National Republican., 1883-07-23
As to the Claims Of Priority in the Mat
ter Of Telephone Inventions.
The First Stage Of the Intricate Problem Solved After
Much Argument and Consideration,
Most OF the Disputed Points Decided i'm Fa-
vor of MIR. BeII-E1aminer's Opinion.

cases. The FIRST of these interferences, of
which there are eleven, was declared in
March, 1873, and the patent office has at vari-
Gus times since then considered them and
heard arguments upon them. The parties
originally involved were A. g. Bell, J. w.
MacDonough, L. A. Edison, +. Berliner, G.
b. Richmond, L. Gray, A. E. Dolbear, A. G.
Holcombe. O. +. Chinook, @. A. Randall, +.
Blake. J. II. Irwin, and G. NJ. Phelps. w.
l.. Voelker was made party to three of tho
cases in 1879.
Of the original parties decisions have here
tofore been rendered against Richmond,
Hocombe, Randall, Phelps, Chinook, and
Berliner.
The decision of the examiner in the re-
naming eleven cases is a voluminous docu-
ment of 348 pages of printed matter. II em-
braces, besides the findings, resume of the
cases, a history of the art of producing sounds
by means of the electric current in its appli-
cation to the telephone, a definition of the
telephone, and review of the evidence pre-
sented as to priority of invention in these
particular cases.
The several interferences are denominated
respectively as interferences A, b, @, ID, L, +,
q, l, j, l., and No. /.
The subject matter of interference A is de-
fined as "the art of transmitting and repro
ducing at a distance sonorous waves or vibra-
tions of any description which consists in.
increasing and decreasing the strength of an
electric current travorsing q circuit in such a
manner as to produce in said circuit series
of electrical waves or vibrations precisely
corresponding in their intervals of relative
amplitude to the sonorous waves which are
to be reproduced at tho receiving station or
stations, so that oral conversations or sounds
of any description can be geographically
transmitted.
With regard to this interference the exam
iner holds that the evidence shows that this
art had not been invented that is, demon
strated by any of the parties to this interfer.
ence prior to the filing Of Bells application for
a patent Feb. Ii, 1876" He also holds that
Bell was the first to disclose and publicly ex-
plain, as we'll as the first to construct and use
instruments to carry the principle into effect.
Priority of invention is accordingly awarded
TO Bell on this count. The parties TO this
interference were Bell, Gray, Edison, and
Voekor.
The subject-matter of interference Il is de-
fined as " the improvement in tho art of
transmitting vocal sounds or spoken words
Geographically, which consists in throwing
upon the line, through the medium of vary
ing resistance electric impulses corresponding
to the vibrations of a diaphragm operated by
the air produced by spoken word"
The parties to this were Bell, Gray, Edi-
son, and Voelker. The examiner holds that
while Gray was undoubtedly the first to con-
ceive of and disc the invention, as in his
caveat of Feb. IA, 1876" his failure to take
any action, amounting to completion, until
after others had demonstrated the utility de-
prives him of the right TO have it considered
rs continuous act. He holds that it is not
proved that Edison possessed q knowledge of
the art or method, or disclosed or demon
strated it prior to June %, 1876, when Bell
had reduced it to practice, and that Voelker
neither understood the principle, nor
the mode of applying it, Priority of in
vention in this instance is accordingly
awarded to Bell.
Two inventions are included in interfer-
ence G, and are thus defined First. The
transmitters consisting of the combination in
an electric circuit of diaphragm and liquid
or equivalent substance of high resistance
whereby the vibrations of the diaphragm
cause variations in the resistance of the cleo
trio circuit, and consequently of the strength
of the current travcrsing said circuit"
Second. Ina telegraph instrument oper-
ated by sound the combination with the
diaphragm of two or moro electrodes placed
in an elcctrolyt liquid, and operating to in
crease or decrease the resistance of the cleo
trio circuit by the movement derived from
the diaphragm"
The examiner holds in this case that the
facts relied upon by the parties in support of
their respective claims are the same as in in
reference b. and awards priority of inven-
dion TO Bell.
The subject matter of Interference d" is,
SIN an electro-hydro telephone the fluid hold
ing vertically adjutable tube, within which
the ends of the platinum points are i'm
mersed." The invention was claimed by
Richmond. but his claim had been rejected,
and though neither Gray nor Edison claimed
1t, the examiner awards priority of invention
to Edison, on the ground that in Edison's
exhibit water telephone" proved to have
been made as early as December, 1876 the
first embodiment of this feature is shown.
The invention embraced in Interference
Z" is defined: SIN an acoustic telegraph
Gncluding sound producers as well as repro
ducers) an armature plate consisting of a
diaphragm of iron or steel, an armature fas-
tened to a membrane diaphragm, or a nom
musical armature plate fastened ut one end),
the electromagnetic for the same. and % closed
circuit passing from the helix of such electro
magnet to the source of undulatory electric
.snergy." The parties presenting claims were
Bligs Edison, Dolbear, and Gray.
The examiner fixes the date of Bells
patent as Feb. II, 1876. lie throws out Dol
bears claim on the ground that his efforts
did not begin until August, 1876, and holds
that Gray's and Edison's claims are based
upon devices for producing rather than repro
ducing sound vibrations; that the use of the
several instruments made was occasional and
experimental only, and having been set
aside were resurrected for the sole purpose of
hepIlNluS lHS invention OF inc hrJlculhtlng
telephone of one of its important elements.
Priority of invention accordingly awarded to
Bell.
The subject matter of interference f is de-
Fl ned as follows:
First. A telephonic trapsmitter consisting
of a coil of wire, one or more magnets, and n
disk or dphragm, so arranged relative to each
other that a motion of the diaphragm shall
induce in the coil of wire an electro motive
force in virtue OF the presence of the magnet
or magnets"
"Second. The combination in ono circuit
of two or more disks or diaphragins so ar
ranged relatively to each other that if one of
the disks or diaphragins be put in motion by
the voice, by u current of air or otherwise IL
shall induce transient current of electricity
in its associated coil which current shall
actuate the other disks or diaphragins in
virtue of the coil and magnets associated
with themp
The examiner holds that Gray and Dolbear
the other parties to this interference, arc not
shown to have invented the subject matter
prior to Feb. IL, 1876 the date of Bells
patent, and awards priority of invention to
the latter.
The invention embraced in interference G
Is defined as "a telephonic receiver consist
ing of the combination in an electric circuit
OF a magnet and diaphragm supported and
arranged in close proximity thereto, whereby
sounds thrown upon the line may be pro-
duced accurately rs TO pitch and quality
The parties TO this interference were Bell,
M, a mol