Video Parts (3)
This clip is Part 1 of a 3-part film.
MESSAGE,THE Part 1
Description
The original catalog description provided by the Ford Motor Company reads as follows: “Down through the years has come the interesting story of the message. The first traveled only as swiftly as a man’s legs would carry him.” Indian running through woods. “Many different forms of signaling were thought out for short distance communication.” Indian sending, other receiving smoke signals. “The Wigwag.” Three sailors sending signals with semaphore flags from atop building. “Mail delivery.” Mailmen in horse-drawn sleighs. “When Benjamin Franklin made his wonderful discovery --” ‘Ben Franklin’ looking out window at lightning “-- little did he realize that he was finding the greatest messenger of all, electricity.” Ben Franklin with kite and key. “Then many great inventors took a hand to utilize electricity as a messenger, resulting in the telegraph, telephone, wireless, etc.” View of ticker-tape, telephone switchboard, radio. “Sending and receiving messages at high speed by multiplex system. Belts are used to convey messages from operating table to a central point.” Women operating multiplex system, putting messages on belt. “Routing telegrams by use of pigeon holes.” Telegrams dropping down chute, being pigeon holed by woman. “Time is stamped on all telegrams by electric clock.” Woman stamping telegrams. “Routed telegrams are fed to carrier which conveys them to different operative floors.” Women putting telegrams in carrier. “Multiplex distributor and mechanical apparatus for distributing incoming signals. Telegram being received in San Francisco from New York.” “Eleven minutes is the average time required to transmit a message from sender to receiver across the continent.” “Fast stock ticker used for sending New York stock quotations on long distance circuit.” View of man operating ticker. “Morse fast stock wire sends stock quotations.” Men looking at ticker type. “Stock tickers putting stock quotations to the local tickers in hotels, cafes, or other important points. Time required for flashing stock quotations across the continent is 45 seconds.” Women operating piano keyboard type ticker. “Messages from London to New York are received on siphon recorders and are translated by Morse sounder and forwarded to all points in America.” Man operating telegraph key. “A record of all messages is taken at Far Rockaway as they go to London. The average time for a cablegram from New York to London is 30 minutes.” View of recorder. “Training school at cable station.” Students training. “Manual sending and receiving duplex to and from England.” Man with earphones receiving message, while hand in background sends. “Automatic high speed reception -- 100 words per minute on phonographic records.” Man placing record on machine. “Automatic perforator and transmitter sending 100 w.p.m.” Operators at keyboard - tape feeding through machine. “What if Benjamin Franklin could, see his discovery in use with the wireless.” Man explaining operation of wireless to Benjamin Franklin. “Or pick up a telephone and hear someone talking.” Benjamin Franklin at telephone switchboard - operator hands him earphone - he listens with surprise. “The radiophone.” Benjamin Franklin listens to radio. “Heliograph.” Two men standing by biplane operating heliograph - biplanes overhead signal back. “Unloosen your kite and let it fly; perhaps your success will be that of Benjamin Franklin.” Benjamin Franklin at desk, writing by candlelight. “The End.” [1921]
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