Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1908-02-01
Hit Nail ON the Head.
More Facts About the Automatic Phone

system, styled by the humorist the
"Cussless, waitless, out-of-orderless,
girless telephone" in spite of the fact
that until recently little was known
about it, is by no means new and UNI
tried creation. 1t is more than IA
years since the first exchange was
placed in commission by the Stronger
company, and the original idea as con-
ceived by A. B. Stronger, the first
patentee, dates back to a time almost
contemporaneous with the invention of
the telephone itsen.
Its present high state of develop
ment represents II years of persistent
industry and untiring effort directed
toward the elimination of its limita-
tions. 1t stands Today perfectly prac-
teal institution, demonstrated to be
such by tests of the most rigorous
character, and one that, on account of
the great advantages it offers, bids
fair to revolutionize the telephone in
dustry.
Indeed, the transition has already
begun in earnest, for today there are
in successful operation, "a automatic
telephone plants built by the Auto
matte Electric company of Chicago,
under the Stronger patents Scattered
throughout the states and furnishing
service to an aggregate of nearly $780,
00G subscribers.
Differences in Two.
The apparatus which contains with
in itself such wonderful possibilities
furnishes material for most interest
ing study, and through an adequate
by actual inspection a general idea
can be secured from an explanation of
its construction and operation.
The automatic telephone is, in the
main, like the ordinary instrument,
having The usual receiver, transmitter,
bells, etc, adding outwardly only the
calling dial, a circular metal disk
about four inches in diameter, having
on its periphery 10 finger holes mum
bering from l to 0.
The dial is capable of rotation, be
| ing pivoted on an axle at its center
and its operation constitutes all that a
subscriber is called upon to perform
in selecting the number desired.
Surprising the number $40 is tC
be called. The subscriber first re
places his index finger in the hole
number five and turns the dial down
as far as possible, tnat is, the STOP
provided to limit the distance through
which it may be revolved.
He then releases it and the dial is
restored to normal position by the &C
ton of a spring. This operation i:
then repeated for numbers 4 and ..
then remains only to press the blacl
button underneath the dial to- ring the
bell on telephone No. 542, the connec
lion having been established as thu
result of the several operations of thu
dial. When conversation is completed
disconnection is accomplished by tn
hanging up of the receiver, which act
instantaneously clears the line an
/
is to be made.
If the line called is busy, buzzin
sound Immediately occurs in the r.
f ceiver of the calling phone to give nC
r tice that such is the case.
Internal Mechanism.
The internal mechanism of the tell
phone consists of an impulse sendin
: device, to which in response to tn
: movements of the dial sends o,
across the line to the switchboard
: succession of impulses correspondent
}. in number to the hole in which I'll
subscribers finger is placed, thus a
e tuating the switches in such a wa