Omaha daily bee., 1906-11-11

Ij

n different places IN the United
EA States the invention Of q device
1T for seeing at distance By cleo
NsSSQ trical means is announced by
two dinerent inventors. The name adopted
by each inventor for his device is "Tele-
vue." The names Of the two inventors
are given in Casters Magazine as ]. b.
Fowler and william II. Thompson.
A description Of Mr.. Fowler's device in
one Of the electrical papers shows a woman
speaking into a telephone transmitter,
while at the side Of the transmitter Is
projection akin to that Of a hand stereo-
scope. The idea is that the apparition Of
the person at the distant end Of the wire
will be seen within this prcta-t'er
1t is said that four wires are at present
required to accomplish the speaking and
seeing, but that eventually two wires only
will be necessary. 1t is also said that
natural colors are reproduced in the APP
paratus
Complete details OF the operation Of this
interesting apparatus are withheld II is
said, for reasons connected with patent
ONCE matters. In the meantime, however,
it is reported that a company has been or
Kanized 70 push the scheme and stock in
the company will be offered to the public.
Mr. Thompson does not appear to have
progressed so far with his invention as
Mr.. Fowler, but It is stated on Mr.. Thomp-
sons behalf that his device will be an i'm
provement on the other one.
In the absence Of details It is obvious
that no opinion can be expressed as to the
value Of the claims OF these gentlemen II
is we'll established that the problem which
they have set out to solve is not an easy
one. Attempts have been made to solve it
by men we'll equipped for the purpose. but
thus far without success
Not long ago NJ A. Nlsco Of Belgium
made careful study OF many OF the
methods that have been proposed for see
ing at a distance electrically and con-
ciuded that none Of the devices thus far
experimented with possesses the necessary
requirements for successful operation.
In the majority of the methods for
transmitting sight to distance that
property of seenium by which its electrical
resistance varies with the intensity OF the
light thrown upon It has been employed,
but this use of the substance has not
hitherto met the expectations Of inventors.
wireless for Railroad SIGNALLING.
The idea Of applying wireless telegraphy
to railway use is not new. II one include
under this item the early attempts OF
Phelps. Smith, Brown and others with
the so-called induction system. So far nc
actual use Is being made Of the new system
of communication for controlling railway
trains, but Dr. T.. Nesber describes in a
Berlin technical journal some interesting
experiments made on this field near Berlin
A station was equipped with apparatus o
the Telefunken system, and a horizonta
aerial was adopted, about 30 feet long 1s
feet Of which was stretched between tw
telegraph poles twelve inches below tn
telegraph wires, the remainder of tn
length being made up of the connection
to the sending apparatus. A car attache
to a steam-hauled train was fitted up wit
the receiving aerial. consisting of a hori
zontal rectangle OF wires supported on ST
short posts. The receiving apparatus wa
placed in one compartment Of the car Ex
pertments were made to determine the dis
lance to which signals could be sent wit
certainty, and the influence OF overhea
wires. IL was found that the latter, whe
directed over the car, interfered somewha
with the clearness of the received message
The experiment is thought to indicate thu
for railway signalling purposes a systeI
OF wireless telegraphy such as that used /
this work can be depended upon to trans
init messages about seven and one-hal
miles. and that with more attention to tn
equipment OF both the fixed and movin
stations greater distances can be covered
The operation of the system was found 1
no way 70 interfere with that of the ord
nary telegraph lines running along tn
road.
-
Evolution of the Electric Light.
Frefies are still in advance OF mankin
in the matter OF economical light-produc
ing. The phosphorescent glow which the
give Off is nearly pure light. Very littl
of the energy is wasted in heat, while /
the case Of the lighting devised by ma
more power is used up in producing hea
which is usually not wanted, than Is cor
verted into visible light.
The nearest we have yet come to follow
ing the hrefiies is the mercury vapor ligt
developed by American inventors, which
in the form OF long, glowing tubes ha
been seen In our shop windows as advertise
ments for two years or more.
They produce more light at less COS
than any other practical method OF ilium
nation and would be extensively used
IT were not for the color OF the light.
contains no red rays, but is strongest
the violet end OF the spectrum extendin
far beyond the limits of visibility in the
direction and including an abundance
rays that we can photograph, but cannC
see,
This mercury glow light has made II
while you wait photography" OF tho plea
use parks a possibility, but it is too ghastl
for common use. AS the New York Ind