Located on a large corner property sits an old Colonial at 420 Tompkins Avenue Staten Island, The Garibaldi-Meucci Museum. Owned by the Order of Sons of Italy. This blog will be dedicated to Antonio Meucci "The father of Inventing the Telephone.
Who invented the telephone?
A) Alexander Graham Bell
B) Antonio Meucci
If you choose A you probably know what 99% of the public knows. But, if you choose B You are correct!
On June 11, 2002The House of Representatives, U.S., Resolved, "That it is the sense of the House of Representatives that the life and achievements of Antonio Meucci should be recognized, and his work in the invention of the telephone should be acknowledged."
Here is a sketch of Meucci's "electro magnetic telephone" experiment .
Antonio Meucci was born in Florence Italy in 1808 and immigrated to the United States in 1850 to, Staten Island. Twenty years Before Alexander Graham Bell, Meucci created the electro magnetic telephone.Meucci did file a patent for the electro magnetic telephone in 1871-1872 and 1873, but the patent expired after Meucci was in a major boat accident on the Staten Island Ferry. While riding the ferry from Manhattan to Staten Island a boiler exploded and Meucci was infermed for six months. When Meucci was released from the hospital he did not have the funds to renew the patent. While hospitalized his wife sold Meucci's telephone models and her family jewels just to make ends meet. Meucci submits his plans for the invention to the President of the District Telegraph Company who promised to assist with tests & models. Bell shared a lab with Meucci. The papers were mysteriously lost and days later Bell applies for his patent- 1876.
Picture of Antonio Meucci
An Italian who immigrated to the United States at the age of 42 more than likely did not speak English well. He studied chemical & mechanical engineering in Italy at the Florence Academy of Fine Arts. The Electro magnetic telephone was one of a few items he invented including: Water purification system, tea and coffee filter system, electric train- the first model of a train to run on battery power, Human petrification process, manufacturing methods for candles, galvanic battery, loudspeaker - for public address system.
Meucci was denied his rightful place in American history until The House of Representatives did Resolve that Antonio Meucci's invention of the telephone should be recognized. Meucci was a brilliant Italian inventor and his invention was in use for five years before Alexander Graham Bell applied for the telephone patent.
Photo of me standing next to a rocking chair made by Antonio and his music organ at the Garibaldi-Meucci Museum. www.garibaldimeuccimuseum.org
Concetta PepenellaRE/MAX Metro 718-979-3000 ext 125
http://www.pepenella.com
