Joseph John O'Connell, 1st, was an electrical engineer and inventor. He worked for the Chicago Telephone Company (which began as the Chicago Bell Telephone, Co. in 1878 ) in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. He had many inventions including the circuit breaker and the coin return. He also created the "invisible wire" which was the first time more than one telephone conversation could occur on the same wire. Reference to some additional inventions are mentioned in Angus Hibbard's autobiography, Hello- Goodbye including an electric lamp as a signal in a burglar-alarm operated by the telephone company in 1886.
O'Connell's inventions include:
Telephone exchange apparatus, US Patent No. 417,271, dated Dec 17, 1889Testing apparatus for telephone exchange switches, US Patent No. 420,091, patented January 28, 1890Telephone-exchange apparatus, US Patent No. 430,747, dated June 24, 1890Telephone-exchange key board apparatus, US Patent No. 430,748, dated June 24, 1890.Metallic circuit test and time signal for telephone exchanges, US Patent No. 454,016, dated June 9, 1891Telephone switching apparatus and circuit, US Patent No. 533,015, dated January 22, 1894Switch and circuit for telephone exchanges, US Patent No. 515,531, dated Feb 27, 1894Signaling apparatus for telephone exchange circuits, US Patent No. 587,226, dated July 30, 1895Telephone exchange apparatus, US Patent No. 544,901, dated Aug 20,1895Signaling circuit, US Patent No. 555,707, dated Mar 3, 1896 (reissued Oct 20, 1897)Telephone trunk circuit, US Patent No. 587,226, dated July 27, 1897Signaling apparatus for telephone switchboards, US Patent No.652,977, dated July 3, 1900Apparatus for telephone switchboards, US patent No. 645,758, dated July 31, 1900Calling apparatus for party telephone-lines, US patent No. 647,515, dated May 21, 1901Coin collector for telephone toll lines, US Patent No. 704,268, dated July 8, 1902Cable terminal, US Patent No. 727, 829, dated May 12, 1903Telephone exchange system, US Patent No. 730,291, dated June 9, 1903Busy test apparatus for telephone switchboards, US Patent No. 736,002, dated Aug 11, 1903Earth or ground wire attachment, US Patent No. 762,341, dated June 14, 1904Apparatus for amplifying or reinforcing telephone currents, US Patent No, 760,143, dated May 17, 1904Grandson, Joseph John O'Connell 3rd, was a sculptor, print maker, photographer, artist-in-residence and teacher at CSB/SJU from 1962-1995.
