THE COMING OF THE MUTOGRAPH.

Northland Age, Volume IV, Issue 46, 6 July 1908, Page 7

THE COMING OF THE MUTOGRAPH.

THE GREATEST ELECTRICAL INVENTION SINCE THE TELEPHONE. "An epoch-making invention." That is what Mr. Frank Newell, a clever consulting engineer, of Cleveland, Ohio’ calls the mutograph, his latest perfected discovery after 40 years of practical electrical stud.v, which has borne fruit in many invaluable devices and adaptations now in dail3 r commercial use. The mutograph is a permutation display apparatus, in which the matter to be read is mechanically engraved on an endless belt and appears in snow-white relief on a black background, passing rapidly on a moving belt before the e3 r es of the spectators The machine is operated by means of a keyboard similar to that of a type writer or by a perforated paper tape placed in an automatic transmitter, in which case no operator is needed. All languages may bo used with equal facility. The mutograph is to the ej r e what the phonograph is to the ear.

The belt upon which the engraved white letters appear consists of a series of squares or blocks, each perforated with hundreds of round holes like a colander. Behind every hole is a little steel rod, painted white, called a stipple. As each block passes in front of the engraving apparatus, which is the heart of the machine, certain stipples are pushed forward, each filling its allotted aperture, and the desired letter appears in white on the black face of the block. Then the belt moves on and other letters are made, forming complete words and then sentences. After each letter has passed completely around the circumference of the machine, it goes in front of an arm which strikes the face of the block squarel.v, and pushes all the stipples back, leaving the surface of the block read.y for another letter.

Of course the actual engraving apparatus is the brains of the machine. When key "A" is pressed on the keyboard, letter "A" will inevitably appear on the 1)1 ock then in front of the engraver. This part of the machine is rigorously protected by many patents. On a mutograph bulletin-board or placard at a newspaper office important news can lx? automatically displayed as reived. Thus the progress of a great battle, or of the pollings at a general election, an international cricket match or anything else of imminent interest, could be published simultaneously at man3' centres. At railwa3' stations the mutographs can be used to announce the movements of trains in lieu of the confusing shouting of hurried and worried officials. Another use to which the mutograph can be put is for reading and lecturing in public halls, churches, and private houses. A regular exchange of perforated rolls may be established, containing all the latest literature, so that for a small sum an entire family, or several families can read the popular books without eye strain or fatigue. Then, again, the mutograph can be made to engrave in letters of any size, and process belts ’ can lx? made in any form—vertical, horizontal, triangular, rectangular, or square—to fit any space formation. As an advertising medium alone a great future is prophesied for the mutograph, the manufacture of which is being organized on extensive lines.

Its inventor Mr. Newell, has latterly been ,r identified with the Westinghouse interests, and he devised the electro-magnetic brake used in connection with the rolling-stock of that famous concern, as also a new system of multiple control.