Morse, S. F. B., 235.
Moveable types, 220.
Murdock, William, 35.
N
Newbold, Charles, 82.
Newcomen, Thomas, 62.
Neilson, 49.
Newton, Sir Isaac, 156.
"Nürenburg eggs," 199.
O
Oarlock, 168.
Oersted, Professor, 233.
Ogle, Henry, 90.
Ore (iron), 41.
P
Pack (for burdens), 145.
Paddle-wheel, 183, 184.
Paper-making, 218.
Papin, Denis, 61, 178.
Papyrus, 212.
Parchment, 214.
Parsons, C. A., 71.
Pendulum, 200.
Penny postage, 227.
Percussion matches, 8.
Pergamus, king of, 214.
Pestle, 98.
Phillipides, 224.
Phoenicians, 171, 210.
Phonograms, 209.
Phosphorus matches, 11.
Picture signs, 206.
Pig iron, 47.
Piston, 62.
Plato, 194.
Pliny, 76, 89.
Pliny's plow, 77.
Plow, history of, 73-84.
Pointed arch, 137.
Polybius, 228.
Post, 222.
Postage, 227.
Postage stamps, 226.
Postal systems, 223-228.
Potter, Humphrey, 64, 69.
Power-loom, 119.
Printing, 218.
Propellers, 184.
Pueblo loom, 113.
Q
Quipu, 204.
R
Radiators, 25.
Raft, 168.
REAPER, history of, 85-96.
Richaud, 22.
Reed (of loom), 115.
Reed (for writing), 213.
Reel (for reaper), 90.
Renaissance, 139.
_Robert F. Stockton_, 186.
Roller-mill (for flour), 107.
Romans (ancient), 18, 57, 86, 134, 152, 171, 196, 215, 225.
Rudder, 169, 170, 174.
Rumsey, James, 180.
S
Safety match, 12.
Safety valve, 61.
Sail, 168.
St. Paul's (cathedral), 139.
St. Peter's (cathedral), 139.
Screw-propeller, 184.
Scythe, 86.
Scythe cradle, 88.
Self-raking reaper, 93.
Self-binding reaper, 94.
Seward, W. H. (quoted), 83.
Share (of plow), 75.
"Shay, wonderful one hoss," 153.
Shed (of cloth), 113.
Shuttle, 115, 116.
Shuttle-race, 118.
Sickle, 85.
Sledge, 147.
Smelting, 42.
Smoke, 35.
Somerset, Edward, 58.
Spinning Jenny, 119.
Spit (for cooking), 15.
Spokes, 151.
Spring (of clock), 199.
Spring (of vehicle), 155.
Stamps (postage), 226.
Steam, 54.
Steamboat, development, 177-186.
Steam-carriage, 156.
STEAM-ENGINE, history of, 54-72.
Steam-plow, 84.
Steam-turbine, 71.
Steel, 51.
Stephenson, George, 159.
Stevens, John, 184.
Stone Age, 38.
Stone dwelling, 127.
STOVE, history of, 13-27.
Strike-a-light, 8.
Sturgeon, William, 233.
Sun dial, 188.
Syllable-sounds, 208.
Symington, William, 182.
Syrian plow, 75.
T
Tapers, 33.
Telegraph, 228-239.
Telephone, 239-241.
Tiller, 173.
Tinder, 7.
Torch, 29, 31.
Tradition, 203.
Travail, 147.
Trevethick, Richard, 158, 162.
Trireme, 172.
Turbine (steam), 71.
Types, moveable, 220.
U
United States, 80, 91, 106, 178, 180.
V
Vail, Alfred, 235.
Vedas, 203.
Vienna bread, 106.
Volume, 213.
W
Walker, John, 10.
Warming pan, 17, 22.
Warp, 112.
Watches, 199.
Water-clock, 191-195.
Water-mill, 103.
Watt, James, 67, 70, 158.
Weaver-bird, 110.
Webster, Daniel, 81.
Weft, 112.
Weight-clock, 196-199.
Wheatstone, Professor, 239.
Wheel, development of, 147-151.
Wheel-barrow, 148.
Wicks, 30, 34.
Wigwams, 123.
Wireless telegraph, 241.
Wireless telephone, 241.
Wood, Jethro, 82.
Worcester, Marquis of, 58, 78, 230.
Wrought iron, 43.
Y
Yarn beam, 110.
Z
Zuni Indians, 125.
* * * * *
Transcriber's Notes:
Illustrated symbols are denoted as: [symbol: description].
Hyphenation, punctuation, and spelling standardized when a
predominant choice was available; otherwise unchanged.
Page 81: illustration captioned "FIG. 11.--DANIEL WEBSTER'S PLOW." is
referenced in Footnote 12.
Page 147: text apparently omitted after "of one piece"
Page 198: reference to "Fig. 1" is incorrect.
Index entry for "Iron, history of, 41-63" probably should read "41-53"