The Telephone book : Bell, Watson, Vail, and American life, 1876-1983 Paperback – January 1, 1983

I have this book.It is a "coffee-table" book and thus lavishly illustrated. More than a mere pictorial history, it also covers the impact of the telephone upon the lives of average Americans. It was published in 1976, on the Centennial of Bell's patent of his invention of the telephone in 1876. A revised edition was published in 1983. If you're interested in the history of the telephone and its impact on the lives of average Americans, I highly recommend it.My review covers the 1976 edition.© August 2, 2014 by Fred Goodwin

This is a fascinating book for anyone with a deep interest in the history of the telephone in North America. Produced in cooperation with olde 'Ma Bell' just before the divestiture, it definitely toes the company line in regards to the achievements of the bell system - but that being said, it has lots of great photos and lots of details I hadn't read elsewhere. If you can get this book used and at a good price, I highly recommend picking it up .