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ATM

Automatic Telephone And Electrical Co. Ltd.
Norfork House
Norfork Street
London
WC2
Automatic Telephone And Electrical Co. Ltd.
Melbourne House
Aldwych
London
WC2
Automatic Telephone And Electrical Co. Ltd.
Strowger Works
Liverpool 7
UK


1940s - 1950s logo

Post 1958 logo


Initially the International Automatic Telephone Co. Ltd. Changed their name after incorporating Automatic Electric Co. Ltd.


The company are exhibiting the "Rythmatic" Control System for the remote control of public lighting and other services over supply networks (which has only recently been introduced). 24 different switching operations are available. For the control of street lighting, three operations are required: one for switching-on the lights, the second for switching them off, and the third for a "half light" condition. The Control and Transmitting Cubicle stands approximately 6 ft. high and has on the face push buttons for actuating the equipment. - APLE Conference Programme 1938


The Strowger works, Liverpool, was extended. - Public Lighting #14, 1939


The first installation in Great Britian using the Rythmatic Control System is in Falkirk. - Public Lighting #14, 1939


The "Rythmatic" Control System is again being exhibited. In addition to established features, the push buttons for control can be fitted at any remote point such as the office of a chief engineer, chief constable, and so on. In addition to the three street lighting operations, there's the switching on and off of water heating, shop window lighting, advertising signs, etc. The firm stress its use in peace time but emphasise the use of this system in times of national emergency. Buttons could be arranged to call out Air Raid Wardens, Rescue and Decontamination Squads, Firemen, Doctors and Nurses; and to extingush all street lights and advertisement signs throughout the area. When the emergency is over, "all-clear" sirens can be sounded and street lights switched on. "An interesting feature in connection with these emergency facilities is the development of a portable emergency alarm by means of which controlling officers or other persons may be summoned to duty. These alarms are plugged into the mains supply in the homes of persons concerned or in the homes of friends they may visit or even in the theatre. The alarm unit emits a penetrating audible signal which persists until switched off."

Injects four different audio frequencies at six different impulse timings. Special relays in receiving equipment has two essential components: (a) a tuned circuit which responds to one of the four audio frequencies and (b) two swinging armatures with natural periodicities corresponding to two of the six impulse timings. - APLE Conference Programme 1939


A demonstration piece shows actual equipment operating in conjunction with a pictorial representation of a city. Depicted on a diorama are miniature street lamps, which are operated by means of receiving relays linked to standard self-contained "Rythmatic" unit for sub-station area control. Two switching facilities are shown in addition to the control of street lamps: one shows how Police-call lamps on Street Fire Alarm boxes can be switched "on" from a central control; and the other demonstrates the switching "on" and "off" of domestic water heaters for the purpose of peak load control. - APLE Conference Programme 1945


The "Rythmatic" Centralised Remote Control system is being demonstrated with a mock-up of a power station control room and a model city with street lights. Prominence is given to the galvanometer type relay responding only to one predetermined frequency impulsed at a fixed rate or "rhythm." This dual selective principle of the relay ensures complete reliability in operation and immunity from interference. - APLE Conference Programme 1946




References:
APLE Conference Programme Bournemouth 1938
APLE Conference Programme Glasgow 1939
APLE Conference Programme Glasgow 1945
APLE Conference Programme London 1946
APLE Conference Programme Southport 1947



External Links:
Grace's Guide