Proof that the London Undergound has been in decline since the 1930s: today, automation in the tube is about Oyster Cards, which track riders without their consent or control — but back then, tube automation was "self-service robot information booths" that looked like carny tintype machines.
Twirling a dial helps subway riders find their way, at a self-service information booth just opened in London, England. To inquire how to reach any point in the city, the traveler sets the dial according to a printed list of instructions. The device then informs him of the place's location, the exact fare required, and the number of the platform from which the appropriate train leaves.
Robot Guides Subway Rider In London (Jul, 1933)
