Smyrna times., 1891-02-18
Future of the Telephone.
APPROACHING EXPIRATION OF PAT
ENTs THAT CREATED A MONOPOLY.

APPROACHING EXPIRATION OF PAT
ENTs THAT CREATED A MONOPOLY.
The Electrical World offers some
pertinent suggestions regarding the
telephone monopoly. Last December
the fundamental patent on the speak
ing telephone granted in England to
Alexander Graham Bell expired, and
the Britishers are already congratula-
ting themselves on relief from what
has proved to be a very obnoxious mo-
nOpOly. Telephone rates have already
been reduced through the natural
agency of competition.
This leads to a brief consideration of
the circumstances surrounding the
principal patents that have enabled
the Bell Telephone Company to main
tain its almost absolute monopoly. The
fundamental patent was granted March
Z, 1876, just twenty-One days after the
application is filed. 1t was a remarka-
bic patent, its feature being the enor-
mOusly sweeping claim for transmit
ting vocal sounds by electrical unduIa-
tiOns. All other claims are compara-
lively unimpOrtaut.
This patent will expire in this coun-
try March, 1898, its life being quite un-
affected by the expiration of the En-
glish patent, it will be seen, therefore,
that March 7, 1898, the broad princi-
pie of telephoning WILL be thrown open
and cooperative, receiving and trans
mitting instruments can be freely man
ufactured. This seems to open up
rosy future to the unfortunates who
now have to use the telephone. but
there are other matters to be consid-
cred.
January 80, 1877, Alexander Graham
Bell took out a second patent, covering
the important features of the form of
receivers generally used. This second
patent will probably enable the ordin-
ary form of construction to be with
held from public use until January 80,
1894. Relief at this comparatively
early date, however, is not to be too
surely reckOned on, for complications
arise regarding the patents on that
part of the telephone known as the
transmitter.
Thomas A. Edison, April 80, 1873,
secured the principal patents on the
carbon transmitter They are now
controlled by the Bell Telephone Com
pany, and will not expire until April
80, 1895. While the Edison transmit
ter Is evidently successful, it has not
been generally used. The one in com
mon use was patented by Hunnings.
The American patent on this was
granted August 80. 1881, and will ex.
pire September IS, 1892. This is, how
ever, antedated by the Edison patent.
so the Bell Company will hold claim
on the carbon transmitter until April
80, 1895, when the Edison patent ex-
pres. The original form of Blake
transmitter is the subject of group oil
patents dated November 26, 1881, but
is the result of the division of an ap-
plication filed January 3, 1879, and the
entire group, patented in Englnd in
that year, will pass out of legal exis-
tence January 20, 1898.
1t will thus be seen that while the
FeceiYer becomes public property in
most of its forms in 1898, the transmit
ter patents are likely to tie up the
part of the telephone system for nearly
two years thereafter. OF course, other
modified transmitters will be found tc
operate, though perhaps it will be
weak in long distance work. So il
seems that a thoroughly successful tel.
ephOne for anything but long distance
work can be manufactured by anybody
who desires to put them on the mar.
ket after January 80, 1894
The condition of affairs has led ia
the circulation of very interesting
rumOr in telephone circles. 1t will be
remembered that Daniel Drawbaugt
became notorious as a claimant to the
carbon transmitter. His application
for patent was filed considerably later
than EdisOn's, but might be ruled to
come within the statutory Limitation.
if there was no serious opposition. Il
is, therefore, stated as a possibility thai
an effort will be made to tie up the
transmitter for another long term oi
years by establishing a legal priority
for Drawbaugh in default of an active
opposition in behalf of Edison. Through
such possible legal machination tn,
Bell Company might continue its cher.
ished monopoly on very componen
part of its telephone system.