1. A data information signal generator comprising: a plurality of vibratory reeds each having one end fixed to a base structure and the other end free to undergo free oscillation; means to impart free oscillation of each of said plurality of reeds in response to a command signal from a central control station; means engageable with said vibrating reeds to selectively halt their oscillation including rotors angularly displaceable in proportion to a physical quantity to be measured, and projections on said rotors engageable with said reeds to halt their oscillation; and detecting means for detecting the existence and non-existence of the free oscillation of each of said reeds.

2. A data information signal generator comprising: a plurality of vibratory reeds made of magnetic material each having an intrinsic oscillation frequency different from the others and being mounted to undergo free oscillation; means to impart free oscillation to said plurality of reeds in response to a command signal from a central control station; means to control the oscillation of said reeds including at least one rotor having means thereon for indicating a physical quantity to be measured in response to angular displacement of said rotor and a plurality of projections representative of codified physical quantities disposed on the peripheral surface of said rotor to alternatively contact with or be separated from said reeds during angular displacement of said rotor; and means for magnetically detecting the existence and non-existence of free oscillations of said plurality of vibratory reeds in response to a variation of the magnetic flux density caused by the oscillating reeds.

7. A signal generating apparatus for providing electrical signals representative of the consumption of a physical quantity comprising: mechanical signal generating means angularly displaceable as a function of the consumption of a physical quantity to a plurality of different angular signaling positions for providing when in each angular signaling position at least one group of individual mechanical signals collectively representative of a different amount of the physical quantity whose consumption is to be determined, said mechanical signal generating means comprising at least one rotor having disposed thereon a plurality of circumferentially spaced-apart groups of projections, each group of projections being disposed on said rotor at one of said angular signaling positions in an array different from that of the projections in the other groups and representative of an amount of the physical quantity consumed; and signal converting means for periodically converting at least one group of said individual mechanical signals into corresponding electrical output signals representative of the consumption of the physical quantity, said signal converting means comprising at least one group of vibratory members, means mounting said vibratory members for vibrational movement along respective vibratory paths and including means locating said vibratory members relative to said rotor for effecting direct contact between predetermined pairs of said projections and vibratory members whenever said rotor is in one of said angular signaling positions thereby temporarily preventing the contacted vibratory members from undergoing further vibrational movement, actuating means for periodically imparting vibrational movement to those vibratory members not in contact with respective ones of said projections, and detecting means for detecting both the vibrational movement of the vibrating vibratory members not in direct contact with any of said projections and the absence of vibrational movement of the vibratory members in direct contact with some of said projections and providing corresponding electrical output signals.