PHOTOGRAPHS ACROSS THE ATLANTIC.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19803, 31 May 1926, Page 10

PHOTOGRAPHS ACROSS THE ATLANTIC.

WIRELESS INVENTION. COMMERCIAL SERVICE IN THREE MONTHS. (Fbom Our Own Correspondent.) LONDON, April 16. According to Mr Richard H. Ranger, designing engineer of the Radio Corporation of New York, within three months there will be a commercial radio-photography service across the Atlantic. Mr Ranger, who is the inventor of wireless photography, baa just arrived' in London, accompanied by Mr C H Taylor, chief communication engineer of the Radio Corporation. Between them they have 23 packing cases loaded with wireless apparatus, which has been shipped from New York to install in Radio House, London. „ ... , “My visit.” said Mr Ranger, is a sequel to the wireless research carried out in November, 1924, when pictures were radiographed between New York and London by technicians of the Radio Corporation and the Marconi Company, who have been workino, in co-operation all the time. Ido not claim to be the actual inventor of sending pictures by wire,” be said. The idea ot telegraphing pictures was started by an Englishman, Mr Alexander -Bain, in 184— What I have done ia to utilise the existing radio system to send pictures automatically from one hemisphere to another, and this has been very largely a question of developing technique/* COMPLETE PICTURE IN 25 MINUTES. Among the interesting features of tbs new international radiographic service are: A complete picture can be despatched across the Atlantic Ocean in 25 minutes. The latest technique enables the subtlest gradations in shade to be transmitted by radio. . All the transmission is automatic. The coat of sending a picture will be very little more than a written message. Mr Ranger, who has been working on his system for threl and a-half years, said that he had already proved the value of the commercial possibilities between San Francisco and Honolulu. When the transmission set he has brought to England has been insta'led in Radio House pictures can be forwarded to New York, and thence to ban Francisco or Honolulu, where wireless picture sending sets are already installed. TRANSMITTING FILMS. Investigations at present are almost all directed to the speeding-up of the transmitting and receiving apparatus, largely with a view of ultimately transmitting films. With something like 4000 dots to the square Inch, the problem is not an easy one. A wavelength of 16,000 metres Is being employed In the present experiments and no interference whatever Is caused to ordinary operators. _ The principle Involved in Mr Ranger s system, which is claimed to be particularly immune from atmospheric disturbances, is that of sending a code ot simple "dot" signals ot uniform strength in place ot the carefully graduated Impulses used on other systems. _ . , These " dot ” signals have the effect ot interrupting a pen In the receiving apparatus which travels In a series of parallel lines, and of producing an astonishingly clear and artistic picture. Mr Ranger said It was already possible, with the instruments he has brought with him, to transmit a clear quarto-sized picture from London to New York in 25 minutes and a rough picture In six minutes. The cost of these transmissions will not be excessive, and it Is estimated that for a New York newspaper to print a picture ot the Derby finish on the same evening as the race would not even now cost more than £IOO. A photograph of the Prince of Wales, as received by wireless in New York, Is reproduced In a London paper. It is a remarkably clear likeness.