With 134 phonograph-related patents to his credit, Thomas Edison was unquestionably the dominant inventor in the field — but he was far from alone. The Patent History of the Phonograph 1877-1912 lists no fewer than 1,028 optimistic inventors who no doubt all envisioned future glory and fortunes in their patented improvements on the phonograph. If only it were that simple. Louis Devineau was among this army of now forgotten inventors, a middle-aged man with dreams of quitting his job as a clerk and becoming a wealthy inventor.