The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1900-02-04
Telephone Model
Wichita Man Made Elisha
Gray's First instrument.

O~-@Io-~~~-O~--~~O00~-~~c
1t mas never been told before that Col.
W. E. Huffman of South Lawrence ave-
nue. here, once was mathematical phiios
optical instrument maker in Milwaukee.
and was well known all over the world
BY scientific men. Col Huffman made the
first experiment with Elisha Gray in
transmitting vocal sound over a telephone
wire and also made the first model for
Mr.. Gray
Col Huffman was engaged in the prac-
tice OF his profession as mathematical
philosophical instrument maker at Mil
waukee along in 1870 or therea5outs and
in his factory was made the first model
OF the Eishay Bell telephone used today.
Gray & Bartlett were engaged in a lot Of
experiments and manufacturing galv2nic
Instruments Of various kinds at Chicago
Through c. H Haskins, now OF New
York City. then manager or general super
intendent Of the Chicago Northwestern
telegraph system. heard OF Mr.. Huffman
at Milwaukee They communicated with
him, Offering him a partnership. which
Mr. Huffman declined One day Elisha
Gray came to Mr. Huffman and told him
his idea about an instrument for trans
hitting vocal sounds. asking him If he
could build model Of such an instru-
ment. OF course it was purely sDecuia-
tive and experimental matter. but they
soon got together" and Mr.. Huffman
made an instrument very much resenb-
ling the telephone now in use. The model
was never changed except in a slight
manner. Grey had the thing patented,
but found out soon after another party
named Bel had a similar contrivauce
patented. Gray and Bell compromised
and began the manufacture Of one Of the
greatest inventions Of the age.
Gray was always experimenting The
telephone was suggested to him by his
little boy taking a bath. The waves on
the surface striking against the sides of
the tub suggested to him the idea OF
transmitting sound a distance on the
waves OF air causing vibrations. Gray
and Mr. Huffman made many expert
merts of course, before they succeeded in
getting the plan to work With c. II.
Haskins. they made the first experiment
on a telegraph wire between Milwaukee
and St Paul. They disconnected the
wires from the telegraph instruments.
and connected their own contrivance,
using the regular batteries. They had a
man at St. Paul draw a bow over a violin
and the sound was distinctly heard by the
trio Of experimentors at Milwaukee. OF
course they were elated over their sue
cess and many other experiments were
made and thus the telephone was born.
Col Huffman worked and planned with
many inventions of those times which
have brought the greatest fruits He
built the first model of the Densmore
typewriter At the time % the Greeley
north pole expedition in charge of Col
Howgate Of the regular army, Mr.. HUT
man planned and manufactured all tbs
electrical apparatus and appliances USED
In that expedition. including portable
machine used for sending messages enc
hundred miles. which did great service u
the explorers He also furnished to the
government sun dials used at Forts Aber
| combie Sill Randall ard Smelling, all o
which were then under General Hancock
department He has built ship chrome
meters for many of the larger ships sail
ing the ocean and many mile of railroad
was surveyed by the levels and other in
| struments used by the civil engineers
| who constituted the great advance guard
Of builders Of the Santa Fe road in Kan
sas. and this road up till four years ag'
and perhaps at the present time are still
using instruments bearing the name o
| W z. Huffman.