MACHINE TELEGRAPHY

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 304, 17 September 1921, Page 8

MACHINE TELEGRAPHY

A SUCCESSFUL EXPERIMENT IMPORTANT LINES TO BE EQUIPPED A queer-looking telegram, consisting of narrow printed slips, pasted on a form, was in the hands of the PostmasterGeneral (Hon. J. G. Coates) when a Dominion reporter called upon him yesterday. The message read: — This is the first message passed over the Now Zealand telegraph linos by means of machine-printing telegraph, apparatus. Whilst this message is passing, trials have proved that it is possible io have eeven other messages on the one wire, three more going to Wellington nnd four going from Wellington to Christchurch. In about a month’s time I expect Io be in & position to hand over this apparatus for practical work, handling commercial and Press messages. The next circuit to he equipped with this apparatus “ill be one of the Auckland-Wellington circuits.

The message, which came from Christchurch to Wellington, was tigned by the chief telegraph engineer (Mr. E. A. Shrimpton), who brought some mechanical telegraphing plant back to New Zealand with him when he returned from his recent visit to Britain and America. The operator in Christchurch used a special machine that punched holes in n strip of paper, the position of the holes indicating the letters. Then tho perforated strip was run through the telegraph machine, which operated a receiving machine in Wellington. The receiving machine automatically delivered the message pripted on a long strip of paper, which was then cut into suitable lengths and pasted on to the form. This apparatus, as Mr. Shrimpton explained in his report, increased greatly (he efficiency of the telegraph wires. Half a dozen operators may be employed transcribing telegrams into the perforated script required by the machine. The machine will then send the messages over the wire at high sneed, and the receiving machine will deliver them printed and almost ready for delivery.