A DAY OF MARVELS

Gisborne Times, Volume LXV, Issue 10301, 10 January 1927, Page 5

A DAY OF MARVELS

WIRELESS PHONE IN USE

TRANSATLANTIC SERVICE INAUGURATED.

RUSH BY THE PUBLIC.

SCHEDULE TIME EXTENDED

OFFICES BESIEGED FOR APPOINTMENTS.

(United Press Assn.—Copyright.) NEW YORK, Jan. 7.

Enormous public interest was aroused in the opening of the public trans-Atlantic telephone system between New York and London, which was duly inaugurated to-day by a conversation between Sir Evelyn Murray, Secretary-General of the British Post- Office, and Mr. Walter Gilford, president of the American Telephone and Telegraph Co., after which the service was thrown open to the* public. __ Tnere were so many applications in New York and London to speak on tlie first day that the company to-day has- etxended 'schedule time, which normally is 8.30 a.m. until 10.30 a.m. New York time, continuing until late in the afternoon in an endeavor to take care of the rush of the first business. The cost is 75 dollars for the first three minutes, and 25 dollars a minute thereafter, limited to 12 minutes unless calls are slack.

The novelty caught the imagination of New Yorkers to an extent hardly anticipated, hundreds of persons', bank presidents, leaders of industry, professional men, and stage and film stars, seeking publicity by using the system, hoping to advertise their business thereby. They besieged the offices of the company -by telephone and letters, and in person. Over 60 journalists and officials of the company were provided with ear ’phones to cut in on the MurrayGifford conversation. Numerous photographers took pictures of the scene..

Officials declare that it will be difficult to continue the service whilst one continent is dark due to increased static difficulties. The method of making a call is the same as for any distant point, except that the caller has to ask to he connected by the trans-Atlantic operation.—A. and N.Z.O.A.

NEW YORK OPERATOR HEARS ST. PAUL’S CHIMES. PHOTO OF AMERICAN EDITOR IN LONDON IN ONE HOUR. LINE AS CLEAN AS TALKING TO SUBURBS. (Received Jan. 9, 5.5 p.m.) LONDON, Jan. S. The London-New York wireless telephonic service was successfully opened. The moment the exchanges contacted the New York operator heard a clock chime. He asked, “Gee, is that your clock ” London replied, “No that is St. Paul’s Cathedral. Can you hear it?” New York operator: “I sure can.” Official congratulatory messages were then exchanged on both sides. There were some early interruptions, but later the line was as clear as talking to the suburbs. London callers included the proprietors and editors of most newspapers and news agencies, exchanging the latest news wdtlr correspondents of papers in New York. The Daily Express, describing the manager’s easy conversation with Mr Pullitzer, proprietor of the New York World, says : “This did not end the day of marvels. Mr. Pullitzer was photographed while talking, and the picture wirelessed, reached the Daily Express within an hour. Meantime, the sound of Mr. Pullitzer’s voice had been recorded on the phonograph in the Daily Express office. Imagination staggers at to-day’s events. Distance became of no account. The world was constricted into the confines of a suburb.” Many societies exchanged prepared statements with kindred American bodies, but many pieces of real business were transacted. For instance, the banks put through-exchange dealings, the London office of a New York daily telephoned an advertisement, and' a Loudon cinema manager discussed a huge contract with film makers. Several wireless experts report parts of the conversations at the London end were overhead on their sets, but New York was not heard. This is likely to constitute a problem for the Post Office, but it is anticipated it will be overcome. —A. and N.Z.C.A. “ONLY STEPPING STONE TO BOLDER THINGS” DYY OF LONDON-SY.DNEY PHONE AT HAND (Received Jan. 9, H-5 pan-) LONDON, Jan. 9. The Observer editorially states telephony with New York is only the stepping stone to bolder things. The day is close at hand when we shall talk with Melbourne and Sydney.— A. and N.Z.O.A.