BUNDY TIME-RECORDER

New Zealand Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 6371, 20 November 1907, Page 5

BUNDY TIME-RECORDER

In order to ensure tho exact running of the cars the City Council Tramways Department bis just installed a number of Bundv time-recorders on tho tram routes. To tho public, the timerecorder is a more clock, but to the department it is a " tell-tale,*' the value of which has been admitted by all largo systems to bo very great. Tho conductor of every car that passes any of these time-recorders leaves his car, thebox underneath the dial and inserts his kov in the key-slot. He gives one turn, and a bell rings. Bach man has a numbered key, and the act of ringing tho bell marks his number and the time of tho passing of Iris car, a valuable record for the head office, which thus has Indubitable proof of tho exactness of the schedule and uncontrovertible evidence in case of dispute. The public on tbe day of tho introduction smiled at tho unusual spectacle of the conductor of each car ringing tho clock at Courtenay place, especially ns the clock varied several hours during the day. As a matter of fact, however, the clock was registering absolutely correct time, and tho vagaries of the hands were duo to a loose screw. The clocks constitute a public benefaction, and people will soon enough -cease to laugh at them, especially m 3 they ensure absolute punctuality —a matter of the greatest possible 'difficulty on any tramway which .depends so much on tho hum«ui of the passengers and their agility oraSilierwifse. In most, groat systems, these recorders are placed at the termini of the various routes, Sydney having twenty-four of them. At present Wellington has one at the junction, of Cuba and streets, one ab Courtenay place junction, and one at the Rmtoul street junction. Tho register is made on a revolving tape like that of a telegraph machine, and after the running period has ceased the rolls are taken off, transferred to the head office, and the details recorded. The Bundy recorder ie an English device, made in America.