MODERN EQUIPMENT

Dominion, Volume 28, Issue 167, 11 April 1935, Page 15

MODERN EQUIPMENT

At Company’s Head Office Up-to-date equipment is provided in all the departments at the Chief Office of the Prudential Assurance Company in London. The electric lighting and power supply is obtained from the company’s own generating plant, which has recently been modernised, and comprises generators of the latest type. The capacity of the plant is 1000 k.w., and its output in 1933 amounted to no less than 50T,200 ‘units. There are nearly 7000 electric lighting points, and over 500 electric motors are used for various services. Six medium-speed and twelve highspeed electric lifts of the latest type are installed. The building is heated by hot water obtained from five oilfired boilers and pumped by electrically-

driven pumps through the network of radiators throughout the oflices. There are 40 telephone lines to the office and an automatic exchange for internal calls with about 500 extensions. The latest addressing machines print 6000 envelopes per hour, and machines are in use which seal and stamp the envelopes at the rate of 250 per minute. Some 60,000 communications are despatched daily, and the annual posttage expenditure is about £40,000. In the courtyard stands a beautiful War Memorial, scupltured by Mr. F. V,Blundstone, F.R.8.5., F.Z.S. lu the Great War, 9161 of the staff enrolled and went on active service. Seven hundred and ninety were killed, and their names are inscribed on the bronze scrolls at the base of the memorial. The welfare of the staff at the chief office is carefuly considered, and luncheon and tea-rooms, under the most hygienic conditions, are provided. For the leisure moments of the women members there are rest and recreation rooms, and, for general use, a library, rifle range, gymnasium, and fußlyequipped theatre.