Article: Inventor of the Answering Machine Dies.

By Dan Benson, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News

Apr. 5--Millions of people around the world will begin their day today by checking for voice mail messages. Each one owes a debt of gratitude to Milwaukee native Joseph James Zimmermann Jr., who invented the answering machine in 1948.

Zimmermann died Wednesday at age 92.

"It's hard to imagine life without it," said John Lundstrom, curator of American and military history at the Milwaukee Public Museum.

"He was an inventive genius, no doubt about it. He was one of the most important people in Milwaukee's history, and one who certainly affected the lives ...

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