In the 1880s Meucci was credited with the early invention of inductive loading of telephone wires to increase long-distance signals[citation needed]. Unfortunately, serious burns from an accident, a lack of English, and poor business abilities resulted in Meucci's failing to develop his inventions commercially in America. Meucci demonstrated some sort of instrument in 1849 in Havana, Cuba, however, this may have been a variant of a string telephone that used wire.