American Speaking Telephone Co.
Western Union subsidiary set up to compete with Bell
Successor:
American Bell Telephone
The American Speaking Telephone Co. was a subsidiary of Western Union that sold telephones to compete with the Bell Telephone Company. These telephones were largely built on patents from Thomas Edison, George Phelps and Elisha Gray to avoid infringing on Bell's patents. Bell however won a patent infringement suit against Western Union, and as a result, Bell merged with the American Speaking Telephone Company to become the American Bell Telephone Company in 1880.
Phones (3)
Events (2)
Western Union creates the American Speaking Telephone Co.
1877
National Bell merges with American Speaking Tel. Co. to become American Bell Telephone Co.
1880