BIG DEVELOPMENTS SHORTLY

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 136, 4 March 1919, Page 8

BIG DEVELOPMENTS SHORTLY

IN AUTOMATIC TELEPHONES

COURTENAY PLACE STATION READY "Come in and see the wheels go round" was an invitatiuu extended tu a Dominion reporter at the Courtenay i'lace auionuuic telephone sub-station (at tlio rear of the Courtenay i'lace Post Otlice) yesterday. This substation, which has iiuug lire for tile past four years -uwmg to material for its completion being held up by urgent war work in America, is now almost ready for service. Indeed, the automatic machinery has all teen installed, in all its puzzling intricacy, and by pulling over a power switch tho whole battery of'bays becomes alive. Vertical shafts commence 'to revolve, impelling little cogged wheels to act on the lateral connecting rods, which make vita! each column of bays, which are comprised of sets of ingenious registering machines, that take a person's number and connect it electrically with the number desired. Only a couple of clicks and a second of time is needed to effect the connection, but the operation itself is highly complex. The system installed at Courtenay Place is that of tho Western Electric Company, which differs considerably from the .Strowger automatic system, now in use in Wellington. For example, with the Strowger system one dials ins number as soon as the receiver is removed, With the W.E. system the operation waits momentarily tor a buzzing note to tell him to go oii with the dialling of the number. The wait-riisually only a flash of time—ensures that there is a machine ready to do the work. With the system now in use, it is sometimes necessary to dial twice before getting the numberone has not to do so with the W.E. system once the signal to go ahead is given. The numbering on the W.E. dial is differently arranged. Instead of No. 1 being the lowest figure on the right-hand side it is lowest out one (the nought) on the left-hand' side. No. 3 on the W.E. takes tho place of No. lop the Strowger dial. Thus it. will be seen that the W.li. dial figures run from left to right as, they should, instead of the reverse order. Everyone connected with the Courtenay Place substation will have a number running into five figures—from 10,000 upwards—a prevision that ensures an even five-figure basis of working lor tho delicate machinery.

The important news as far as the public of the Courtenay Place' district is concerned is that tho Department only requires the telephones beioro opening the new station,' and these are expected to be here and erected in June, advico having been received from America that tlio New Zealand Government's contracts aro at last.being hurried forward.

In order to have an alternative supply the station has two motors supplied with power from the tramways and lightiug power-houses. The power is not applied directly to tho plant, but through batteries which are charged during the "dead hours" of the two power-houses. An interesting feature as showing the wonder of applied automatics, is that it is not necessary to have tho whole plant working in tho small hours of the morning, when there, are very few calls to. negotiate, but with the addition of a little more machinery—not considered necessary at present—tho actual calling up of an automatic number can be made to operate n motor, which.gives the necessary power for'the connection necessary. The Courtenay Place sub-station provides for 2500 subscribers, but double that number can be: accommodated if later on it is found to be necessary.

There is every prospect at present of the material for many of the automatic stations coming to hand within (ho next frw months, among tho material tho plant for the following stations—Stout Street and Newtown (in Wellington), Ponsonby, Wellcsley Street, and Romuera (in Auckland), South Dunedin and Eoslyn (in Dunedin, and Sydenham and St. Albans (in Christchurch). Tho Blenheim, Oainnru, and Masterton stations liavo already l>een completed, and only now await supplies of telephones before being placed in commission. Tire Strowger system is being provided in Wangnnui. The new station building there is nearly completed, and the plant should be installed .by tho end of the year, when Wangnnui should be "fully automatic."

As no provision has yet been made for a building to contain the automatic plant at Stout Street, Wellington, it is not likely to be fully automatic for some lime to come. Already over 23 per cent, of tho automatic plant for Pnlmerston North hns arrived hi New Zealand.