Charles Augustus Cheever was an American industrialist and inventor. He was affiliated with Alexander Graham Bell and Thomas Edison improving their inventions. He patented 100 of these improvements, most related to the telephone. Cheever formed the Telephone Company of New York and constructed the first telephone line in New York City. He was disabled early in his life and was an invalid.
Charles A. Cheever
The Okonite Company on Park Row
Medal of Progress awarded to The Telephone Company of New York at the American Institute Fair in New York City in 1877. This was the first such medal ever awarded to a telephone company.
An electric fire engine is a fire engine that is powered by an electric motor—essentially, an electric vehicle designed and used for firefighting. Electric fire engines were first proposed in the 19th century to replace the steam pumpers used for firefighting. The electric motor was claimed to be simpler, cleaner, and faster in operation, would save money, and require less maintenance than the steam fire engine. Though production of most electric-powered fire engines ended in the early 20th century when they were superseded by diesel-powered fire engines, they have seen a revival in the 21st century, with fire engine manufacturers such as Rosenbauer and Pierce Manufacturing designing their own electric fire engines.
A Rosenbauer RT electric fire engine used by the Ennepetal Feuerwehr
Electric fire engine (left) next to a typical 19th-century steam pumper fire engine of equal capacity, c. 1895
Wheeler's patented electric fire engine, the first such design
A sketch of an electric fire engine, circa 1900
