History's Best Selling Products of 1876

Hats off to 1876! Few items commanded as much fanfare and nationwide excitement as Telephone. Alongside sensationally popular hits like First Telephone Call and The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, consumers eagerly embraced the swell Yankee ingenuity and home-front craftsmanship. Pioneering outfits from industry leaders like Alexander Graham Bell and Mark Twain set the standard for quality, producing celebrated items that swept main street from coast to coast as genuine top-flight hits. Browse our definitive retrospective below to rediscover the genuine articles of the era.

1. Telephone

   Released in 1876 by Alexander Graham Bell

   March 7, 1876, stands as a pivotal date in the history of technology and human connection. On this day, the United States Patent Office issued U.S. Patent 174,465 to a 29-year-old inventor named Alexander Graham Bell for his invention described as 'Improvements in Telegraphy.' This patent, often considered the most valuable single patent ever issued, secured Bell's legal claim to the invention of the telephone. The issuance was the culmination of a frantic race against other inventors, most notably Elisha Gray, whose own design was filed just hours after Bell's. While Bell's first successful voice transmission would happen three days later, securing this patent on March 7th provided the legal and commercial foundation for the entire telecommunications industry that would soon follow.

2. First Telephone Call

   Released in 1876 by Alexander Graham Bell

   March 10, 1876, marks the pivotal moment when the telephone transformed from a theoretical concept into a proven reality. In his Boston laboratory, just three days after being awarded U.S. Patent 174,465, Alexander Graham Bell conducted a landmark experiment. Speaking into his new 'liquid transmitter' device, he uttered the now-famous words, 'Mr. Watson—Come here—I want to see you.' His assistant, Thomas Watson, located in an adjoining room, heard the message clearly through the receiver. This event was not a public release but the first successful and unambiguous transmission of articulate speech over a wire, proving the invention's capability and heralding the dawn of the telecommunications age.

3. The Adventures of Tom Sawyer

   Released in 1876 by Mark Twain, Chatto & Windus, American Publishing Company

   Released in 1876, 'The Adventures of Tom Sawyer' emerged as a pivotal work in American literature, marking a departure from traditional moralistic children's tales and embracing a vibrant, realistic portrayal of boyhood. Its publication coincided with the nation's Centennial, offering a nostalgic look at a bygone era just as America reflected on its first century. This novel not only introduced readers to the iconic mischief and moral growth of its titular character but also served as a cultural touchstone, capturing the imagination of a generation and influencing countless authors who sought to define the American experience through youthful eyes. It provided a powerful narrative that resonated deeply with a society grappling with rapid change and a longing for simpler times, effectively shaping the contours of American identity and literary expression for decades to come.