Telephone answering system and apparatus

A telephone answering device which connects to the telephone line and uses partially prerecorded magnetic recording tape comprising a tape transport mechanism having a magnetic record-playback head and an electric drive motor for moving the magnetic recording tape in a controlled manner across said record-playback head;

• a motor control circuit for operating said tape transport motor;
• a record-playback amplifier which in its playback state amplifies an electrical signal from said record-playback head and applies the amplified signal to the telephone lines, in its record state amplifies an electrical signal from the telephone lines and applies the amplified signal to said record-playback head;
• a record sensor for sensing a record control signal prerecorded on the recording tape to control the state of the record-playback amplifier;
• and a ring sensor for energizing said motor control and said record sensor when a ring signal is sensed, wherein when a ring signal is sensed, said motor control circuit is energized for moving the magnetic recording tape across said record-playback head and said record sensor is energized, whereby when said record sensor does not sense a record control signal, said recordplayback amplifier is in its playback state and a recorded message is applied to the telephone lines and when a record control signal is sensed, said record-playback amplifier is in its record state and a message from the telephone lines is recorded on the tape.