THE TELEPHONE.

Globe, Volume IX, Issue 1207, 16 January 1878, Page 3

THE TELEPHONE.

The telephone, an instrument by which sounds may be transmitted an indefinite distance by means of u copper wire and an electro-magnet, has become a common object of exhibition in America, where, according to the reports in the papers, wonderful effects have been produced. For example, an audience assembled in a public room at "Washington has enjoyed music, both vocal and instrumental, performed in a town twenty miles away, and words spoken at one end of the wire have been heard at the other almost as distinctly as if they had been pronounced in the same room. These accounts have been received out of America with considerable incredulity, but believers have not been wanting. In scientific circles in Melbourne the subject has been discussed for some time, and recently it was suggested by Mr Byron Moore, of the Lands Department, that the invention might be turned to practical account in the new Government offices. In such a large building the ordinary speaking tubes are useless beyond a certain point, for they will careefy carry sound a greater distance than 200 ft., while some of the apartments are 600 ft. from others which have to be communicated with. It is, besides, much easier and less expensive to lay wires than speaking tubes. After some little preparation experiments have been tried. A telephonic apparatus lias been constructed by Mr Josephs, of Swanston street, under the direction of Mr Ellery, Government astronomer, and very encouraging results have been obtained from it. The telephone, says the “ Argus,” was placed on its trial at the Observatory on Saturday night, in the presence of some twenty or thirty public officers, including Mr Ellery (Government astronomer), Mr 8. VV. McGowan (acting-deputy Postmaster-General), Mr Byron Moore, and others, A wire was carried from the Government astronomer’s office to the great telescope room, a distance of SO or 00 yards, and observers were stationed at each end. When there was perfect silence it was found that words spoken in one room could bo distinctly heard in the other, and a regular conversation, in fact, could bo kept up. The playing of a flute, a whistled tunc, or a song, was faithfully transmitted by the wire, faintly, it is true, but clearly. It was noticed that words spoken distinctly and with the voice scarcely raised were better heard than sentences pronounced in loud, high, tones. As to distance, it does not appear that this is of much importance. By the use of induction coils, a resistance equal lo that which would be produced by lengthening the wire to the extent of 500 miles was obtained, but the sounds were transmitted as accurately as before. It must be understood, however, that it was the operators only who could speak to each other. The sounds did not penetrate the room, but were heard only by the person who placed the telephone to his ca-,’. Ac the apparatus, however, had only undergone a preliminary trial, tho result is considered to be very good, and it is impossible to say to what extout it atay be improved Upon.