h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

How do I get the editor to correct an error on both entries under the UK Speaking Clock???

The Edited version is A1002844, Familne, and we can correct this version for you. The other Entry is unedited, which means it doesn't form part of the 'official' guide and can only be edited by the author. It's much more important that we get the Edited version corrected

What error have you spotted?

The Mark 3 clock was not designed by Roberts and Armstrong but made by them to a Post Office Research Station design.
If you wish verification of that fact I can email you a copy of R.R.Walker's article published in The Post Office Electrical Engineers Journal.

As for my credentials; I was a member of the staff at Dollis Hill in the Group concerned and was what would now be described as the Project Manager for th Mark 2 version (a design not used by the British Post Office but developed by them for The Australian Postmaster-General's Department in 1954). I was also instrumental in obtaining from Bell Laboratories in USA a sample of the ferrous oxide loaded synthetic rubber material which Dollis Hill replicated and used in the Mark 3 design. By then I had moved on to other work and therefore was not directly involved, but I was aware of the developments by Ron Walker and his team..

Roberts and Armstrong took over the commercial development of the design and exported a number of units.

Frank A. Milne

Thanks Frank; the Edited Entry now reads:

'The third version of the clock was made by Roberts and Armstrong of Wembley to a design invented by a Post Office Research Station. Roberts and Armstrong took over the commercial development of the design and exported a number of units. Two clocks were held...'

Thank you for your clarification; I've also credited your contribution under 'Additional Research by:' on the Entry. If there is anything else that needs changing, please let me know

Many thanks for your reply and the change you have made to the wording.
Personally I would have used "created" or "developed" instead of invented as the design was developed by combining known techniques. However be that as it may.

Your reference to the London Directory area also needs slight amendment.
It should read "Director" instead of "Directory". A Director was a piece of equipment used in the Autmatic systems of the larger towns in the UK (London, Birmingham, Manchester, Liverpool, Glasgow and subsequently Edinburgh) It was a piece of equipment used only to set up the call by translating the first three digits dialled by the subscriber into appropriate train of digits to route the call. Maybe more than three or less depending on the proximity of the two exchanges involved. This translation also allowed the retention of the manual exchange names and also the adoption of "TIM" for the timeline. That explains the alphanumeric dial in those ares. This design of dial was introduced nationwide when Subscriber Trunk Dialling was introduced but dropped when International dialling became possible, as there was not a uniform dial layout worldwide. "TIM" therefore was changed to a numeric code.

Finally on the number of speakers, may I suggest you update to include the latest change. In addition include Alicia Roland who in 2003 did a week's stint like Leonard Henry for a Charity.

Apologies for the long winded nature of this reply just to delete a 'y' from the text.

FAMILNE