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WHEN A CABLE SNARLS

By C.L. EDHOLM

WHAT happens when a submarine cable is dragged by a ship’s anchor is shown in the accompanying photographs ; this accident occurred to the New York Telephone Company’s connections between Brooklyn and lower Manhattan. A steamer, trying to make its pier, was carried too far by the swift current under the Brooklyn Bridge. Dropping its anchor, it caught the cables lying on the bottom beneath the bridge. Read the rest of this entry »

Radiophone to Rid Siberia of Wolves

RADIO telephones placed at intervals throughout the wolf-infested regions of Siberia so that the whereabouts of these dangerous pests can be easily discovered is the latest means proposed by Soviet officials to rid the vast plains of the country of the wolf menace, long an obstacle to settlement and safe travel. Read the rest of this entry »

The “Petite,” a compact new extension telephone with illuminated dial, has been introduced by Stromberg-Carlson Division of General Dynamics for the independent telephone industry. The dial light glows dimly when the ‘phone is not in use, lights up brightly for dialing when the handset is picked up. Subscriber can turn off the light entirely by a switch in the base. Although the “Petite” has no built-in ringer, a compact wall-type bell box is available so that it can be used as a primary telephone instead of as an extension. The new narrow shape is intended to make the instrument more convenient for bedside table and other applications.

Fishermen Now Radiophone to Families

DEEP sea fishermen spend a large portion of their lives isolated on the ocean, out of touch with land for days and days on end. A new two way radio telephone, especially designed, for installation in fishing boats has now broken down this barrier of space, permitting the sailors to speak to their friends and families ashore.

How the combined receiver and transmitter operates is illustrated in the artist’s drawing above. No trained radio man is necessary to put through a call. The fisherman simply presses a button and connects up with a land station, which hooks him up to the city telephone system. Engineers are planning on installing many of these instruments on American fishing boats cruising the East coast areas.

Silent Telautographs Write Directions to Radio Artists

TO ELIMINATE all interfering noises in the National Broadcast Studios, engineers are installing noiseless telautographs which write out directions to performers, thus doing away with the old method of waving the hands to give signals from the control room. The telautograph is placed near the microphone, directly before the eyes of the performers, so that directions can be read without the least difficulty. Read the rest of this entry »

MORSE CODE TYPEWRITER

A HEAVY-FISTED ham was Willard Guthoerl—and no one was more aware of it than he. His brutality was spent entirely on his sending key, however; hams from coast to coast and beyond the seas complained of his Morse signals. Instead of trying to improve his fist he built—for seven dollars—an electronic machine that does away with the single sending key. Read the rest of this entry »

Midget Radio, left, is tuned in by an official guide at the Victoria and Albert Museum in London where it was one of 6,000 items in the “Britain Can Make It” Exhibition. It costs about $70.

Candid Pickups

IF YOU don’t think amateur recording is tun, just ask Johnny Olsen. radio papa of “Ladies, Be Seated.” He’s been having a picnic with his home recorder for years. You don’t have to stay home with them, either.
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Roll Not The Barrel

The recreation room in your home will be enhanced by this out of the ordinary, record changer cabinet.

By Loren Collins

THIS is an unusual project requiring a minimum of material and only the simplest hand tools. When completed it will not only be an attractive addition to your den or rumpus room but a serviceable record player, rivaling many large consoles in tonal quality. Using the unbreakable 45 rpm 7-in. disks that come in a wide choice of classical and popular selections, it will play ten selections, or from 30 to 50 minutes of music with one loading. Read the rest of this entry »

Not quite sure why this requires such a huge speaker, or any speaker at all…

Sound Film Now Repeats Dialed Telephone Numbers

THE principal convenience of the dial telephone was that it enabled you to pick your own wrong numbers, but even this is done away with now by a sound film which repeats the number which you have just dialed and enables you to correct the mistakes which you may have made.

The new invention does not necessitate the use of the subscriber’s voice. The subscriber merely dials the number and that number is called to central as the sound film automatically repeats the number through a loud speaker. The new method is expected to be put in use before the end of the year. Read the rest of this entry »

New Talking Movies Replace Stenographer’s Note Book

THE movietone principle of recording the human voice has been adapted to office use in a machine which has been named the “Dailygraph.” The device is primarily intended for dictating letters in the office but may be used to record speeches for translation or future reproduction for educational and historical purposes. It is a German patent and has been placed on the market in continental countries.
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Telegraph Office Moves To Emergency By Trailer

TRAILER telegraph offices that can be rushed to the scene of major news events for use by newspapermen and the general public have been developed by the Western Union Telegraph Co. The mobile offices can operate at any point where wire facilities are, or can be made available.

The trailer interiors provide writing desks for customers, a counter, and telegraphic equipment for both automatic and Morse operations.

To attract attention the trailers are painted with an aluminum roof and blue bodies. The words—”Mobile Telegraph Office” and “Send Your Telegrams Here”—are painted in large yellow letters.