Katoomba Amusements Company

New Innovations

There has been a flurry of excitement around Katoomba and Leura this past month as several of our prominent citizens have obtained the latest craze that's lighting up the new century as much as Mr Edison's light bulbs have. What I speak of is the 'Edison Bell telephony machinery' that has been implemented in this country, and now, in the Blue Mountains.

First hansom cab off the rank was Miss. Isabel V. Franklin who 'requested' that her father have one of the telephony apparatuses connected to his residence (a copy of her personal Edison Bell courtesy card can be seen at the end of this page). Not to be outdone, the next person to obtain one was, of course, Miss. Leonara Godaire who obtained it for, as she stated to me, 'business purposes'.

Seeing the advantages to his own business and his clientele, Mr. Henry Hedgewick, Esq., owner of Hedgewick's Emporium, sought to be ahead of the rest and had a direct line put in place to his managerial office at his store in Main St, Katoomba.

(The courtesy card for Hedgewick's Emporium.)

It will be anyone's guess as to who will have the Edison Bell company knocking on their door next, but I have heard it on good note that Colonel Farquhear is looking into the idea. Now that will be a turning point for the region, as he has been such a long term advocate of 'pigeon-morse code' as the best modern communication methodology!

Heaven knows what may be next, we will just have to wait and see!

(Taken from The Blue Mountains Echo dated 28th March, 1911.)