Calling inventors – The Story of Alfred Cunnington’s telephone

Museum:

Wiltshire Museum

Subject:

History, Science

Key Stage

Key Stage 2

Can you imagine being the first and only person in the UK to own an iPhone? In 1867, Alfred Cunnington designed his personal telephone based in drawings he saw in a magazine. Alfred Cunnington’s telephone connected his wine merchant business at the Old Town Hall in Devizes with his nearby home at Southgate House. Cunnington had read about Alexander Graham Bell’s invention of the telephone published in Scientific American in 1876. Using the diagrams in the article, he set about making his own version.

Learning outcomes:

  • Students will gain insight into the early stages of telephone technology, learning about Alfred Cunnington’s pioneering efforts.
  • The resource provides a springboard for introducing basic communication concepts, such as how sound travels over a distance.
  • The resource could inspire students to design and build their own simple communication devices.

 

Classroom questions and prompts:

What are some ways people communicated in the past before telephones?

Where did Alfred Cunnington learn about the telephone?

How did he use the information he found?

(After viewing the video, if applicable) What scientific principles did Amy discuss about how the telephone works?

How do you think communication has changed since Cunnington’s time?

Students can research the development of the telephone from Alexander Graham Bell’s invention to modern smartphones. They can create a timeline or presentation showcasing the key milestones in this technological evolution.

Photograph of Telephone

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