Reis, Johann Philipp
Reis, Johann Philipp
Born Jan. 7, 1834, in Gelnhausen; died Jan. 14, 1874, in Friedrichsdorf, near Homburg. German inventor.
Reis taught physics at the Gamier Institute in Friedrichsdorf beginning in 1858. In 1861 he read a report to the Physical Society of Frankfurt am Main on his wired device, which he called “telephone,” for the electric transmission of sounds over a distance. Reis’ device transmitted tone satisfactorily but greatly distorted the quality of the sound; as a result, it did not become widely used.