Electronic Musical Instruments 1870-1990
Invention: The Musical Telegraph
or Harmonic Telegraph
Inventor: Elisha Gray
Year of Invention: 1876
Country of Origin: USA
When Gray accidentally discovered he could control sound using a primitive electromagnetic circuit, he invented a basic single note oscillator.
The unit's oscillations were broadcast over telephone lines, although later versions included the addition of a simple loudspeaker.
I don't believe any recordings were made of this peculiar "instrument", although it would most certainly produce an interesting timbre.
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