Tech History Made on January 21, 1901

On this day in 1901 Elisha Gray died knowing he almost went down in history as the inventor of the telephone.

February 14, 1876: Both Gray and Alexander Graham Bell file patents. The only difference is that Gray's is a caveat, sort of a notice of intent to file a patent. After Gray hears of Bell's complete patent he gives up his caveat allowing Bell to move forward. Gray also invented the teleautograph. It does exactly what the name implies, transmitting handwriting via a telegraph system. The Teleautograph Corp. is now part of a little company we today call Xerox. He also invented the telephote which could transmits pictures on a closed circuit television system. Until researching tech for today we had never heard of Elisha Gray. Perhaps if things had gone a little differently back in 1876 the Beastie Boys song would go, "Like Ma Gray, I've got the ill communication."