He invented the first telephone receiver with a permanent magnet in 1865, 11 years before Alexander Graham Bell patented his model.

The June 18, 1881, edition of Scientific American reported: [...] had he been observant of patent office formalities, it is possible that the speaking telephone, now so widely credited to Mr. Bell would be garnered among his own laurels.

[9] In April 1902, American Wireless petitioned Congress to extend the 1886 patent by ten years, but was unsuccessful, so it duly expired on October 4, 1903.

[citation needed] He also invented the opeidoscope (an instrument for visualizing vibration of sound waves, using a mirror mounted on a membrane) and a system of incandescent lighting.

[3] In 2008, Kent Biffle of the Dallas Morning News reported receiving newspaper clippings from a local lawyer and historian on the subject of UFO sightings in Stephenville, Texas.

[12] Apparently in 1897, widespread newspaper reports of a cigar-shaped flying object started to circulate in the Midwest and Southwest.

[13][14] Responding to sightings previously reported in the Morning News, on April 17, 1897, one respected Erath County farmer, C.L.

McIlhany discovered such a craft had landed on his property, and reported two human operators, a pilot and an engineer, who gave their names as "S.E.