Telephone ringer for live theatre.

[Cliff Rogers]

I want a Telephone Ringer to make a real phone ring on the stage in live theatre.
I can't find anything in Australia.
I did find this (http://www.theatricalreality.biz/Ringer/Ringer1.htm) and it would do the job if I can't find any thing else.
Any body have any other ideas?
Thanks.

[Dan]

Some people have a ring tone on their mobile phone that sounds like an old style ringer. Would that do?

[silentC]

You could try one of the electronics places for a kit. Had a look through my DSE catalogue but nothing in there. It's probably not too hard to get a phone to ring, it's imitating the pulses that would be tricky.

Otherwise, I'd look at getting a telephone ring recorded on an MPG player or something and hooking it up to the house PA.

[Wood Borer]

Cliff,

If you remember where you dropped that timber off in Cairns for me, go in and ask for Scott (the owner) or Les, mention my name and I am sure they should be able to help you out.

If you have forgotten the address, send me a PM.

[Bodgy]

Just use your mobile with the ring tone like Dan says.

Let us know the performance times and we can have a bit of fun calling you - see how the actors cope with impro.

[Cliff Rogers]

Some people have a ring tone on their mobile phone that sounds like an old style ringer. Would that do?
Nope, we want the telephone on the stage to ring.


You could try one of the electronics places for a kit. ....
There used to be a kit from the days of EA mag. Silicon Chip have the article in their archieves & I can get a copy for $10 but nobody is producing the kit anylonger.


...If you remember where you dropped that timber off in Cairns for me, go in and ask for Scott (the owner) or Les, mention my name and I am sure they should be able to help you out.....
I just called them, they have a ring generator out of an old switchboard that I can have. I just have to pick it up & then wire it up. Ta Rob. :2tsup:

[Daddles]

You want a telephone that works on the stage (ie, long extension cord to phone plug).
Stage hand plugs it in just before it's needed (to avoid accidents)
Stage hand rings that number when it's needed.
Result? Phone rings on stage.
Stage hand unplugs phone on stage (to avoid accidents):D

Richard

[Cliff Rogers]

You want a telephone that works on the stage ...
Stage hand rings that number when it's needed.
...
What if.... you are performing in a theatre that doesn't have a telephone? :-

This is an amateur theatre company in Malanda.

[joe greiner]

Army surplus field telephones are point-to-point, self powered (magneto at sender), no external connection. Don't know if the sender could power the ring on a regular telephone, though.

Joe (ex US Signal Corps)

[RobP]

I want a Telephone Ringer to make a real phone ring on the stage in live theatre.
I can't find anything in Australia.
I did find this (http://www.theatricalreality.biz/Ringer/Ringer1.htm) and it would do the job if I can't find any thing else.
Any body have any other ideas?
Thanks.

Hi Cliff
Just a few questions.
Are we talking about an old style bell phone or a later model tone ringer or something which will work with either?
How realistic does it have to sound? (50 Hz Vs 16 2/3 Hz)
Simple ring or correct cadence?
Manual or fully automatic operation?
If you know the magazine year & month, there's a good chance I have it & can scan and send it to you.
Cheers
Rob

[Cliff Rogers]

Army surplus field telephones are point-to-point, ....
Yeap, that has been suggsted to me elsewhere but, here in 'oz, the Army doesn't have anything that is suplus until it is totally bloody worn out. :rolleyes:
Our Army surplus stores sell new junk from China. :p

[Cliff Rogers]

Hi Cliff
Just a few questions.
Are we talking about an old style bell phone or a later model tone ringer or something which will work with either?
How realistic does it have to sound? (50 Hz Vs 16 2/3 Hz)
Simple ring or correct cadence?
Manual or fully automatic operation?
If you know the magazine year & month, there's a good chance I have it & can scan and send it to you.
Cheers
Rob

We have both types, currently they are getting by with a cordless using the 'find handset' page button but everybody in the audience will know that is what they are doing. :rolleyes:
So far I have lined up a Ring Generator & the details of how to connect it but all it will do is send the right AC voltage down the line & it will have to be 'switch modulated' by the operator to the correct cadence. (or a simple ring)
If you have a copy of EA Dec '94, that has the article that I want. :2tsup:
Let me know & I'll PM you a direct e-mail address.

[Robynb]

Have you checked out toy shops? I used a pair of toy telephones for this once, and it sounded bery realistic. 2 sets connected by a single cable, each set using a couple of D cells. Hold down the button on one and the other one rings. The operator off stage just has to press and release the button in the right pattern. I have no idea if these are still available, but it would be worth checking out.

[Cliff Rogers]

Have you checked out toy shops? .....
Toyworld......... :brick:
Ta Robyn. :2tsup:

[Wood Borer]

The Aussie cadence is 400ms on 200ms off 400ms on 2000ms off.

[Robynb]

DOH! Make that 'sounded VERY realistic'

[Cliff Rogers]

DOH! Make that 'sounded VERY realistic'
The staff at Toyworld understood you. :D

[bsrlee]

If it was for a 'Candle Stick' phone I have an antique hand generator that works the ringer on one of those - unfortunately all the phones were wrecked when they were pulled out of my uncle's hotel, but my grandfather managed to save me a generator in its shellacked oak box.

As for the 'phone ringing' noise, why not run the sound thru a speaker inside the prop phone - you can use the 'phone line' for the wired connection.

[Cliff Rogers]

...a generator in its shellacked oak box..
Hang on to that, it is a collector's item.


... why not run the sound thru a speaker inside the prop phone - you can use the 'phone line' for the wired connection.
Another option, thanks.

RobP has the issue of the mag that I want so I'm going to get a copy & have a go at making one. :2tsup:

[RobP]

Cliff
You have mail.
Cheers
Rob

[Cliff Rogers]

Got it, thanks.

That circuit will provide the correct cadence to modulate the ring generator I'm going to get from the blokes in Cairns.

All I have to do now is design a reset circuit. :2tsup: