Writing by Wire.

Mt Benger Mail, Volume V, Issue 261, 13 December 1884, Page 6

Writing by Wire.

THE LATEST MARVEL OF INVEN TION. After the phonograph, the most extraordi nary modern invention is undoubtedly th« telautograph. Hitherto we have been accus tomed to writing out telegraphic messages or a form, handing it over the counter of a telegraph office to an operator, wl'iu transmit* it to it? destination, where it is copied on tr another form. In a few years—by means of the telautograph—we shall go to the telegraphoffice, operate the machine ourselves, and our own hand-writing will be recorded by th* machine at the other end of the wire ? Suppose an editor to be in telegraphic communication with business houses in Edinburgh,' Liverpool, Manchester, or Dublin. Sitting at a. table, which is plentifully adorned with ama.su of intricate machinery, he will writs himessage on a piece of paper. A lead pencil attached to the transmitter by two small rocU is ready at hand. As he begin* to write, the upward and downward strokes, the curves, the punctua ■ U»n marks,'and the flourishes act on the two steel rods. At the end of each rod a piece of thin cord is attached, giving it the appearance of a violin bow. The cord is fastened round the drum, which regulates the interrupter wheel below, The movements of the penc.l are thus chronicled, and the electrical impulse is sent along the wires running to the Irish capital or the Lancashire city, as the case may be. Even when the pencil is drawn back to dot an "i" or cross a "t"tbe movement is trans ! mitted and repeated by the receiving machine at the other end of the wire, the bow making a pleasant murmur as it rub* against the drum. When the editor gets to the end of a line yej simply turns a crank with his left hand, and, the paper shoots upward and onward about an inch. Now see what happens at the receiving instrument at the other end of the wire. Two rods similar to those on the transmitterrepeat the movements of the pencil in L°hdon, the mechanism being identical. The receiver, however, writes the message in ink, th/? pen being a hollow glass tube with a 6ne point. The editor's message will appear in brilliant ink, as perfect as if the writer nad sat down inf an easy chair to pen the words. The time may com» when the editor, away for his holidays in America or Egypt, say, will he Able to send home long articles in manuscript by this means. He will march into a telegraph—or rather, telautograph—office, pay for the use of the machine, and write "copy which will be in the printer's hands the same day. There will be no possibility of enf*" for the message received in London will be iu the editor's own handwriting. The telautograph will also transmit drawings The artist will go to the telautograph office, makjs his drawing in the method described above. It is true there are boundless possibilities in store for the telautograph. The business man will be able to send instructions to his factory from his house or office, having the same delivered in his own handwriting. A banker may write out and sign a cheque in Edinburgh without moving from his office in/ London. '