WORK-SAVING DEVICES

Evening Star, Issue 19839, 12 April 1928, Page 5

WORK-SAVING DEVICES

EXHIBITED AT CHICAGO An automatic typewriter, somewhafc like a player piano in its operation, and which, it was claimed, does more work than three typists, was exhibited at the National Business Show at Chicago. Four of those machines, which, oiiu girl can supervise, do more work than twelve individual typists, it was asserted. A letter is written on a record, just as on a music roll, and this roll is then inserted in a cabinet. An operator merely presses a button to start an electric current, and the typewriters that arc connected commence to write out the letter, if any inserts iaro needed the machine can bo stopped while the words are written in on the typewriter, and the current can be turned on again to write the rest automatically, it was explained. Another; device (says ‘ Christian Science Monitor ’) was a machine that multiplies,adds, subtracts, and divides simultane-, ously. In three seconds and with a, single stroke of a lever this calculator solves intricate problems, it is asserted. An automatic cheque-writing machine that writes a cheque, makes a record of it, and then releases the cheque, and at any time can reveal the total amount of .all cheques written, was also presented at the show. For convenience of restaurants and theatre owners and other business men a drumshaped receptacle built outside a bank to receive deposits after banking hours from those who have a key to the device was shown. A chute leads from the receptacle to the hank. Aluminium furniture composed another exhibit.' Of interest to the woman shopper was a small metal plate to be carried by her. After selecting merchandise she passes the plate to the clerk, who passes it clown on an order boon page, thereby imprinting the shopper’s name, address, and charge account number. This speeds up sales and tends to discourage fraud, it was said.