The TAD-260 has dual cassettes. The ougoing message cassette hold 15
minutes per side and you can flip it over to handle two messages. The
incoming message cassette handles 60 minutes per side, you can flip it
as well so you don't have to record over the most recent messages. It is
a beauty. I suppose that somwhere there is a new digital model that has
all the correct bells and whistles, but it would be a long search.
mm wrote:
(snip)
I bought a machine like that last night at the BARC minifest in
Baltimore. 3 dollars, made in 1990. PhoneMate, Named ADAM, All
Digital Answering Machine. 
A couple big problems: 1) Will only
hold 5 minutes of messages, minus the time you use for your outgoing
message and message transfer message. 2) This model forgets
everything** including your incoming messages if unplugged and the
batteries are dead. But I bought it anyhow because it was so cool.
This was the suggested message transfer message: "Hi, this is Bill
Johnson's phone machine. Could you call him to the phone, please. I
have a message for him. Thank you." Straight out of "Hidden Planet".
I also bought another machine, that turned out to have that feature,
off of EBay, for 10 dollars plus 8.50 shipping. That was a lot for a
machine that turned out not to work, but it was Code-a-Phone so I was
willing to take a chance. It was called a "Commercial" machine, model
7550, so it had a couple extra features, but even though it lights up
etc. I'm having trouble with a lot of them, including just playing
the tape.
**On the other hand, I have a much newer all digital SONY, that has
been unplugged for 2 years or more, and doesn't seem to have
batteries, and it still had all 7 messages that the previous owner
got, in original condition. Because SONY is still in business, I was
able to dl the owners manual, but it is 44 pages and I haven't read
yet how many minutes of message it can hold. (What I really want is a
dual microcassette tape machine, but this is turning into a hobby.)
(snip)
It seems a lot like the VCRs. They used to make some very fancy
machines with many many features, but those disappeared and the last 5
or 10 years they've been making cheap machines with the popular
features, like slow motion, but only the popular features.
These were made for Radio Shack by the major answering machine
manufacturer (I forgot the name) of that time and so thedesign and
quality is exceptional.
mm wrote:
First, an unrelated question: How come phone answering machines no
longer beep every 10 seconds. For the last 25 years or more? Was the
law changed and nobody told me?
Second: I just got at a rummage sale a Duo-Phone machine TAD-114, and
it is labeled "Remote Control". What could they mean by Remote
Control? AFAICT, one has to touch the machine to make it do anything
(except if one calls in and leaves a message).
It's full label is
"DuoFone TAD-114
Voice Actuated * Two Way Record
Dual Cassette Remote Control
Telephone Answering System"
This device was made in 1983, when remote message retrieval with a
beeper existed, and when beeperless remote was just about to start, or
had just started.
But this machine has a knob one turns to go from off to playback to
rewind to answer to announce only to record announcment. Though some
of these obviously change electrical connections, the knob also
changes physical things related to the cassette mechanism. It
couldn't possibly play back messages remotely, afaict. And the
mini-manual glued inside the cover says nothing about "remote".
(DuoPhone is the Radio Shack brand for this kind of thing.)
If you are inclined to email me
for some reason, remove NOPSAM :-)
If you are inclined to email me
for some reason, remove NOPSAM :-)
--
Joe Leikhim K4SAT
"The RFI-EMI-GUY"©
"Treason doth never prosper: what's the reason?
For if it prosper, none dare call it treason."
"Follow The Money" ;-P