Telephony in Messrs Denny Brothers' Yard.

Te Aroha News, Volume II, Issue 84, 10 January 1885, Page 5

Telephony in Messrs Denny Brothers' Yard.

A very complete system of telephony and signalling is carried out in the shipbuilding yard of Messrs Wm. Denny and Bros., who built the Arawa and all the Union Steamship Company's vessels. As they practically execute the whole of the work connected with the building of ships in their own yard, even to the most artistic parts of the decoration of the saloons, it will readily be understood that a good telephonic system is of great importance. The means adopted for inter-communication are quite unique. The telephonic exchange at Dumbarton resembles the central telephone exchanges in London and elsewhere. Every department can hold instant communication with any other department. But this is the importaufc advantage : By means of carefully-pl.* nned signals, it is possible to call to a given spot the head of any department, no matter where he may be at the time. A mast ninety feet high is erected in the centre of the yard, and when any member of the firm desires the attendance of another partner of the manager, or any other official, he goes into the nearest telephone station (about thirty of which are distributed over the yard), and puts himself in communication with the switch-room at the Exchange. Having been connected with the attendant stationed in b, -telephone cabin at the mast, a signal, representing the official who is wanted, is hoisted. As soon as this signal is run up, the official called for either sees it himself or is informed by somebody else that his number is on the mast. All he has to do is to go to the nearest telephone station and connect himself with the person who has called him. Before long further telephonic communication will be established with the National Telephone Company, Glasgow, so that a conversation may be carried on with any of the thousand subscribers to that exchange ; and by the trunk system of the Company it will also be possible to communicate with the exchanges at Edinburgh, Paisley, and Greenock. To such a pitch of perfection has the telephonic system been brought in Scotland already. Indeed, the longest talking line in Great Britain is that between Edinburgh and Glasgow, a distance of fifty miles, but conversations have repeatedly been held between Greenock and Edinburgh, via Glasgow, which is a distance of seventyeight miles.

None but the brave, etc. Angelina: ♦'The man I marry must be handsome^ brave and clever." Tompkins : " Dear me how f— fortunate we have met."