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On This Day in Telephone History February 5TH 1909

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On This Day in Telephone History February 5TH 1909, Belgian chemist Leo Baekeland announced the creation of Bakelite, the World’s first synthetic plastic. Bakelite is a thermosetting compound of phenol formaldehyde resin and wood saw dust. In 1927, the American Catalin Corporation of New York City acquired the patents for Bakelite. The company modified the Bakelite formula and created a multi-color thermosetting polymer which they trademarked as Catalin.

On This Day in Telephone History February 5TH 1909, Belgian chemist Leo Baekeland announced the creation of Bakelite, the World’s first synthetic plastic. Bakelite is a thermosetting compound of phenol formaldehyde resin and wood saw dust. In 1927, the American Catalin Corporation of New York City acquired the patents for Bakelite. The company modified the … Read more

On This Day in Telephone History February 3rd 1969

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On This Day in Telephone History February 3RD 1969 A successful six month trial of the Bell System's Picturephone service began. Installed between the Pittsburgh and New York offices of Westinghouse Electric Corporation, forty Model II Picturephone sets were evaluated. Subsequently, AT&T announced that commercial service would be offered in mid-1970 in and between Pittsburgh and Manhattan on a limited basis.

On This Day in Telephone History February 3RD 1969 A successful six month trial of the Bell System’s Picturephone Service began. Installed between the Pittsburgh and New York offices of Westinghouse Electric Corporation, forty Model II Picturephone sets were evaluated. Subsequently, AT&T announced that commercial service would be offered in mid-1970 in and between Pittsburgh … Read more

On This Day in Telephone History February 2ND 1960

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On This Day in Telephone History February 2ND 1960 US Air Force’s first ICBM steered by Bell Labs’ Command Guidance System. the Air Force’s first guided test flight of the Titan I launched. The space guidance was steered by Bell Labs’ Command Guidance System. The ground guidance for the Titan was the UNIVAC ATHENA computer. Again we see Western Electric's transistors in space.

On This Day in Telephone History February 2ND 1960 US Air Force’s first ICBM steered by Bell Labs’ Command Guidance System. the Air Force’s first guided test flight of the Titan I launched. The space guidance was steered by Bell Labs’ Command Guidance System. The ground guidance for the Titan was the UNIVAC ATHENA computer. … Read more

On This Day in Telephone History February 1ST 1956

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On This Day in Telephone History On February 1ST 1956 AT&T executed the largest single Direct Distance Dialing cutover to date. 350,000 telephones in 53 New York company central offices were switched simultaneously. The cutover itself is a complex operation, with a large force of telephone men working with split-second timing on a series of operations carefully planned, tested and rehearsed.

On This Day in Telephone History On February 1ST 1956 AT&T executed the Largest Single Direct Distance Dialing Cutover to date. 350,000 telephones in 53 New York company central offices were switched simultaneously. The cutover itself is a complex operation, with a large force of telephone men working with split-second timing on a series of … Read more

On This Day in Telephone History January 31ST 1958

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On This Day in Telephone History January 31ST 1958, the United States’ first satellite, Explorer 1, was launched from Cape Canaveral by the U.S. Army Ballistic Missile Agency. Explorer 1’s radio transmitters were manufactured using Western Electric transistors. As well as being the first U.S. satellite, Explorer 1 was also the first satellite to carry science instruments – one of which discovered the van Allen radiation belts which circle the Earth. Dr. James A. van Allen designed and built that instrument on Explorer 1.

On This Day in Telephone History January 31ST 1958, the United States’ First Satellite, Explorer 1, was launched from Cape Canaveral by the U.S. Army Ballistic Missile Agency. Explorer 1’s radio transmitters were manufactured using Western Electric Transistors. As well as being the first U.S. satellite, Explorer 1 was also the first satellite to carry … Read more

On This Day In Telephone History January 30TH 1877

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On This Day In Telephone History January 30TH 1877, U. S. Patent No. 186,787, the second fundamental telephone patent, was issued to Alexander Graham Bell. It covered important mechanical features of apparatus. Also on January 30TH, in 1894, the second fundamental patent for the telephone expires. Independent telephone companies and independent manufacturing companies were established. Stromberg-Carlson in 1894 and Kellogg Switchboard & Supply Company in 1897.

On This Day In Telephone History January 30TH 1877, U. S. Patent No. 186,787, the Second Fundamental Telephone Patent, was issued to Alexander Graham Bell. It covered important mechanical features of apparatus. Also on January 30TH, in 1894, the second fundamental patent for the telephone expires. Independent telephone companies and independent manufacturing companies were established. … Read more

On This Day In Telephone History January 28TH 1878

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On This Day In Telephone History January 28TH, 1878, George Coy, Herrick P. Frost, and Walter Lewis launched the District Telephone Company of New Haven. This was World 's first commercial telephone exchange. It was located in a rented storefront office of the Boardman Building at the corner of Chapel and State Streets in New Haven, CT. Upon opening for business, the District Telephone Company had 21 subscribers. At the time, telephone service cost $1.50 per month. Amongst the first stores to sign up for the exchange were the New Haven Flour Co., New Haven Folding Chair Co. and the American Tea Co. Coy, Frost and Lewis were among the first private homes connected to the exchange.

On This Day In Telephone History January 28TH, 1878, George Coy, Herrick P. Frost, and Walter Lewis launched the District Telephone Company of New Haven. This was World ‘s First Commercial Telephone Exchange. It was located in a rented storefront office of the Boardman Building at the corner of Chapel and State Streets in New … Read more