Among the Inventors

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 188, 29 October 1927, Page 24 (Supplement)

Among the Inventors

“Gadgets ’’ That Make Life Easier

(Written for THE SUN 6 y

J.Y.DJ

An ingenious device for motorists.

HEING interested in things • mechanical I climbed aboard a bus and made my way to the huge Olympia building to view the Shipping and Engineering Exhibition. I thought I might find something quite new and original. There were a few interesting developments, but the show to all intents and purposes was little more than a trade affair. Of the new inventions possibly the most interesting is the laryngaphone. This is quite a new type of telephone. The fundamental idea is to use the mechanical vibrations of the larynx when speaking instead of the usual air vibrations set up by the voice. The ordinary telephone, as everyone knows, is an excellent instrument but, also, as everyone knows, is rendered almost useless when heavy air vibrations —in simple words, a big noise—overpower voice transmission. It is quite a common experience to have great difficulty picking up a message transmitted from some foundry or, say, power house; in such places a sound-proof chamber becomes almost a necessity.

I tried the laryngaphone myself. There is the usual earpiece, but instead of a cup transmitter for the voice the lower part of the instrument is pressed lightly against the neck or even the side of the mouth. It takes the mechanical vibrations of the larnyx and, as in an ordinary phone, electrically repeats and enlarges these infinitely fine impulses. Thus, as will be readily understood, outside noises have very little effect; the voice comes through very clearly and distinctly even under conditions most unfavourable. As may be imagined, there was a lot of noise in that big building; all sorts of running machines producing a great jumble of sound; yet I heard every word spoken quite distinctly. It would appear from a list of users shown me that quite a number of power houses have installed the instrument. Ordinary wiring and telephone connection is all that is required. This is rather a neat idea —and new. At least I have not so far seen one in operation on the London streets. As will be seen by the illustration

the idea is to show by an electrical sign—which is so fitted’ that it can be seen from the rear as well as the front —the direction in which it is intended to turn. Contrariwise, the heavy horizontal bar indicates “Stop!” As seen when not in operation it presents nothing but a blank staring eye, but the movement of a small switch arm. to right or left or again, down for “Stop!” produces a corresponding signal on the dial; of course, it is brightly illuminated for night work.

Whether this invention will supersede the familiar present arm-wag-ging process remains to be seen but, as so many modern cars are completely closed-in, one wmuld think the idea would have many advantages. The price is quoted at £3 17s 6d, w'hieh includes arm fittings and the necessary wiring. It can be attached to either windscreen or coachwork. This is a very clever idea. The tracer works from a double hinge giving freedom of movement in all directions; to ensure evenness of movement and speed, also to promote ease in operation, the tracing wheel is driven by a small motor. The -work is, of course, underneath.

The oxygen burner is attached to an arm which synchronises in every movement with the tracer above and from this it follows that the operator can cut direct from the blue print.