F.—ll.

On this system subscribers have no dial. Only the usual common-battery telephone is used. Line and cut-off relays are provided at the exchange for each subscriber's line. Primary switches made up of banks of tags of ten levels and ten terminals on each level, arranged semi-circularly, are provided. These serve to connect a calling-line to the idle operator's position. There are wipers on a shaft, as in the Strowger system. When a call comes in from a subscriber the primary switch moves first horizontally and then vertically. Electro-magnets suitably disposed effect these step-by-step movements. The wipers of each switch are directly connected to the tags of a first selector. A connection is also established with a secondary switch, by the stepping of which an idle key set with a calling-lamp on an operator's keyboard position is joined to the subscriber's line. The wipers of this secondary switch for distributing to the idle operator move only horizontally. Each operator has a keyboard on which are three rows of numbered plungers, and there are three such sets. Each set has three lamps. Two light when a call comes in, and are extinguished immediately the operator touches a reply button to answer. The third lamp is extinguished when the called subscriber's line is found and connection established. The operator then sets up on the plunger-board the numbers given to her by the subscriber and presses a starting-key. This disconnects her telephone headgear from the circuit, and joins the plungers to contact drums that are continuously revolving. Impulses are sent out from these drums at the rate of about sixteen a second. The plungers that have been depressed determine the number of impulses that shall be sent out for the hundreds, tens, and units. The impulses from the hundreds take the first selector shaft to a tag on a vertical row, to which are connected trunks extending to one of ten connector switches, on which are multiplied the line of the subscriber called. The tens impulses now follow and cause the connector wipers to move horizontally to find the proper vertical row in which is the subscriber's line, and the units impulses now come into operation and effect the number of vertical movements necessary to place, the wiper on the terminals of the required subscriber. Ringing is automatic, and the key set is automatically disconnected ready for another call. A " Busy " signal is given to the calling subscriber if the line called for is engaged or if all the trunks are in use. If this system were used on a 10,000 or 100,000 line exchange second selectors and third selectors would be necessary as well as enlarged keyboards and more rows of plungers to enable the numbers to be set up. It was found that connections from Ashtabula proper could be established in from seven to nine seconds. With more mechanism this time would be somewhat increased : that, however, would not be of consequence. The claim made for this system —that a girl can answer 1,200 calls and over per hour —can hardly be accepted. Many calls were put in by me at Ashtabula Harbour, and the operator's reply came as quickly as the receiver reached the ear. After giving the number from two to three seconds are required to press the various buttons and plungers. This would be somewhat longer with more rows of plunger-keys. This method is being employed at Amsterdam, and was seen by me in operation there. Five hundred calls an hour were all that were claimed, and there was delay observed on some calls at a lower rate than that. The time of operation of the mechanism does not in any way limit the capacity of the operator, and she is given three distinct key-sets so that at least one may be always free to set up calls on. When several operators are required the calls are distributed evenly, as they seek the idle operator. As the number of calls coming in reduces the staff can be reduced, and the calls kept to those positions at which there are attendants. This is equivalent to concentration. By hanging up his receiver either subscriber can disconnect and send in a new call. It can be arranged that where there are several exchanges on this system in an area the operators may be all located at one exchange so as to effect all connections from the one place, or the operators may be at different exchanges, as may be found most suitable. This implies control-wires, but these wires never form any part of the circuit between subscribers. They are, as it were, " teed "on to the other circuits, and can be joined to or disconnected from them as required. The apparatus is of superior manufacture. Until last year there was only the Ashtabula Harbour installation of this system. Warren was being equipped for about 1,500 lines, Ashtabula proper for about the same number, and Galesburg for 1,800 lines. Ashtabula proper has been operating- some time and is giving every satisfaction. Warren was at first somewhat doubtful, but the difficulty that arose appears to have been due to causes apart from the mechanism, and has since been corrected. Galesburg was cut over and had to be cut back again owing it is alleged to defective outside plant. Some improvement has been made in parts of the plant, and portion of the new system is operating ; the other portion awaits improved outside conditions. Arrangements have just recently been concluded between this company and the Western Electric Company by which the last-named company can use the patents of the North Automatic Electric Company. The repairs at Ashtabula Harbour are stated to have amounted to only 65 cents, or 2s. Bfd., in two years and a half. The people at Ashtabula Harbour liked the service given by the system so well that Ashtabula people asked the company to install it in their town, which, as has been stated, was done. - Lorimer Automatic. The Lorimer system was seen in operation at Brantford. This system is full automatic. The installation at Brantford is serving about nine hundred lines. There is also an installation at Peterborough for about five hundred lines. This system works satisfactorily. The calling-rate at Brantford is about five a day per subscriber. The arrangement for calling at the subscriber's station is involved. Associated with the telephone is a system of levers with internal mechanism. The number required is designated by placing the levers at the required units, tens, hundreds, and, thousands. A handle is then turned, which allows impulses to flow over the line from the exchange. Three number-calls can be made in about ten seconds.

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