Frank Lambert (inventor)
Frank Lambert | |
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Born | Francois Lambert June 13, 1851 Lyon, France |
Died | 1937 (aged 85–86) |
Occupation | Inventor |
Signature | |
Francois Lambert (13 June 1851 – 1937) was a
Work
Lambert was born in
Twelve years after arriving in the U.S., Lambert, along with a friend John Thomson, founded The Thomson Water Meter Co. to manufacture their design of a water meter.[4][6]
In 1878 or 1879[7] he built his own version of Edison's sound recording device, the Phonograph, and recorded himself calling out the hours for an Experimental Talking Clock he was developing for the Ansonia Clock Company in Connecticut.[8][9] However, the attempts to make a commercially viable "phonograph clock" proved unsuccessful.[10]
After being restored by Aaron Cramer,
Lambert completed his main invention, a typewriter on which the keyboard consists of one single piece.[3] He sold it to the Gramophone Co. Ltd., for which he received US$20,000. Lambert's water meter company was sold outright to the Neptune Water Meter Co.[6] and Lambert received $800,000.[citation needed]
During his career he registered over 30 patents for, among other things, typewriters, water meters, a voting machine, and a double-decked car.[13]
References
- ^ "Frank Lambert - Talking Clock". University of Pennsylvania. Retrieved 26 June 2017.
- ^ ISBN 9780252093203.
- ^ a b Howard, Martin. "Antique Typewriters". Archived from the original on 18 January 2017. Retrieved 25 June 2017.
- ^ ISBN 9781847991522.
- ^ "Letters Patent number 741251" (PDF). 28 April 1902. Retrieved 26 June 2017.
- ^ a b "Lambert Water Meter". Smithsonian, National Museum of American History. Retrieved 26 June 2017.
- ISBN 0415971209.
- ^ ISBN 9781446484548.
- ^ a b Schoenherr, Steven (2004). "Early Talking Machines After Edison". Audio Engineering Society. Retrieved 26 June 2017.
- ^ "Ansonia Clock Company History". Antique Ansonia Clocks. 2010. Archived from the original on 12 August 2015. Retrieved 26 June 2017.
- ^ Liebert, Peter (2006). "A Memorial Tribute to Aaron Cramer". Retrieved 26 June 2017.
- ^ Rosen, Jody (27 March 2008). "Researchers Play Tune Recorded Before Edison". New York Times. Retrieved 26 June 2017.
- ^ "Lambert Patents". Retrieved 26 June 2017.