LABOR-SAVING DEVICE.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 3244, 14 June 1911, Page 2

LABOR-SAVING DEVICE.

A TELEGRAPH FORM FOLDER.

An invention which is likely to be of economical service in many directions has been submitted to tlie chief officials of the General Pest Office in. the form of a machine for folding telegrams. At present this work has to be done by hand by the telegraph hoys, at the rate of about four telegrams per minute. The machine now on trial, which is the invention. of Mr. L. James, Wellington manager for Messrs J. J. Niven and Co., of Napier, is capable, under ordinary circumstances, of folding fifteen telegrams per minute, and at a pinch, with one boy deftly feeding and another turning the handle, could turn out twenty-five or twenty-six per minute. The machine is a. simple device, consisting of a feeding board, a vertical folder, which Roubles i-t in half and draws it out of sight below the board. A lateral folder of steel, which makes the second fold, a knife-like vertical action, which folds the address part back, and two brass flaps, which, by closing in on the folded form (now held b~ two steel hands) draws the gummed edges past water pads on both sides, and makes the final fold. All that the attendant has to do is to oress the gummed edges together, and the form is folded, .ready for delivery. . In the case of the form now in use, it is necessary, after folding the form, to interlock tiie edges, and affix a seal.' The new style is much neater, and the gummed edges of the form is a more effective means of closure than the seal. As there is a chronic shortage of boy labor, the new machine should prove a real aid to more expeditious and economical work. The offibials regard the invention favorably. Mr. James states that he machine will probably facilitate the issue of circulars, accounts, renewal receipts for insurance companies, rate demands for municipalities, and prove useful in other directions, as it will! dispense with envelopes, whilst maintaining perfect secrecy. He also illustrated how an enclosure can be folded with a form. The invention lias already been patented in New Zealand and Australia.