| Show Improving service i I I big item at Bell I i Alexander Graham Bell didn't have much help Inventing the telephone but when it comes to improving on his idea that's another story Every year the inventive public public pub pub- lic lle sends the Bell System thousands thousands thousands thou thou- sands of suggestions for improving Improving im improving Im- Im proving telephone service ac according according ac- ac cording to Dee Severson local manager for Mountain Bell Some of the Ideas are pretty far out Like the one for providing providing providing pro pro- viding communications with the moon moon launch launch a rocket carrying carrying carrying carry carry- ing one end of a telephone wire that would unwind from a huge reel Or a suggestion going for sea going telephone booths Put pay payphones payphones payphones phones on floats oats in the middle of the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans Farfetched or not every idea gets a hearing for no one can be absolutely ly certain when something new and usable will come to the surf surface ace Mr Severson Severson Severson Sever Sever- son said Clearing house for the Bell System on all Ideas suggestions and Inventions Is ATTs suggestions suggestions suggestions sug sug- studies group in New York Among some of the more unusual proposals that have been submitted A counterclockwise telephone telephone telephone tele tele- phone dial f for or people A telephone that could double as an adding machine A Prince telephone In Inthe inthe inthe the shape of a smoking pipe to present a masculine appearance ap appearance appearance ap- ap in comparison with the Princess set Telephones designed in checks stripes and polka dots Installation of windmills and bell devices on an telephone poles to frighten away wood wood- peckers Every suggestion gets a reply as promptly as possible re reflecting reflecting re- re the views of the company's company's company's com com- pany's specialists on the subject subject sub sub- and providing a capsule history of it Mr Severson noted The The writer who suggested use of a rocket to carry a telephone telephone telephone tele tele- phone wire to the moon for example was told that to date a wire had not been manufactured manufactured manufactured manu manu- that could withstand the stresses of a 23 mile span Even If such a wire existed existed existed ex ex- ex- ex isted and were sent to the it was explained that the wire would soon twist around the planet and snap because the moon revolves around the earth and the earth rotates on its axis The year 11 ocean mid-ocean phone booths was g gently told It wasn't likely there would be enough business to cover the cost of putting pay phones there In addition to the difficulty and expense islands I Ito I Ito man-made man of building It would II to house the phones be too costly to tie up a big made mode a a. while someone ship was told I f call The youngster that its it's far better and less telephones telephones telephones tele tele- expensive to put radio something something something some some- phones on board ships thing that's been done since 1929 send Why do so many people In suggested Improvements I I Most are interested l In trying for others hope to be helpful financial rewards Mr Severson I said IAn I An index compiled by the hundreds studies group covers consistently consistent consistent- it of categories which ly Iy recur Pick a topic between i and wire acoustic hoods broadcasting and you may maybe be has written in a a. sure someone t suggestion about it Although original and usable Ideas are rare the door is kept open The next person 1 I Iwho who writes Ive got the an answer answer answer an- an I may well have I j |
