Transferred music from Edison's cylinders onto flat spinning discs to create the gramophone.

Before Fame

His formal schooling ended at age 14, when he graduated and went to work to help out his family.

Trivia

He also worked to improve telephones and created lightweight engines for flying machines.

Family Life

His father's friend gave him an opportunity to come to America and work. He was married to Cora Adler from 1881 until his death in 1929 and he had two sons named Henry and Oliver.

Associated With

He was fascinated by Leonardo Da Vinci's schematics of helicopters, and he worked to bring them into existence.