NOVEL TELEGRAPH REGISTER

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 7847, 8 July 1911, Page 11

NOVEL TELEGRAPH REGISTER

THERE is now being installed at the telegraph counter in the Chief Post Office, Wellington, an instrumerf that must prove a valuable aid to the work of the clerks. This is an adaptation of tho cash register, now so largely used in commercial houses, to tie work of recording the number and charges on the different classes of telegrams received each day for dispatch. The - machine which the department is now putting in is fitted for use by feuj clerks, and another is expected shortly.

It works on the same principle as the ordinary cash register, but has been elaborated in order that si complete record may be- kept of all thel seven or eig'-' different classes of messages that are candled in • the course of a day. Instead of affixing postage stamps in the usual way, the clerk simply places tho telegraph form in the .register, presses the initial keys, and immediately (tho". register being electrically operated) the date, the consecutive number, the charge on the .telegram, and the office of .origin . is 'forthwith printed on the form. Immediately the-machine is put into-operat : on, two small' e 1 ectric bulbs are lighted, drawing the attention of the

On- the left Is a portion of a telegraph | form stamped by the register; on the right a section ; of the detail strip which I records ail 'transactions.

Time and Labour Saving Device at Wellington Office

the automatic telegraph registering machine

public to tho class of tho telegram and the amount as shown by the register. There is not only economy ijf that tho uso of postage stamps will be dispensed sitU, but the clerks will necessarily be able to handle tho telegrams more rapidly than at the present, and the public ■rill be spared tho trouble of affixing :he stamps, which in many offices is at present enforced. In addition to indicating the class and he amount of the telegram to the public. and printing the details as above on

tho telegram, tho register forthwith makes a record, showing not only, tho number, but the total amount of each different class of message sent, at tho same, time adding the amounts on special adding counters. Thus iat tho close of 1 tho day the Telegraph Department has a record of the total number and the respectiye values of ordinary, urgent, press, collect, and other messages, besides the gross total, number: and gross value of all - the : messages sent. A do. tailed record, is also printed by tho ma. chine of every telegram sent, indicating not only the amount, but the class of. -message, and the initial of the clerk re- : ceiving it. If is possible, tod, from this detailed'-. statement, to ascertain the ;■! number;, .of ./inessages sent during each hour of the day.

Tho register ia equipped with four drawers and these are operated'by the pressure of the respective clerks' initials. : Provision'., is also made .for , relieving' clerks. Whilst • each clerk ia’ responsible for.vhis own cash, he has every means of protecting himself, as each drawer ,ia , provided with a distinct sounding bell, and when absent, he is able to lock his" key, which prevents the operation of his drawer by any other assistant. This' is the first machine installed anywhere for such a purpose, and tho local’ representatives of tho National Cash Register Company, who are respon* siblo for ' its appearance, are to be congratulated ;on having evolved an instrument (the one under notice was specially built to specifications sent from Welling, ton) that should soon find ready entrg into all telegraph services.