Telephone Answering Device (redirected from answering machine)

Telephone Answering Device 

a device that automatically answers and tape-records incoming telephone calls in the absence of the called party. An answering device usually consists of a dictaphone, a control apparatus, and adapters. The adapters link the input and output terminals of the dictaphone with the telephone line. If necessary, the dictaphone can be replaced with an ordinary tape recorder. Like the telephone set, the telephone answering device is connected directly to the telephone line. When a ringing signal arrives at the control apparatus, the apparatus switches on the dictaphone to deliver a previously recorded announcement. The dictaphone is then switched over to the recording condition to record the incoming message (the operating time of the dictaphone in the recording condition being adjustable). Once the call has been recorded, the dictaphone is switched back to the reproducing condition and turned off; the device is then ready to receive the next call.