Alexander Graham Bell, continuing his experiments in…

Alexander Graham Bell, continuing his experiments in Brantford, has brought home a working model of his telephone.

On August 3, 1876, from the telegraph office in Mount Pleasant five miles (eight kilometers) away from Brantford, Bell sends a tentative telegram indicating that he is ready.

With curious onlookers packed into the office as witnesses, faint voices are heard replying.

The following night, he amazes guests as well as his family when a message is received at the Bell home from Brantford, four miles (six kilometers) distant along an improvised wire strung up along telegraph lines and fences, and laid through a tunnel.

This time, guests at the household distinctly hear people in Brantford reading and singing.

These experiments clearly prove that the telephone can work over long distances.

Bell and his partners, Hubbard and Sanders, offer to sell the patent outright to Western Union for one hundred thousand dolllars.

The president of Western Union balks, countering that the telephone is nothing but a toy.

Two years later, he will tell colleagues that if he could get the patent for twenty-five million dollars million he would consider it a bargain, but by then, the Bell company will no longer want to sell the patent.

Bell's investors will become millionaires, while he will fare well from residuals and at one point will have assets of nearly one million dollars.