Abstract: A double cassette deck to be used for a telephone answering machine comprises a main chassis having at least first and second side portions, a driving shaft rotationally retained in the main chassis and having driving portions at both ends extending through the main chassis first and second side portions, respectively, and at least one driving means provided at the main chassis for rotating the driving shaft. Two tape cassettes to be used in the cassette deck are located on the respective side portions parallel to each other, and when the tapes of the cassettes are firmly engaged with the driving portions of the driving shaft, the tapes are moved at a constant speed. The double cassette deck further comprises a first head assembly slidably connected to the first side portion, and a second head assembly connected to the second side portion.

Abstract: A telephone answering system, which may also be employed as a tape recorder, includes a tape having two tracks. A playback/record head is aligned for cooperation with one of the tracks and a control head is aligned for cooperation with the other track. The circuit is connected to selectively intercouple the record/playback head and telephone lines in response to signals received by the control head. The control circuitry may include a flip-flop responsive to the output of the control head, and interconnected by way of transistor gates for selectively directing the transfer of signals between the telephone line and playback/record head.