END OF STENOGRAPHERS?

Shannon News, 23 November 1928, Page 3

END OF STENOGRAPHERS?

RECORDING MARVEL.

TAKES 'PHONE MESSAGES

(Sun Special.) LONDON, Nov. 16

A piece of wire, a couple of trumpets, and a few other gadgets, and you have a stenographer. At least, that is what is indicated by tests of a new invention, which records and reproduces the speaking voice. A coil of smooth steel wire, apparently more susceptible to personal magnetism than the most efficient steno-grapher—-whom the inventor one day hopes to replace —was made to talk before a group of London experts to-day. After 23 years of research Dr. Curt Stille has succeeded in magnetically fixing sound upon wire, and putting the invention to practical use. The demonstrator spoke into a microphone connected with an _ electro-mag-netic appliance, under which the wire was slowly passing. By reversing the process, the magnetic “impressions" upon the wire reproduced the speech through a loud speaker. It is claimed that the machines can be used for recording speeches, and for office letter dictations, the wire being wound ready for use on a spool. A fifteen-minutes’ speech could be contained in the size of an ordinary cot-ton-reel. It lasts indefinitely. The instrument can also be attached to a'telephone to record a message in the absence of the subscriber.