Telephones as an audio display

[davidbholcomb]

I thought I would through this out there and see if anyone has an idea or solution. You may have seen something that would work for me. One of my collecting hobbies is presidential campaign memorabilia. First thing you think of is buttons, yes, but I collect everything that originates out of our presidential elections, posters/banners, torchlights, recordings, and you name it. Many years ago a man by the name of J. Doyle DeWitt would put on a display of his collection and he had an area to listen to the candidates, by phone! See image below of his display in 1960. I have several 2500 phones but I was wondering if anyone knew of a way to "broadcast" my recordings over the phones. Any and all ideas would be a big help.

[DavePEI]

A number of the Teltone TLS line simulators have a tape input which can be sent to a phone. Not that this is the only way to do it.

A very simple display could likely be done using an audio matching transformer running from the tape output to a phone. However, this wouldn't reset to the beginning when the phone was picked up - it would simply continue from the current position of the tape....

I am sure lots will have ideas which will help!

Dave

[Dan/Panther]

My take on this, is the phone itself, doesn't have as much to do with the operation, as the receiver, and the hook switch do. They are simple tied into a master recording device, and when the receiver is lifted, the  hook switch is made, and the sound comes through the receiver element. Probably no guts in phone, or transmitters. Just using phone as a simple switch,  and speaker, in a phone case.
Like Dave mentions, getting recording back to the start, would be the biggest obstacle. You could run everything through a computer, and reset the disk to the beginning each time the receiver was lifted. Would take some figuring out, but should be straight forward, no real magic.

D/P

[Owain]

If you get an answering machine, that will restart the outgoing message each time. Set it to outgoing message only, and use a ringdown circuit / line simulator / PBX with hotline dial for each pair of phone - ans mach.

There are specialist products for museums that do exactly what you want.
https://www.gilderfluke.com/
http://www.stoplisten.com/product.htm
www.cfsound.com

Here's a BIY (build it yourself) version
http://www.hackvandedam.nl/blog/?p=151


Or you could just use a cheap audio playback chip, wired to a handset receiver, with a press-to-start momentary button if the playback doesn't work with the non-momentary hookswitch. Something like Velleman MK174
http://www.quasarelectronics.co.uk/velleman/mk174-electronic-record-playback-kit.htm

[davidbholcomb]

Fantastic, thank you Dave, Dan, and Owain. I have been hoping to find a solution for this for years. I really like the Stop & Listen site. I think they have just what I need in the Model DAR-100. If I get the thing working I will post the result. Everyone thanks for taking the time and effort to help.

[Owain]

you may want to sit down when you get the prices of the specialist kit, especially if you want to get more than one.

[davidbholcomb]

 

you may want to sit down when you get the prices of the specialist kit, especially if you want to get more than one.

Oh no! I wondered why there were no price sheets. 

[Owain]

If you have to ask the price you can't afford it.

http://www.stoplisten.com/pdfs/Stop_and_Listen_catalog.pdf

Prices are right at the end.

The DAR100 is ... are you sitting down ... $680.  

Some of Gilderfluke starts around $100 ... that's cheap for industrial audio playback. Which is not too bad if you want one, but times 11 just for the post-WW2 presidents ... You think Disney worries about $700 for an audio player...

Viking Telecom do audio message players as well, their prices look reasonable in comparison!

http://www.ipphone-warehouse.com/Viking-DVA-2WA-p/dva-2wa.htm

[teka-bb]

Maybe building your own Asterisk PABX and using it to listen to the audio files is another option?

[davidbholcomb]

The DAR100 is ... are you sitting down ... $680.  

Some of Gilderfluke starts around $100 ... that's cheap for industrial audio playback. Which is not too bad if you want one, but times 11 just for the post-WW2 presidents ... You think Disney worries about $700 for an audio player...

Viking Telecom do audio message players as well, their prices look reasonable in comparison!

http://www.ipphone-warehouse.com/Viking-DVA-2WA-p/dva-2wa.htm

Ouch $680 takes a lot out of the ol' hobby budget! I am going to have to investigate some of the other options because I would like to get 5 of them and it is just too price prohibitive right now. Thanks for the help Owain and teka-bb