The Telephone: An Account of the Phenomena of Electricity, Magnetism, and Sound, as Involved in Its Action

A scientific publication written in the late 19th century. The work explores the phenomena of electricity, magnetism, and sound, particularly as they relate to the functionality and construction of the telephone. Dolbear, an inventor of the speaking telephone himself, provides detailed explanations of the fundamentals of these scientific principles and offers practical directions for making a functioning telephone device. The opening of the book presents a preface highlighting the public's growing interest in the telephone due to recent demonstrations and media coverage. Dolbear outlines his intention to clarify the complex interactions of the forces involved in telephone technology and emphasizes the necessity of understanding these phenomena. He begins his discussion by providing a historical perspective on key experiments in electricity, covering notable figures like Franklin and Volta, and progresses into describing the mechanical and electronic foundations essential to the operation of the telephone, including the fundamental aspects of sound transmission.