Alfred Vail
American machinists and inventorWikipedia
7
MENTIONS
3
EPISODES
3
PODCASTS
Search complete. 7 mentions across 3 episodes found for "Alfred Vail".
Sep 16, 2026
Hannah FryHOST
I know, I agree
Michael StevensHOST
And I think that Morse himself knew that this was something serious, because the very first telegraphically sent message was sent by Samuel Morse in 1844 to his assistant, Alfred Vail, and all Morse wrote was, "What hath God wrought?"
Hannah FryHOST
[gasps] What a guy.
Hannah FryHOST
That's incredible
Paul ShannonNARRATOR
Study, read, and finish it, and get a mechanic, a man who can make a workmanlike finished machine, and study.
Paul ShannonNARRATOR
[instrumental music] Morse found an assistant, a man named Alfred Vail, who was very enthusiastic about the telegraph.
Paul ShannonNARRATOR
With his help, the telegraph began to take shape, but there were problems.
Paul ShannonNARRATOR
And so after much work and improvement, Morse and Professor Leonard Gale one day sought the advice of Professor Henry.
speaker_5VOICE_ACTOR
Hmm.
speaker_5VOICE_ACTOR
Uh, perhaps if you strung the wire overhead-
Paul ShannonNARRATOR
We thought of overhead wires, but Alfred Vail, my assistant, thought they would be too dangerous.
Paul ShannonNARRATOR
The wires might come together in the wind and-
speaker_8VOICE_ACTOR
A man who can make a workmanlike finished machine and study.
Paul ShannonNARRATOR
Morse found an assistant, a man named Alfred Vail, who was very enthusiastic about the telegraph.
Paul ShannonNARRATOR
With his help, the telegraph began to take shape.
Paul ShannonNARRATOR
But there were problems.
speaker_9VOICE_ACTOR
Perhaps if you strung the wire overhead...
speaker_9VOICE_ACTOR
We
speaker_11VOICE_ACTOR
thought of overhead wires, but Alfred Vail, my assistant, thought they would be too dangerous.
speaker_11VOICE_ACTOR
The wires might come together in the wind and...