WRITING BY TELEPHONE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLVI, Issue 14110, 12 July 1909, Page 6

WRITING BY TELEPHONE.

A NEW INSTRUMENT.

[from our OWN correspondent.]

London, Juno One of the devices in which Mr. D. Robertson (Secretary to the New Zealand (Post Office) has been much interested during his stay in England, is the now instrument known as the telewriter. The telewriter is an electrical instrument., which enables anyone to transmit instantaneously over any distance a reproduction of one's own handwriting, figures, sketches, or any arbitrary signs. The complete instrument consists of the transmitter and receiver, associated together so that messages may be sept to either end of the line or received from either end. The instruments, also, are connected to the ordinary telephone lino without any interference with the telephone service or alteration to it. The whole mechanism is simple and durable, being so arranged that electrical currents, regulated by the sender's pencil, are sent over the connecting wires, -putting the receiver pen in synchronous movement with the transmitting pencil. Its promoters claim for the machine many advantages- It can bo operated by anyone who can write, and it makes, in one operation, two fac-simile records, on© for the sender and one for the person addressed. The telewriter is a. purely British invention. The telewriter will not supplant the telephone, it is supplementary to : it. lAs long as two people want to talk to one another, the telephone will always bo in requisition. But there are thousands of instances where the written word over the telephone wire is of infinitely greater advantage than the spoken word. For example, in transmitting orders involving numbers and prices, mistakes constantly occur, even after the greatest car© has been exercised. . But a written order, duly signed-through the telewriter, is a commercial document, removing all doubt cither as to accuracy or responsibility. , , In England the Postmaster-General has arranged with the promoters of the telewriter to supply the requisite lines for their service upon rental terms. The license includes the i transmission , of Parliamentary, sporting, stock exchange, and general news to all registered clubs and other persons so qualified. Furthermore, ordinary telegrams can be sent through the telewriter to the important post offices for transmission. The Post Office has clearly put the telewriter upon its good behaviour, but its promoters, after the most exhaustive tests, are satisfied that they can conform to the terms of their license, and, accordingly, are now asking the public to instal the telewriter, with the sure and certain knowledge that complete satisfaction will be given. Arrangements have also been made with the National Telephone Company. ■ ' v; .. .',