The Waterbury Democrat., 1931-11-21

New York, November 21-(UP) = Three giant corporations went to war today for the nations tele- graphic business, and their battle lines were along an automatic prin- ter system operated by 8 typewri- ter keyboard.
 The Americah Telephone and Telegraph system today opened its new automatic printer system. It permits a businessman in New York, for example, to "ta1k" with his representative in San Francis co or elsewhere simply by pound ing out messages back and forth on the typewriter keyboard.
 And two other giant corpora tions, the Western Union and the Postal Telegraph Company, drop- ped a fight of 40 years standing to join in meeting the new competi- tion offered by A. T: and T. Their to that of the A. T. and T., will start December 1.
 Charges for both services will be on the same basis, the time con- sumed and not the number of words transmitted; officials esti- mated that from 10 0to 180 words could be transmitted during the three minute minimum period on which all charges will be based.
 Service quite similar to that now offered the general public has been in use for years by newspapers ana news service and brokerage houses, banks and the telegraph systems themselves. Their lines, however, were private systems not controlled through a general switchboard.
 A Wall Street brokerage house. for instance could transmit 8 gen. eral message to its branch offices all over the country. and in turn receive telegraphic reports punched" on typewriter key |. board from those branch houses, under the old system. Now 1t may , punch a message into any oIrice with a similar printer"
 A sales corporation with branch houses likewise distributed may in the heat of a torrid sales campaign transmit emergency messages, and receive immediate replies, in short carry on 8 two-way conversation with any or all of its branch houses, or customers.
 Or any business having need for frequent long distance telephone conversations with representatives or clients may "talk"; by automatic printer with those persons. The conversation will be "on record for study and deliberation of both parties, if desired.
 Any business house with an A. T. & T. printer in it's office now may be automatically switched into a circuit with any other A. T. & T. printer. Any Western Union printer may be automatically switched into a circuit with any other Western Union printer, or with any postal printe, and vice versa.
 Previously, such printers have been linked only in private circuits controlled by the business house using it. New switching exchanges to care for the new business, are made necessary. Western Union and Postal plan to complete theirs before Dec. 1.
 Announcements of the Eew com munications service were made by Newcomb Carlton, president of the Western Union, and Colonel Themes Behn, chairman of the Interna- tional Telephone and Telegraph corporation (Postal(, speaking for Western Union and Postal; the A. T. & T. announcement, read m part:
 "A new communication service will be made available Saturday by the American Telephone & Tele- graph company and its assocaited companies in the Bell system.
 This new service consists in the establishment and operation ot teletypewriter exchanges through which teletypewriters - machines that typewrite electrically over wires-may be interconnected when desired and wherever located.
 "In effect the new service will permit the immediate transmission of written messages from any sub. scriber directly to any other sub. scriber just as the telephone now transmits speech.
 'sSoon after the American Tele- phone and Telegraph company wai organized to develop long distance service 1t became apparent that telegraph and telephone channels were complimentary and that the telephone wire system could be adapted to provide circuits to con- cerns needing private wire facili' ties.
 "The first line furnished con. nected the New York and Boston offices of S. M. Weld 6 Company and was put in service on Decem. Der Q, 1887. As the long distance circuits were extended. the private wire service grew rapidly among those having need for con. stant communication with distant branches or correspondents such aa ganks, brokers or press associa- tions.
 "Withln the past Ave years there has been marked increase in ths number of industrial con6orns us. ing them and the variety of use 1hey have found for them. At thz beginning of 1881 the Bell systen'