The Bell Telephone Company was founded by Alexander Graham Bell along
with his father-in-law Gardiner Greene Hubbard. Under Hubbard’s guidance,
the company developed the first telephones with the assistance of Thomas
Watson and by the end of 1877 was responsible for over 3,000 phones in
service under the Bell Telephone Company name. The firm grew quickly,
boasting over 10,000 phones in service by the end of 1878.

Alexander Graham Bell

 
Gardiner G. Hubbard, president and trustee
of the Bell Telephone Company