The telephone, first patented in 1876 by Alexander Graham Bell, revolutionised business and social life.

Bell gained welcome publicity for his new device by demonstrating it to Queen Victoria at her residence, Osborne House, on the Isle of Wight. On the evening of 14 January 1878, contact was made with nearby Osborne Cottage, and also with Cowes, Southampton and London. Numerous technical improvements enhanced the range and clarity of the instrument, and within a decade there were over 250,000 telephone sets in use worldwide.

Inv. 1967-431