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 :-)