THE TELEPHONE.

Thames Star, Volume X, Issue 3125, 22 February 1879, Page 3

THE TELEPHONE.

Some interesting and valuable experiments on electric telephony were conducted on Monday between Norwich and London.over a wire 115 miles loDg, and and under the most adverse circumstances of bad weather and powerful induction from neighboring; wires. These experiments had for their object the confirmation of some extraordinary statements that had appeared in the American journals respecting the ability of the carbon telephone, one of Mr Edison's numerous intentions, and, perhaps, one of the most important, to work over great distances and under conditions fatal to other systems—conditions which, up to tbe present time, hare been the chief obstacle in tbe practical use of electric-telephony. Messrs J. and J. Column, possessing one of the longest private wires in use for commercial purposes in this conntry, placed it at the disposal of Mr Edison's representative. This wire stretches from Messrs dolman's works at Norwich to their office in Cannon street, a distance of a little over 115 miles. The wire runs on the same poles as the numerous other wires of the Great Eastern Railway, and is carried on overhead from the terminus in London to Cannon street. At 4 o'clock the experiments began, and the incessant crackling and bubbling sounds in the receivers r^pSted the fact that the adjoining telegraphic wires were at their busiest, • and that induction could hardly be worse. Nevertheless, the first exclamation uttered into the hastily adjusted carbon telephone at Norwich was heard perfectly in the counting-house at Cannon-street. Conversation then ensued between th« two places; some words were at first lost, but after a few simple adjustments conversation was carried on without difficulty, the American accent of Mr Adams, M,jr Edison's professional assistant, who had charge at the Norwich end, being distinctly recognisable in London. Remarks passed on the weatheV showed that a storm of sleet was going on at both ends, and the insulation therefore, almost at its worst. One or two important facts were noticeable ins these , experiments.— namely, that the adjustments once made, no further change was found necessary, and that conversation was best heard when carried on even a little below the ordinary, tone of the, voice. Later on, towards 9 o'clock in the evening, induction disturbances grew less, but were still considerable; the voices from Norwich were louder, and the individuality of the speakers more marked. Remarkable as these experiments were, they appear to be outstripped by what has been achieved in America through the same instruments. According to a recent work by Mr Prescott, the/chief electrician of the Western Union Telegraph Company of America, the carbon telephone has been successfully used ",whenjacluded in a Morse circuit; " and further, " that several stations could exchange business telephonically upon a circuit that was being worked 'quadruplex' without disturbing the latter." The same authority states that the carbon telephone haspeen tried with success over a wire 720 miles in length. Mr Edison, not content with the achievements just indicated," has lately made a. new. and improved receiver to his instrument, of which, he says, in a recent letter ■. to Colonel Gourad, that by this means " Batchelor " (one of Mr Edison's assistants) "heard a whisper last night 15ft. away from the receiver, and ordinary conversation comes out almost as loud as originally spoken." If this receiver proves as,practicable as the carbon transmitter, a new era has opened in electrictelephony, and soon we may hope to have the speeches in the House of Commons heard at all the clubs in the metropolis.— Timeg.