Radio age research, manufacturing, communications, broadcasting, television (1941)

Sound Speeds the War Effort (Continmd from pafJic 12) volved for iiitra-office and plant use. A plant manager speaks in the fol- lowing terse but effective words: "The priiiuir\ funilion of our sound system is paginij. Tliis a\erage.s 1,000 calls per day. It is estimated that fi\e niifmtes time is sa\ cd on each call, or a total of appro\imatcly eight) man-hours per day." Hundreds ol similar quotations coidd be produced, emphasizing the increased efficiency in operation that comes with proeedme control by means of industrial loudspeaker equip- ment. What eoidd be more eonvinchig than this e.xcerpt quoted fiom a letter received from a superintendent of a big steel mill: "The RCA sound equipment in our mill has been in operation approximately 1/2 years. I feel that since this installa- tion has been made, 95!; of the mistakes fonnerK- made, due to errors in signal- ing from the heaters to the rollers, hasc been eliminated." The modern industrial plant todav is subject to many stoppages of work due to emergencies of various kinds. Fortunately, air raid warnings so far ha\c l)ccn entireK' a matter of test procedure. Undoubtedly these tests will save lives if hostile airplanes fi- nally should be able to break through our defenses. The <|uick cimtrol ol thousands of people, and the proper instructions for the guidance of these people, can only be made possible through the use of .sound equipment. Tluie are also other emergencies due to fires, explosions, power breaks, anil other unusual happenings. Centralized sound ef[uipment pro\ ides the best and safest answer to the proper control and handling of such emergencies. It has proved its worth manv times in actual installations. Military projects of e\erv kind are now using sound e(|uipment for man\- purpo.ses. In camp, where trained bu- glers are not always available, the stir- ring strains of reveille are ]ilaved o\er the loudspe.iker Ironi a record ni.ide lor tluit purpose. l-"ield maneuxcrs can be directed over wide areas through the use of mobile equipment, antl in a number ol large camps the entire camp has been secti(malized and covered with sound etjuipment so that the camp commander can address the I'u- tire [)ersonnel of the camp, or the \ari- ous unit commanders can handle their separate sections individually. Sound equipment is indispensable at the large air fields, and an interesting de\elopment of this use is the ability to instantly control with one emer- gency switch the entire system for such purposes as direction of per.sonnel in the case of crash landings, or other emergencies of a similar natme. The amplification of recorded nmsie and the distribution of this music throughout large industrial ]')lauts has attracted much attention recenth'. It is estimated that about 3,000 factories in the United .States are now using music for this purpose, and much interesting data has been compiled as a result of this use. Manv magazine articles have appeared on this sidiject. Schedules have been worked out showing the type of music and the proper times during the da\' at which these programs should be heard. \i many plants during the lunch hour, news connnentators antl other current programs are reproduced o\er the soimd system, and quick-step marches are often played as the workers as- semble in the morning or lea\c at the end ol the daily shilt. A number of broadcasting stations arc now reproducing musical programs for the benefit of workers on the night shifts. Apparently the day is fast ap- proaching when national advertisers w ill seize the opportunity now ;ifforded through the reproduction of programs of this sort to thousands of industrial workers throughout the nation. Safety talks imd messages can he broadcast regularly to all employees, and large insurance companies are now devoting a great deal ol study and at- tention to the possibilities afforded in this way of emphasizing safety precau- tions and improved health habits. Cordial cooperation between man- agement and labor is a tremendously important factor in the speeding up of war activities, and the Co\ ernment has gi\cn its stamp ol approval to cam- sriiAiKcic c:oNrnoL points, such as this poweh hoom, \Kt'. BHiNc; EgeiPPEO with TWO-WAY SOVND SYSTEMS TO HEIGHTEN EKKICIENCY, SAVK TIME.