Book Your Free Consultation

Rockin’ Patent – “Generating And Distributing Music”

  • Rockin’ Patent®: US Patent No. 580,035
  • Filed: 4 February 1897
  • In the name of: Thaddeus Cahill (inventor)
  • Title: Art Of And Apparatus For Generating And Distributing Music Electronically
  • What’s claimed: “In an electrical music-generating system, the method of producing composite musical sounds electrically, which consists in (a) producing by induction, in different closed circuits, electric-current undulations corresponding to different component sounds of the composite musical sound desired; (b) synthesizing in a conductor resultant undulations out of the undulations produced, as above mentioned, in a plurality of closed circuits; and (c) translating the built-up electrical undulations into comprise aerial vibrations of similar wave form.”
  • Why this patent rocks: A remarkable patent and invention, which relates to the telharmonium (also known as the dynamophone).  The patent itself appears to include 175 independent claims, which would attract enormous excess claims fees nowadays.  You can read more about the telharmonium on Wikipedia here and in a fascinating article on Atlas Obscura titled “The telharmonium Was The Spotify Of 1906” here.  To quote directly from the Altas Obscura article:
    • “Invented by lawyer Thaddeus Cahill and initially known as the dynamophone, the telharmonium made use of telephone networks to transmit music from a central hub in midtown Manhattan to restaurants, hotels, and homes around the city. Subscribers could pick up their phone, ask the operator to connect them to the telharmonium, and the wires of their phone line would be linked with the wires emerging from the telharmonium station. The electrically generated tunes would then stream from their phone receiver, which was fitted with a large paper funnel to help pump up the volume. (The electric amplifier had not yet been invented.)”

If you’re a patent-savvy music tech business looking for patent help, get in touch with Russell IP here!

The information above is for general interest and information only and does not constitute legal advice.

Share the Post:

Related Posts

A photograph of buildings in Albury, central Surrey, taken by Russell IP Founder and Director Iain Russell

Showcasing More Surrey IP

Showcasing More Surrey IP Russell IP is based in Surrey, part of South East England. Although Russell IP works with companies all over the world, we have numerous local clients whose innovations we help protect. The area is home to many businesses, designers, entrepreneurs and others who develop technologies in lots of different technical fields. This blog post looks at some Surrey- and Hampshire-based companies and their patent portfolios. The picture above was taken by Russell IP Founder and Director Iain Russell in the village of Albury. Xcience Xcience is a clean-tech engineering consultancy, with a particular focus on energy-storage

Read More
Russell IP Founder and Director Iain Russell and the other speakers on the AI in Patent Attorney Office Practice panel discussion at CIPA Congress 2025: AI in IP

Russell IP at CIPA Congress 2025: AI and IP

Russell IP at CIPA Congress 2025: AI and IP The Chartered Institute of Patent Attorneys (CIPA) hosted its annual Congress on 9 October 2025. This year’s meeting took place in Bristol, and the theme was “IP & AI”. The event included sessions on a wide range of AI-related topics with an intellectual property (IP) focus, including: The disruptive impact of AI; AI and the function of the Intellectual Property Office; and Drafting international patent applications for inventions with AI features. CIPA Congress 2025 was fully booked, with delegates attending from many different backgrounds and areas of IP practice. Among the

Read More

Gain the Competitive Edge

Let's see how we can help protect your IP

Get in touch using the contact form or the phone number below to see how we can protect your IP.

There’s no obligation to sign up for anything.

Book Your Free Consultation