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

"The Telephone" by A. E. (Amos Emerson) Dolbear, is a book intending to clarify and explain the scientific concepts behind the newly emerging telephone technology. With the rising public attention on the telephone fueled by demonstrations and news, Dolbear breaks down the complex interplay of electricity, magnetism, and sound that make the telephone work. He offers both an overview of the experiments and the historical context of electricity with figures like Franklin and Volta, and looks at the instrument's mechanics. Using his expertise as an inventor of the speaking telephone, the author gives an explanation of the ideas related to how it works and how to build one.