PYE telephone answering machine - whose deck? - UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Discussion Forum

brenellic2000 · 10th Mar 2010, 3:04 pm

Does anyone know about the PYE telephone answering machine of the mid-late 1950s?

There appears to have been two models made; the one I am particularly interested in is circa 1958, supposedly designed and developed for PYE by Gate Electronics (aka R F Electronic Developments of London). It is used a tape recorder drive, possibly made for Gate by Brenell.

If anyone has such a PYE unit, can they me about the tape deck, and can they also photograph it for me.

Many thanks
Barry

Brian R Pateman · 10th Mar 2010, 4:20 pm

I don't have one of these but I have seen one. From memory, and it was a long time ago, the deck looked very "Brenellesque."

We had one at a television shop where I worked many years ago. I don't recall ever seeing it used.

brenellic2000 · 11th Mar 2010, 12:23 pm

Thanks Brian,

When you say 'Brenellesque', do you mean the bog standard Mk.2, Mk.4, Mk.5 deck type? At the time, Gate were developing the electronics for the Brenell 3-Star - a unique single motor deck, piano key deck, quite unlike any other Brenell (Brenelltape.co.uk). I understand the 3-Star may have been a Gate design, and wondered whether it was connected with the answering machine contract.

Barry

Brian R Pateman · 11th Mar 2010, 1:08 pm

As far as I recall it wasn't a piano key type and resembled the Mk2.

I remember thinking it was overkill for a machine to answer the 'phone. I may have had designs on acquiring it at some point for a better use but I was given an enormous Vortexion instead. Bear in mind that this was a very long time ago so my memory is not to be relied on too much.

brenellic2000 · 12th Mar 2010, 2:15 pm

Thanks Brian,

The only ex-Gate contact I have couldn't remember - it was a just another day's work - but does recall having no trouble with the Brenells they used, so I guess it would have been the standard deck rather than the 3-Star.

Now then, what size spools (ie 7" or 4" in comparison) did it use and can you describe it any way - did it look like a tape recorder or was it totally enclosed?

Barry

LukasRedd · 4th Sep 2014, 10:24 am

Hi Brenellic2000!

Seems like I'm a bit late to the game.

I have one of your Gate Electronics answering machines. It's been in my hands for the last two years, I purchased it from the estate of an broadcast technician that lived half way between Melbourne and Adelaide.

It's in perfect condition cosmetically, and does everything but play. Which is interesting. I have a feeling it has something to do with the fact that as an answering machine, it was triggered by a call in. How this trigger works, I'm not sure. I intend to use it as a tape echo for my recording studio, which is an all analogue affair. As I haven't been able to play it properly, I'm not sure of the speed. I hope for it to be 15 ips, but I have a feeling due to the nature of this machine it would most likely be 7.5 or even slower.

Any help would be very much appreciated, and if you'd like any questions answered about this machine please let me know. I'll send you a PM as well.

Here is the link my studio partner posted a while ago about it, there some pictures attached.

http://www.gearslutz.com/board/so-mu...hine-info.html

brenellic2000 · 4th Sep 2014, 2:58 pm

I've been directed to this post by a PM from Lukas! Essentially until I see the deck's nether regions I can't really say much more but it looks prima facie likely to be the Brenell deck. Watch this space!

Nickthedentist · 4th Sep 2014, 3:04 pm

That is a BIG answering machine!!

brenellic2000 · 5th Sep 2014, 2:30 pm

Pye had a 'big' column type answering machine circa 1955 which was superseded circa 1958 possibly by this Gate unit. The Pye telephone musuem/archivists know nothing about it... see also No.5 above! One day....

10th Mar 2010, 3:04 pm	#1
brenellic2000 Octode Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Rye, East Sussex, UK. Posts: 1,647	PYE telephone answering machine - whose deck? Does anyone know about the PYE telephone answering machine of the mid-late 1950s? There appears to have been two models made; the one I am particularly interested in is circa 1958, supposedly designed and developed for PYE by Gate Electronics (aka R F Electronic Developments of London). It is used a tape recorder drive, possibly made for Gate by Brenell. If anyone has such a PYE unit, can they me about the tape deck, and can they also photograph it for me. Many thanks Barry

10th Mar 2010, 4:20 pm	#2
Brian R Pateman Nonode Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Western Lake District, Cumbria (CA20) - UK Posts: 2,136	Re: PYE telephone answering machine - whose deck? I don't have one of these but I have seen one. From memory, and it was a long time ago, the deck looked very "Brenellesque." We had one at a television shop where I worked many years ago. I don't recall ever seeing it used. __________________ Brian

11th Mar 2010, 12:23 pm	#3
brenellic2000 Octode Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Rye, East Sussex, UK. Posts: 1,647	Re: PYE telephone answering machine - whose deck? Thanks Brian, When you say 'Brenellesque', do you mean the bog standard Mk.2, Mk.4, Mk.5 deck type? At the time, Gate were developing the electronics for the Brenell 3-Star - a unique single motor deck, piano key deck, quite unlike any other Brenell (Brenelltape.co.uk). I understand the 3-Star may have been a Gate design, and wondered whether it was connected with the answering machine contract. Barry

11th Mar 2010, 1:08 pm	#4
Brian R Pateman Nonode Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Western Lake District, Cumbria (CA20) - UK Posts: 2,136	Re: PYE telephone answering machine - whose deck? As far as I recall it wasn't a piano key type and resembled the Mk2. I remember thinking it was overkill for a machine to answer the 'phone. I may have had designs on acquiring it at some point for a better use but I was given an enormous Vortexion instead. Bear in mind that this was a very long time ago so my memory is not to be relied on too much. __________________ Brian

12th Mar 2010, 2:15 pm	#5
brenellic2000 Octode Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Rye, East Sussex, UK. Posts: 1,647	Re: PYE telephone answering machine - whose deck? Thanks Brian, The only ex-Gate contact I have couldn't remember - it was a just another day's work - but does recall having no trouble with the Brenells they used, so I guess it would have been the standard deck rather than the 3-Star. Now then, what size spools (ie 7" or 4" in comparison) did it use and can you describe it any way - did it look like a tape recorder or was it totally enclosed? Barry

4th Sep 2014, 10:24 am	#6
LukasRedd Retired Dormant Member Join Date: Sep 2014 Location: Melbourne, Australia Posts: 1	Re: PYE telephone answering machine - whose deck? Hi Brenellic2000! Seems like I'm a bit late to the game. I have one of your Gate Electronics answering machines. It's been in my hands for the last two years, I purchased it from the estate of an broadcast technician that lived half way between Melbourne and Adelaide. It's in perfect condition cosmetically, and does everything but play. Which is interesting. I have a feeling it has something to do with the fact that as an answering machine, it was triggered by a call in. How this trigger works, I'm not sure. I intend to use it as a tape echo for my recording studio, which is an all analogue affair. As I haven't been able to play it properly, I'm not sure of the speed. I hope for it to be 15 ips, but I have a feeling due to the nature of this machine it would most likely be 7.5 or even slower. Any help would be very much appreciated, and if you'd like any questions answered about this machine please let me know. I'll send you a PM as well. Here is the link my studio partner posted a while ago about it, there some pictures attached. http://www.gearslutz.com/board/so-mu...hine-info.html

4th Sep 2014, 2:58 pm	#7
brenellic2000 Octode Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Rye, East Sussex, UK. Posts: 1,647	Re: PYE telephone answering machine - whose deck? I've been directed to this post by a PM from Lukas! Essentially until I see the deck's nether regions I can't really say much more but it looks prima facie likely to be the Brenell deck. Watch this space!

4th Sep 2014, 3:04 pm	#8
Nickthedentist Dekatron Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Oxford, UK. Posts: 17,860	Re: PYE telephone answering machine - whose deck? That is a BIG answering machine!!

5th Sep 2014, 2:30 pm	#9
brenellic2000 Octode Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Rye, East Sussex, UK. Posts: 1,647	Re: PYE telephone answering machine - whose deck? Pye had a 'big' column type answering machine circa 1955 which was superseded circa 1958 possibly by this Gate unit. The Pye telephone musuem/archivists know nothing about it... see also No.5 above! One day....