telephone answering machine

Device attached to a telephone that answers calls with a prerecorded message and then records the messages left by callers.

power-on button

Button for turning the device on or off.

speaker

Integrated device used to generate sound.

record announcement button

Button used to record the greeting on the announcement cassette.

rewind button

Control key used to rewind a tape.

volume control

erase button

Button that erases recorded messages.

stop button

Button that interrupts the playback of the cassette.

on/play button

Button used to play back the cassette.

microphone

Device that converts electric pulses into broadcast or recorded sounds.

outgoing announcement cassette

Cassette containing the greeting for callers.

fast-forward button

Control key used to fast-forward a tape.

listen button

Device that activates the rewind and automatic playback of the message cassette.

auto-answer indicator

power-on light

Signal light indicating that the answering machine is on.

calls indicator

Signal light indicating that one or more messages have been received.

incoming message cassette

Cassettes on which callers’ messages are recorded.