WIRELESS NEWS

Gisborne Times, Volume LXV, Issue 10391, 7 May 1927, Page 3

WIRELESS NEWS

NEW USES FOR LOUD SPEAKERS.

Extensions in the use of valve amplifiers designed for wireless reception, and adapted first for the use of public speakers and later for many other uses, is having an important effect on the development of signalling apparatus on ships. Ihe standard lorm of ship’s telegraph, operated by the movement of a pointer over a dial on the bridge to control .similar pointers on other portions of the vessel, is steadily being replaced by a microphone and loud speaker system. The motor ship Carnarvon Castle, the second largest motorslnp ever constructed, has recently been fitted throughout with docking order equipment. This consists of a microphone accessible to the officer on duty. Ifc operates loud speakers in all portions of the vessel to which orders have to he sent. The use of these instruments for giving orders to the crew, and to shore hands during docking operations, has facilitated 1 greatlv the work of handling the ship. The electrical appliance, it is stated, is more reliable than mechanical telegraphs, and also makes possible more complete control of operations than is possible with a telegraph'. The docking order equipment has .associated with it a very complete concert repeater, which reproduces on loud speakers selections by the ship’s Rand, or any other music, in all parts of the; world. Another interesting loud speaker which lias just been designed is known as the electro-megaphone. This is a valve amplifier and loud speaker designed to give an unusually strong output- of sound. It is specially useful in ships’ engine rooms and ether places where there is considerable noise. < More than 1000 sets of this equipment have recently been purchased by the Royal Navy.