About Antonio
The Journey Unfolded...
Last year, the Antonio Meucci Global Telco Awards marked a historical moment due to the revelation of the untold narrative of Antonio Meucci, the true pioneer of Telephony.
In case you missed it, let us revisit the profound truth about Antonio’s remarkable journey, and rest assured, MoreThan160 is committed to continuing this enlightening endeavor.
The True Story of the Inventor of Telephony
A surprising revelation, isn’t it?
The Beginning
When Creativity meets Expertise
In 1830, he worked as a stage designer and technician for various theatres. Three years later, he obtained a position at the famous opera house, the Pergola Theatre in Florence. It was at that moment when young Antonio took the opportunity to put into practice his knowledge of engineering, by working as a stage technician. Life also brought him a loving wife, the costume designer Ester Mochi.
His journey seemed that it started going well. Until 1833 when Antonio Meucci was imprisoned for three months with the accusation of conspiring with the Italian unification movement. After that, he decided to immigrate with his wife to Cuba in order to make a fresh start.
As a genius, inventive and unstoppable, in 1834, he designed an acoustic pipe telephone to allow communication between the stage and the control room at the Teatro della Pergola. This type of telephone was based on the pipe telephones utilized on ships. In 1835 he became chief engineer at the Gran Teatro de Tacon in Havana. During the same period, he devised a water purification system that helped Havana residents to get clean water.
In 1849, he did it again! He explored electromedicine, using electrical impulses to treat human pain from migraines. During this invention, he designed a device that was called the “Telegrafo Parlante” or the “Teletrofono” or, in other words, the talking telegraph. That was going to be the beginning of a revolutionary invention!
On April 13, 1850, Meucci and his wife moved to the United States. Although he had to start over, a creative mind always finds a way! Meucci built a tallow candle factory which was actually the first of its kind in the US. Some wonderful years followed between 1856 and 1870 when Meucci developed more than 30 types of telephone patents based on his prototype.
Time is Money
In 1871, Meucci registered his patent of the talking telegraph. During the following years, an explosion on the ferry he used to travel on, left him with serious burns. In order to pay for his medical expenses, his wife sold most of the designs and models of the “Teletrofono”.
Meucci tried to retrieve the designs but they had already been resold. When it was time to register the designs again in order to maintain his patent, he could not financially respond. Five years later, in 1876, the young and rich Graham Bell, who had worked for a while with Antonio Meucci, used the same patent with a different name. He called it “Graphophone”. Was it a random event? The conclusion is yours!
The Truth is Revealed 152 Years Later!
It took 152 years for the truth to emerge. On June 11, 2002, the United States Congress officially recognized Antonio Meucci as the true inventor of the telephone. Last year marked the inaugural edition of the Antonio Meucci Global Telco Awards, where the Telecommunication Industry celebrated its Inventor with a unique event that rewarded innovation and excellence.
Now, as we embark on the second edition of the Awards, we invite you to join us in this continued journey of rediscovery and recognition.
This year, once again, the Telecommunication Industry will come together to honor Antonio Meucci and celebrate his legacy with another exceptional event, rewarding those who embody innovation and excellence!
