Handwriting By Telegraph.

Manawatu Herald, 8 March 1904, Page 3

Handwriting By Telegraph.

The telautograph is an instrument for recording and transmitting facsimile writing or drawings by telegraph or telephone wire, and the successful experiments made by the German post office have drawn public attention in this country to the invention. A reporter had an interview with Mr J. Qavey, C.B,, 1 engineer-in-chief and electrician to the British Post Office. '

“ The telautograph has been known to us,” said- Mr Gavey, “ for ten years or more. It is an American invention, the originator being Elisha Grey, but at the outset ft required four wires to work it. I believe it has never been properly utilised in this country, though we have specimens of its work during experiments between Manchester and London. It has been taken in hand by a succession of inventors, and has been materially improved. “ We do not contemplate,” added Mr'Gavey, “adopting the invention in the G.P.O. for the. public wires. It is useful where fac-simile writing and signatures are necessary; but there would be inconvenience in having to wait until the line was free to send an ordinary message. For private use the system may, perhaps, be very desirable.” Inquiries at the Telautograph Company’s offices elicited that the invention was being constantly improved, and was considered now to be so perfect that it would shortly be available to the public. The latest step was to make the instrument work by means of electric light circuits instead of batteries. That made the machine quite reliable, and more practicable in every way, as the motive power would be unlimited. By this system messages were sent and recorded, whsther there was anyone at the other end of the wire or not. In France the telautograph had been successfully worked over a distance of 600 miles.