ANSWER: The 555 receiver was patented in 1926 as the very first loud speaker in the world. in time for the first talking pictures in 1927. The Western Electric company commissioned their two best men Wente and Thuras to create a 'loud speaking telephone'. With no permanent magnets available this heavy object created the magnets with large copper coils. It only produced a gentle sound through a 25mm diaphragm but this was enough to drive a very large horn placed behind the theatre screen.' Loud speaking telephone' got shortened to' loud speaker' and then to' speaker' which we use today.