MANY VOICES ON ONE LINE

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 142, 11 March 1919, Page 6

MANY VOICES ON ONE LINE

Tho multiplex telephonic installation reported from America, enabling one wire to do tho work of ten \ised hitherto and assuring the carrying on by two wires of five simultaneous conversations, is by no means a new invention (eays n writer in the London "Daily Mail"). My own telephono wire has frequently carried more simultaneous conversations than tho onewire load of this reputed novelty. But wo British aro a modest people, apt lo deprecate our own inventions, and that, I imagine v , is why, whenever I have complained of the loauacity of my telephone the telephone authorities have always explained that it was'"only a contact, ' Once, when I happened to be the only person in the house, my telephone summoned me from a hot bath to bid me "send two pounds of the best rump steak to Mrs. Blank at The Acacias." (.Memo, for the Food Controller-lliis was before meat-card days.) While I was trying to explain that I am not a. butcher my telephone switched oft to a conversation between two women, which was so engrossing to mo that I quite resented the man whose voice kent breaking m and demanding of me who I was and ordering me. to 'V-t olf the Hue." T also heard fragments of ano her woman's conversation with her doctor, beggin» him to come and see her husband as soon as possible, informing him that he had "brought it on himself again, doctor, and I do hops that this time you will frighten him;" and all the time I also heard the voices of the operators at what seemed to be about seven 'telephone exchanges. From this I think it will be agreed that the American invention is no invention.