Binatone answer machine , model 3900 from 1981
 

I know its ancient but the owner does not like the new ones that loose
contents on power failure, has standard tapes for messages he can archive,
does not auto rewind to message tape start, 20 minute long messages possible
etc. No message count is the only down side.
I've not repaired one for 15 years or so , so i'm rusty.

It was not responding to anyone dialing in, ie no OGM.
Of course I try it with telco's "line test facility" and it works fine as
far as starting OGM and starting record cycle at end of that, so presumably
an intermittant fault.
The phone lead and plug are fine but
I've not fully taken it apart yet. Other than checking for worn belts,
slippy pulleys, corrosion on manual-change function-switch and change the
cap that charges up analogue fashion after a pot-settable approx number of
rings is there anything else to check. ?


--
Diverse Devices, Southampton, England
electronic hints and repair briefs , schematics/manuals list on
http://home.graffiti.net/diverse:graffiti.net/

Binatone answer machine , model 3900 from 1981
 

In article , N Cook
writes

It was not responding to anyone dialing in, ie no OGM.
Of course I try it with telco's "line test facility" and it works fine as
far as starting OGM and starting record cycle at end of that, so presumably
an intermittant fault.

Is the owner using it on a properly wired extension - i.e. one that has
the ring wire connected to pin 3? The machine might not be detecting
ringing due to a faulty or incorrectly wired extension at the owner's
premises (which is why it works for you).

--
(\__/)
(='.'=) This is Bunny. Copy and paste Bunny into your
(")_(") signature to help him gain world domination.

Binatone answer machine , model 3900 from 1981
 

Mike Tomlinson wrote in message
...
In article , N Cook
writes

It was not responding to anyone dialing in, ie no OGM.
Of course I try it with telco's "line test facility" and it works fine as
far as starting OGM and starting record cycle at end of that, so
presumably
an intermittant fault.

Is the owner using it on a properly wired extension - i.e. one that has
the ring wire connected to pin 3? The machine might not be detecting
ringing due to a faulty or incorrectly wired extension at the owner's
premises (which is why it works for you).

--
(\__/)
(='.'=) This is Bunny. Copy and paste Bunny into your
(")_(") signature to help him gain world domination.

there's only 2 wires actively connected to the innards

Binatone answer machine , model 3900 from 1981
 

In article , N Cook
writes

there's only 2 wires actively connected to the innards

Unusual for a machine of that age, especially if it's BT approved.

--
(\__/)
(='.'=) This is Bunny. Copy and paste Bunny into your
(")_(") signature to help him gain world domination.

Binatone answer machine , model 3900 from 1981
 

Mike Tomlinson wrote in message
...
In article , N Cook
writes

there's only 2 wires actively connected to the innards

Unusual for a machine of that age, especially if it's BT approved.

--
(\__/)
(='.'=) This is Bunny. Copy and paste Bunny into your
(")_(") signature to help him gain world domination.

It has one of those green blobs on the back with also a "Post Office
Certification" sticker but whether they were transfered by Dellboy I've no
way of knowing

--
Diverse Devices, Southampton, England
electronic hints and repair briefs , schematics/manuals list on
http://home.graffiti.net/diverse:graffiti.net/

Binatone answer machine , model 3900 from 1981
 

N Cook wrote:
It has one of those green blobs on the back with also a "Post Office
Certification" sticker but whether they were transfered by Dellboy I've no
way of knowing

In any device that old, I would start by checking or replacing any
relays. chances are the contacts have been tarnished with exposure to
air, arcing or just plain wear and tear. I recently had to clean up a
few on one of those early 80s sharp 'vz-' vertical turntables.
-B.