address system, allowing people in all public rooms to hear announcements. In June 1910, an initial "semi-public" demonstration was given to newspaper reporters at the Automatic Electric Company building, where a speaker's voice was transmitted to loudspeakers placed in a dozen locations "all over the building".

A short time later, the Automatic Enunciator Company formed in Chicago to market the new device, and a series of promotional installations followed. In August 1912 a large outdoor installation was made at a water carnival held