Charles A. Cheever

Charles A. Cheever
Charles A. Cheever
Born	(1852-09-07)September 7, 1852 Boston, Massachusetts
Died	May 2, 1900(1900-05-02) (aged 47) New York City
Nationality	American
Occupation	Businessman and inventor
Known for	Associated with Alexander Graham Bell and Thomas Edison and improved their inventions

Charles A. Cheever (September 7, 1852 – May 2, 1900) was an American businessman and inventor. Associated with Alexander Graham Bell and Thomas Edison, he improved their inventions. He patented 100 of these improvements, most related to the telephone. Cheever formed the Telephone Company of New York and constructed the first telephone line in New York City. He was disabled early in his life and was an invalid.

Cheever was born in Boston, Massachusetts, on September 7, 1852. His parents moved to New York when he was around five years old. His father was J. H. Cheever.

Cheever was paralyzed from his waist down at an early age. As an adult he weighed only 70 pounds (32 kg) and had to be carried around by an assistant. In spite of his handicap he became a successful businessman and entrepreneur. He was a successful inventor of many items run by electricity and was able to turn them into business enterprises. He patented electric rock drills, electrical improvements to elevators, telephone appliances and electric fire engines. Of his 100 patents most were telephone improvements. Cheever was also intrigued with Edison's phonograph. He helped form the North American Phonograph Company and organized firms throughout the United States to promote Edison's advanced commercial version of it.

Cheever became acquainted with Bell when his invention of the telephone was in its infancy and considered nothing but a novelty item. He was intrigued with it. Cheever went about figuring out how Bell's invention could be useful and beneficial. He constructed the first telephone line in New York City and was its owner. That connection showed potential of greater uses for the telephone. Cheever then experimented with a line from his office in the Tribune Building with one to the American Institute Fair to demonstrate commercial usage. He showed the quality of the sound traveling on telephone lines to be good by demonstrating the playing of the band at the Fair reproduced at his office. He organized and formed the Telephone Company of New York.