The Waikato Times AND THAMES VALLEY GAZETTE. THURSDAY, MARCH 6, 1890.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXIV, Issue 2753, 6 March 1890, Page 2

The Waikato Times AND THAMES VALLEY GAZETTE.

THURSDAY, MARCH 6, 1890.

Equal find exact justice to all men, Of- whatsoever state or »persuasion,?^religious or - political. [/'■ V ' T 'f

Tub novelties of modern invention are unceasing. No sooner is one put forth to be a nine days' wonder and then fall into the ordinary routine of our life, than another is announced to run the same course. The telephone has lost its novelty and even the marvellous phonograph is accepte 1 as a matter of course. iSow we are to have a nsw telephone of greater power and clearness within its limits than that in present use. It is purely mechanical, and independent of electrical aid, conssisjbini; only of a wire either single or double, conuected with a cheap instrument of very simple construction. The instrument is both a transmitter ,and receiver. The wire is not insulated and need not be kept in tension. The machine works perfectly well even when the wire is quite slack, and whether it be "suspended in the air, laid partially through the ground, or carried under water. A naked wire is, in all cases employed, and the operating instrument, only a circular -'wooden■-box about five inches .in diameter, and about the same in depth. Tho box has a circular aperture at th« front end. A. metallic disc with a small hole in its centre, placvd a little further- in. Behind the disc are a number of small coiled wire springs, held at one end only. They are free to vibrate in response'to external impulse, and so arrange as to make, the ■ vibrations harmonious. Sounds impinging j upon the disc, are transmitted by ! the line of wire attached to the iuI strument, and received by a similar I instrument at the opposite end. This appears to be the whole apparatus, but the sounds are described as far more clear, loud, and distinct, than those of the telephones now in use. For this account we have the authority of the London Times of December 5 last. It describes the new " Pulsion " telephone, and it trial . 'iii'ide in England , of its powers, with some 40 scientific and other gentlemen present. Tht inventor, Mr Lemuel Mellett of Boston, U.S.A., set up for this trial a line three miles and a quarter lon», in the country between the Finchiny road and Hendon stations of the Midland railway. Whether the system is suitable for greater lengths we are not told, but the trials for this distance gained unqualified approval. The party projeeded to the Finchley road station where the " pulsion 7, line began. The naked wire was carried thence along the telegraph posts —without insulation—to Hendon. Conversation was kept up between the operators at ,the two ends, and th<words could be distinctly heard at a considerable distance when spoken loudly. A small musical box, placed against the Hendon instrument, was heard with equal clearness at the Finchley road station. The experiment was in all ways highly satisfactory. A. ahorter life el $00 had been alreidy used for som© time by the Railway Officials, tho wire being u«ite slack, and several feet of it, about midway in its length, passing through a heap of moist earth. At Child* , Hill Station, about hallway between Pitchley road w?l Hendon, a different series oi e*pe?M»ents ver» made. The line was tapped l,y merely placing a hat against the telephone wins in the open air. By thia nieans-a'ru-uMWg" conversation was easily maintained. 'JThe Tiracs report . says •' the anzweM .came readily 'distinctly, and yfcen <.\ven in a loud tone and hi e h pitch of vdim were perfectly audible a hundred teet way from the hat. This liability to teppmg must be a Borious, probably v.n wswporoblo-, obstacle to the indisenmlaete «p. 9 rf the "Pulsion" telephone. _ Its euiU.oili.ty between railway stations, or it jttaßßP U9pou?oetofl with tbo

ordinary telephone, is, however, spoken of vory highly. In the course of the experiments to which we are now referring, one -wire, about a third of a mile in length, was laid at tho bottom ■of a lake. Another was twiated two or three times round the brandies of trees, and carried at very sharp angles. In all. the result was equally satisfactory, " the ticking of a watch at one end being cloa'fly hdard at* the other." The .instruments /were; oasily switched off on "to different lines, and their extreme sensitiveness was apparent in every case. The simplicity, cheapness and adaptability of the apparatus •: have' already brought if. into extensive use in the United States, although less ithan a year 01d.... A .company., has been formed for its supply in England, and the series of experiments have so completely proved its utility for limited tain purposes that it will be certain soon to find its, way among ourselves. The. invention is purely mechanical and of simple construction. Excepting for the ease with, which the linos can be tapped; it might become a formidable oppo-: nent to tho present system for all* but long distances:-;- 'The cheapnoss ought, however, to make it welcome and useful for many, purposes, especially in country districts at signal stations,- and in other, places to which the telegraph lines are not extended. No doubt the attention of our own Telegraphic Department has already been directed to the new system. If so, it would be satisfactory to hear what information has been obtained and what opinion has been formed. The' Times is not likely to have given to it the space and prominence that it has given unless well assured that the system is worthy of attention and has a sound foundation.