"TWOPENCE A TALK!"

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 949, 17 October 1910, Page 8

"TWOPENCE A TALK!"

MS INGENIOUS MACHINE.

: An ingenious variation of .the penny-in-the-ilot telephone . of -'London and •'Sydney has .been devised; by/the experts: !of the post * and 'Telegraph Department, who live their interesting days on the top' floor, of Nathan's building in mid-city. This is the twopence-in-the-slot machine/ which;,has been, made' for,, ;;the/use of the public,;;wherever -there!' ,is a' demand for them.. Two such instruments liaro already been made, and ,erected:' in- suitable .cabinets -v.' in : ■ the ■Thorndon and. Lambton . Railway - Stations,: and are, according to the .officials, giving a satisfactory return'; /The : machine-' is .most . cleverly ,contrived.: The first penny; calls the attention of the exchange, and the second ,is -in-' sarted after the mimber is given/Having secured the toll, the connection is made,. 'and 'the .conversation proceeds or tho word "Engaged" -is heard. /.If. the -latter,, the girl, in/the. exchange . touches - a'. button which acts on.[ a /tiny, electrical, contrivance ..atid;,releases ;'the two pennies. './, "They slide, down two . grooves, into': a!metal 'claw,' from, which they can be (reclaimed:./.-. "Twopence a talk?-' appeared .expensive, but Mi-.'; J.. K. Logan;.explained that hitherto the' charge of sixpence, had been made, for .a :bureau/teleplioiie..tb the general public, : and:, threepence to, a subscriber, \so that the new charge is a reduction.' In , America;, a-charge of /five' cents : (2id.) is made, in London and' Sydney.;-Id.' "over a limited distance. .The twopence-in-the-slot telephones are to bo erected wherever there is a-sufficient,demand/ b.iit : they will not bo erected except ' in some; place - where they, can - under observation. ■'/■• .- - -.;■// : ■ : .;w