Fire alarm tape ‘Cartrette’

Поделиться
HTML-код
  • Опубликовано: 12 сен 2024
  • A cart format I've never seen before which might contain an old emergency message.
    Let’s find out what, if anything, is recorded on it
    UPDATE: A few people have asked for a download of the announcements - they can be found here:
    e.pcloud.link/...
    MERCHANDISE
    Techmoan Merchandise is available from
    nerdkeyz.etsy....
    SUBSCRIBE
    www.youtube.com...
    SUPPORT
    This channel can be supported through Patreon
    / techmoan
    ******Patrons usually have early access to videos******
    OUTRO MUSIC
    Over Time - Vibe Tracks • Over Time - Vibe Track...
    AFFILIATED LINKS/ADVERTISING NOTICE
    All links are Affiliated where possible.
    When you click on links to various merchants posted here and make a purchase, this can result in me earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network & Amazon.
    I am a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to AMAZON Sites (including, but not limited to Amazon US/UK/DE/ES/FR/NL/IT/CAN

Комментарии • 1,1 тыс.

  • @grayholiday
    @grayholiday 20 дней назад +675

    I know puppets aren't appropriate for EVERY video, but thank you so much for including them this time.

    • @solarbirdyz
      @solarbirdyz 19 дней назад +28

      THIS. is a drill! THIS. is a drill! :D

    • @noneofyourbusiness4616
      @noneofyourbusiness4616 19 дней назад +6

      Thanks for mentioning it, because I was looking away from the screen during that segment and completely missed it.

    • @willibald.cornfed
      @willibald.cornfed 19 дней назад +8

      and they provided valuable visual aid to understand what the recording was referring to. much needed and appreciated 😀

    • @button-puncher
      @button-puncher 19 дней назад

      Yeah! LOL'd every time.

    • @derpinbird1180
      @derpinbird1180 18 дней назад +6

      I like the puppets, they're fun

  • @pubsub9832
    @pubsub9832 29 дней назад +1188

    The drill bit may be my favorite of all time. You are truly never lacking Mat!

    • @MR0KITTY
      @MR0KITTY 20 дней назад +178

      The **drill bit**

    • @Colaholiker
      @Colaholiker 20 дней назад +44

      It reminded me of those funny t-shirts that have a drawing of a hammer on them with the text "This is not a drill"

    • @PrinceAlhorian
      @PrinceAlhorian 20 дней назад +7

      @@MR0KITTY Metric or Imperial 🤣

    • @ChishanFipz
      @ChishanFipz 20 дней назад +12

      "I left my drill .... on blueberry hill.... "

    • @katho8472
      @katho8472 20 дней назад +29

      I was hoping the tape also had "This is NOT a drill!" on it, so we could have seen that Muppet rendition too :D

  • @AttilaTheHun333333
    @AttilaTheHun333333 20 дней назад +904

    "This is a drill" made my whole day.

    • @RaccoonHenry
      @RaccoonHenry 20 дней назад +18

      it may be the highlight of all 2024 for me

    • @karlramberg
      @karlramberg 20 дней назад +16

      Yay, puppets

    • @MillerWissen
      @MillerWissen 20 дней назад +24

      Muppets in the video instantly makes it a classic

    • @PaulFisher
      @PaulFisher 19 дней назад +15

      always good to see the puppets back!

    • @boz465
      @boz465 19 дней назад +3

      same here :)

  • @Gappasaurus
    @Gappasaurus 19 дней назад +176

    Was really hoping the actual emergency announcement would say “This is NOT a drill”, and was looking forward to all the things the puppet would point to as NOT being drills 😆

    • @BazilYat
      @BazilYat 16 дней назад +6

      Saaaame

    • @PendragonDaGreat
      @PendragonDaGreat День назад

      Usually you avoid having both halves of an announcement say "drill" to reduce confusion.
      If the drill version says "this is a drill" the actual emergency version should _not_ say "This is not a drill" because you're also going to be contending with all the other sounds up to an including alarms, possibly shouting people, etc. if someone just hears "drill" and they've been hearing it monthly ever since they started working there's a chance they'll assume that it is a drill and act according to that assumption.
      On the flip side if you don't use "Drill" in your monthly tests adding in a "This is not a drill" again alerts people that this is _different than normal_. Especially since you hope to never hear the "actual emergency version"

  • @macgybel7951
    @macgybel7951 20 дней назад +253

    Best recording of a cordless drill ever!

  • @scurvydavescrusade3845
    @scurvydavescrusade3845 20 дней назад +189

    As a fire alarm service technician, inspector and simplex certificate holder, I have yet to see one of these in the wild. So fascinating to see old tech like this. Another great video sir!

    • @ArgaTheRexouium
      @ArgaTheRexouium 17 дней назад +3

      Simplex 2120 voice evac these are from

    • @BillAnt
      @BillAnt 17 дней назад +5

      Just a note about the tape cushion he mentioned in the video not disintegrating, it's made of a felt material which can last a very long time unlike plastic sponges.

    • @superstar64
      @superstar64 15 дней назад

      I'm guessing these days they're just programmed into ROM

    • @BillAnt
      @BillAnt 15 дней назад +2

      ​@@superstar64 - Either on on-board flash or a removable SDcard.

    • @superstar64
      @superstar64 15 дней назад

      @@BillAnt
      That's better actually since it's writeable memory so you can change the messages.

  • @ltsradio
    @ltsradio 18 дней назад +17

    Congrats on being the proud owner of two Simplex 2001-6046 tape players.
    These were used in the 2001, 2100, and early 2120 series fire alarm control panels
    They were later replaced by a digital version that was a plug and play replacement
    for the cassette version you have now.
    To power up the player use pins P1-15 (+24) and P1-13 (0v)
    The audio will play on the internal speaker if the test switch
    is selected to the test position.
    If in the normal position, the audio will output on pin P1-7(350mv ac)
    and Pin P1-1 (0v)
    P.S> The newer digital version had the exact same messages as well.
    Let me know if you want the full pinout to remote control the units by the
    16 pin P1 connector.
    Simplex Tech since Aug 1982.

    • @andrewpenfold6165
      @andrewpenfold6165 17 дней назад +2

      I was wondering why a) there is no obvious on/off position for the 3 switches. If this was sold in Britain you might expect that down=on, but as it was for the USA I guess that up=on.
      But also b) why have 2 switches for the messages meaning you could leave it configured to play both simultaneously or to play neither message, just silence!

  • @bobblum5973
    @bobblum5973 20 дней назад +150

    I caught the need to disconnect the original tape head before you hooked up the new one, but then I've worked in electronics from before those units were new. The add-on tape head signal was trying to drive the existing head, not enough current output to do it.
    I worked a tiny bit with Simplex gear back in the late 80s at work. A master clock signal would drive our wall clocks with an impulse to step the hands to the next minute, no constant motion motor drive involved. It also drove the badge readers for employees clocking in and out, everything matched to the same time that way. For our manufacturing computers we needed to sync to "company standard time", so we were able to buy a Simplex module that would display the date and time when queried with "dd" and "dt" commands over an RS-232 serial comm port. A bit of coding and we had our systems synced to the master clock!
    Thanks for including the -Muppets- puppets in the bit about the drill ("drill bit"? 😄), it adds to the enjoyment of the entire video. 🙂👍

    • @ColdWarAviator
      @ColdWarAviator 20 дней назад +8

      RS-232 Port!
      I haven't heard those words since I got rid of my old IBM XT clone computer 😊 Two 5 1/4 floppies and a green screen monitor... Those were the days. Last thing I actually used the port for was a smart card programmer that was designed to "modify" the code on certain satellite TV decoding box smart cards.
      Not that there was anything wrong with the code... But you know: just modifying it as one does... 😉

    • @snaredude56
      @snaredude56 19 дней назад +6

      Yep. Caught that too. I bet it would have worked fine if he had disconnected the units head.

    • @rashira9610
      @rashira9610 19 дней назад +5

      THIS! I didn't think it might cause a playback problem but as a low level tinkerer (not really a hobbyist or even particularly knowledgeable) I raised an eyebrow at the choice to just tack the wires on with the original ones instead of temporarily swapping them.

    • @antoniosagamuccio7370
      @antoniosagamuccio7370 19 дней назад +3

      @@ColdWarAviator You got me thinking about my 8088 clone. Blindingly fast at 6MHz. So much so, they had to put a "Turbo" switch on the front to slow it down to 4MHz for the software that couldn't handle the speed. Had the prerequisite twin 5 and a quarter drives too. My monitor was selectable tri-color, it had amber, green, or white. I also had a Bernoulli deck with two 10 inch 10 MB drives and an external 10 MB hard drive. Used it for CADD work, writing code for PLCs and project documentation. Used Parallel for dot-matrix, COM for plotters, DH485 for industrial networks, and SCSI for external storage. We switched from Token-ring to Thin-net for engineering office computers when Win 3.11 came out.

    • @BillAnt
      @BillAnt 17 дней назад +2

      OMG I was shouting at the video when he soldered the tape head onto the existing one "Nooooo!! Nooo!! Nooo!!" . lol

  • @CARLiCON
    @CARLiCON 20 дней назад +187

    Interesting the label has "Seattle, WN" but the generally accepted abbreviation is WA, from the internet: "'WN' was the U.S. Coast Guard designation for Washington,” Anthony said. “At one time, the boats had to be registered through the Coast Guard, and when the program transferred to DOL the 'WN' configuration was in place, so we just kept it.”

    • @DeliveryMcGee
      @DeliveryMcGee 20 дней назад +32

      Yeah, this came up recently when I was watching a Twitch streamer play Geoguessr and trying to figure out where he was by boat registrations. State abbreviations before USPS came up with a standard when they implemented ZIP codes were wild. (And for some reason boats still use the old system.)

    • @AnonymousFreakYT
      @AnonymousFreakYT 19 дней назад +9

      @@DeliveryMcGee I was slightly sad when my wife inherited her father's boat, and we had to reregister it _away_ from "WN" to our state, which uses USPS-style. I enjoyed that funky old registration.

    • @LawpickingLocksmith
      @LawpickingLocksmith 19 дней назад

      Nowadays the "migrants" arrive by planes and occupy NYC so Gates and Bezos can dump their wives once their charities are no longer avoid taxes. WA is now now known as: What a Boing Boing Boing.

    • @WillOnSomething
      @WillOnSomething 19 дней назад +17

      @@DeliveryMcGee Even more confusing with boats in Massachusetts being labeled as "MS" instead of "MA", if you didn't know any better you'd think all our boats are from Mississippi!

    • @markfergerson2145
      @markfergerson2145 19 дней назад +8

      @@DeliveryMcGeeThe old designations were probably so the Coast Guard had their unified system. The services that have boats are very big on tradition and likely resisted the change strenuously but the USPS usually wins such arguments. For instance mail delivery vehicles actually still have right of way over police and emergency vehicles- the mail must go through!

  • @Alan_Mac
    @Alan_Mac 20 дней назад +409

    Weird format, bit of DIY jiggerypokery, muppets and a big dad joke? Top Techmoan in other words.

    • @R2k2
      @R2k2 20 дней назад +5

      All was right, it is right up on Matt's street! 👍

    • @edwardlariviere9710
      @edwardlariviere9710 16 дней назад +1

      this is a drill

  • @100SteveB
    @100SteveB 20 дней назад +289

    I was so relieved when i realised it was from the US. I say that because one of my first jobs after leaving school here in the UK was working for a company that supplied security equipment to the trade. And one of my least favourite parts of that job was me recording messages onto tape - we used 8 track tapes over here. The tapes were used in auto-diallers which were used with fire and burglar alarm systems.I must have recorded hundreds of them. This was back in the 80's, just before alarm monitoring companies became more popular for security alarm companies. So the tapes i recorded dialled the emergency services direct. The same tape could then also dial private numbers as needed - to let keyholders know of a problem etc. We supplied equipment to the trade nationwide, so my voice would have been heard by 999 operators all over the country whenever one of these auto-diallers was triggered. That was nearly 40 years ago now, so hopefully none survive now!

    • @paulstubbs7678
      @paulstubbs7678 20 дней назад +20

      Now that is different, I wonder if anything I worked on is out there, where you hope it isn't!

    • @DeadKoby
      @DeadKoby 20 дней назад +33

      I set up VoIP phone systems........... If you call businesses in my region, my announcement that "your call will be answered in the order it was received" is still all over the place.

    • @paul_boddie
      @paul_boddie 20 дней назад +19

      So you're legitimate "voice talent", then? A career in advertising and video games surely awaited.

    • @100SteveB
      @100SteveB 20 дней назад +16

      @@paul_boddie lol, far from it, i would cringe if I heard one of those tapes again.

    • @bahamutbbob
      @bahamutbbob 20 дней назад +35

      Next time on Techmoan:

  • @jrnerdmann2098
    @jrnerdmann2098 20 дней назад +45

    I see you have the proper official manual cassette rewinding system. The Bic Cristal ball point pen. 😂😂😂

  • @FourtyFiftyEighty
    @FourtyFiftyEighty 19 дней назад +34

    That tape player is very cool and very rare as it was only made for a short amount of time before being replaced with a digital model. For anyone curious this is as a modular card addition for a Simplex 2001 fire alarm panel. The card was responsible for playing any desired pre recorded messages. It was very advanced for its time and could play different messages on different speaker circuits. For example in a high rise application, one floor could be saying to evacuate and another could just say to standby. This system was extremely customizable due to its card based design and could do anything from small fire alarm systems to massive high rise voice fire alarm systems. You are correct about the test switch on the unit. I was actually able to test a still active simplex 2001 fire alarm system although it uses horns rather than speakers. Here’s a video link: ruclips.net/video/HIKvdzjddTY/видео.htmlsi=c3Fqg9xcOlvs13gW

    • @dashcamandy2242
      @dashcamandy2242 19 дней назад +3

      Simplex also offered a module with external corded microphone so further instructions could be given in real time. I'm sure you already knew this, but I'm adding to your comment for those unfamiliar with Simplex panels.
      My father installed quite a few 2001s back in the 80s, I was always impressed with how modular these panels were. It seems there were some real forward-thinkers in their Engineering department, the panels were customizable to each client's needs, and were fairly easy to expand as needs changed (whether that be an addition to the building, or a change in local fire codes).
      I'd love to find a cheap, functioning 2001 to hook up in my garage/man cave Just Because. I've got everything I need BUT the control panel. 😁

    • @FourtyFiftyEighty
      @FourtyFiftyEighty 19 дней назад +2

      ⁠​⁠@@dashcamandy2242thats super cool that your dad worked for simplex back then! The company I work for actually still services and inspects a 2001 that has speakers as well as the remote microphone, however it doesn’t have this message player so it only whoops. I sadly couldn’t be there during the inspection this year to get footage. Hopefully next summer I can

    • @parker02311
      @parker02311 15 дней назад

      @@FourtyFiftyEighty local building where I live has a 2001 that was turned off completely and no other fire protection, multiple pull stations pulled. I haven't been by in a while, still wonder if its there, would love to get my hands on one.

  • @sausage5849
    @sausage5849 20 дней назад +264

    Cool to see the Mattpets make an appearance again!

    • @PeterEdin
      @PeterEdin 20 дней назад +25

      Don't know why the puppets disappeared, I miss them.

    • @throningermine8
      @throningermine8 20 дней назад +28

      ​​@@PeterEdin Three words: Made For Kids. Would you trust the AI bot RUclips uses to comply with COPPA not to think your puppet skits are child-oriented - resulting in targeted advertising, comments, the mini player, and the option to save to a playlist being turned off - when it flagged Don't Hug Me I'm Scared, South Park, and The Angry Video Game Nerd?

    • @PeterEdin
      @PeterEdin 20 дней назад +15

      @@throningermine8 I remember the slogan "RUclips, TV you control", now it TV they control. It's like Flickr, both a shadow of it's former self, not as good as it used to be.

    • @unduloid
      @unduloid 20 дней назад

      Can't say I ever really cared for them, to be honest.

    • @PeterEdin
      @PeterEdin 20 дней назад

      You could tell that Matt was struggling with the voices at times.

  • @Lumibear.
    @Lumibear. 20 дней назад +169

    Just when you think you’ve seen every dead format, Techmoan willl show you another.
    How neat is that cassette tape? Purely practical pragmatism personified.

    • @Lumibear.
      @Lumibear. 19 дней назад +3

      @@TD75 it’s a theory! But it felt like a design that could’ve caught on, in different days.

    • @Kalvinjj
      @Kalvinjj 19 дней назад +2

      @@TD75 A very valid hypothesis, since just using any other readily available endless loop system would cut a lot of engineering time, but would incur in licensing fees instead. Cheaper to bring to market but more expensive to produce and sell, so it seems they opted to go the other way instead.

    • @ian_b
      @ian_b 19 дней назад +4

      This past didn't exist until the Universe reconfigured itself to produce more weird ancient tape formats for Techmoan.

    • @Lumibear.
      @Lumibear. 19 дней назад +2

      ​@@ian_b of course that makes perfect sense! ;)

    • @tsm688
      @tsm688 14 дней назад

      @@TD75 Patents are responsible for so much stupidity.

  • @garrylawless3550
    @garrylawless3550 20 дней назад +39

    I also loved the 'This is a drill' sketch. You have incredible patience, and I always admire your skills, I've started doing a lot of things since I started watching your channel, bought 70's hi-fi separates, and started servicing cassette decks, all thanks to you. 👍🏻🙂

  • @pogostix6097
    @pogostix6097 20 дней назад +55

    "This is a drill" gave me a good chuckle. I do actually, for reasons that are fairly stupid, own 3 power drills, so I could do a different drill for each bit lol

    • @bostonrailfan2427
      @bostonrailfan2427 19 дней назад +5

      it would have been hilarious if the Mattpets had a different drill for each

  • @kloudykatt
    @kloudykatt 19 дней назад +34

    Fun fact, those messages are STILL used today in new Simplex fire alarm systems (with what's called voice evacuation) and those might have been some of the highest quality recordings I have personally heard. Today, they are played back on flash memory as tapes are a little old to be used in a new building.

    • @v12alpine
      @v12alpine 16 дней назад +3

      Was awaken by this recording in a relatively modern (90's maybe?) hotel room. The recording was very scratchy and had a creepy vibe.

    • @rusefoxghost
      @rusefoxghost 10 дней назад

      Yep! I'm fairly certain these were used for a Simplex 2001 panel, and were re-recorded later on for the 4001 series, different speaker but same wording. That's the one used to this day!

    • @ironmatic1
      @ironmatic1 6 дней назад

      Yeah I'm used to this recording sounding absolutely crap

  • @CR4MPRODUCTIONS
    @CR4MPRODUCTIONS 20 дней назад +169

    The alarm announcement was used in my college dorm. When the alarm was triggered, it would start with the classic 3 chirps and flashes, then play the announcement, then chirp another 5 times, then play again, and chirp the remaining times. Not sure if the system was tape driven with this device, but I'd imagine so being built in the 60s.

    • @Thing95
      @Thing95 20 дней назад +10

      its most likely from the 90s as that is when voice evac systems got popular and when code 3 was made the standard.

    • @floatpvnk
      @floatpvnk 19 дней назад +6

      Sounds way less annoying that the fire alarms we had in school in the 00s and 90s

    • @adampope5107
      @adampope5107 18 дней назад

      ​@@floatpvnkyeah which makes it easy to ignore.

    • @trevorhaddox6884
      @trevorhaddox6884 17 дней назад +2

      The alarm system in my high school built in the 70s was just AC powered electromechanical buzzers in red square boxes. They didn't pulse or anything, just a steady low tone. And they had the brilliant idea to put sounders by the doors, so when you left you got a blast right in your ear. My middle school was actually more modern, with the xenon lights and talking alarm. It didn't beep, just shouted at you the attention alert and told you to get to the stairs and avoid the elevator.

    • @rusefoxghost
      @rusefoxghost 10 дней назад

      Older Simplex panels, if I'm remembering correctly, were programmed to play the message 3 times before returning to the alarm tone. Sounds like that's what was happening!

  • @thespazdragon
    @thespazdragon 19 дней назад +10

    Seeing a puppet return made my heart smile. Wonderful video as always, thank you.

  • @vibingwithvinyl
    @vibingwithvinyl 20 дней назад +16

    0:13 Call me Al. Thanks.

  • @Sonnell
    @Sonnell 20 дней назад +32

    Loved the "drill bit"! You know, bit... :)
    A small advice: When dealing with tape, always use non magnetic screwdrivers.

  • @MrBeep2010
    @MrBeep2010 20 дней назад +31

    It's honestly fantastic to see your puppets back, missed them!

  • @rogerlundstrom6926
    @rogerlundstrom6926 20 дней назад +258

    I can hear the salespitch now.. "... and in case of a fire, this tape.. will melt... "

    • @brokeandtired
      @brokeandtired 20 дней назад +27

      Its more of an automated way to direct people to exits in advent of fire. No staff need risk their lives getting to the announcer room. In the days before digital, this would be a good way to do that.

    • @demcomp
      @demcomp 20 дней назад +14

      ".... This message shall self destruct"

    • @FisherMan-bh9dn
      @FisherMan-bh9dn 20 дней назад +8

      ​@@brokeandtired I do believe Roger was joking.

    • @thetechsavvy01
      @thetechsavvy01 19 дней назад +1

      ​@@demcomp😂😂

    • @HiddenWindshield
      @HiddenWindshield 17 дней назад +1

      "If you can hear this message, the fire has not yet reached the equipment closet."

  • @johnhunter4770
    @johnhunter4770 19 дней назад +8

    Im so glad to see one of the puppets back. I really miss those closing sketches

  • @Nintendo_Freak8x
    @Nintendo_Freak8x 20 дней назад +112

    You dig the most curious technology out of the swamp of oblivion. That's what I like so much about your channel.

  • @angusmclaren6257
    @angusmclaren6257 18 дней назад +3

    I love seeing unusual recording/playback devices and storage

  • @mekaHX
    @mekaHX 20 дней назад +22

    A simplex 2120 and 2001 audio controller! Awesome acquisition, the control panels those audio units attached to were a big deal back then.

    • @al81007
      @al81007 20 дней назад +7

      I worked for Simplex around that time and the company had a habit of signing exclusive deals with suppliers. If Simplex didn't buy enough, suppliers would go belly up. Those units were replaced with standard cassette play mechanisms over time. I was in the sales department, so not familiar with operation of the equipment (back then very compartmentalized operations). Nicely done

    • @mekaHX
      @mekaHX 19 дней назад

      @@al81007 awesome to see other people who've also worked in simplex seeing this video. While I might've not been around when those panels were in their hay day I've learned quite a bit about them when I can because I absolutely love the older equipment and can honestly say, very impressive systems for their time and they offered quite a bit. Entirely custom programs, onboard printer for hardcopy records, ability to have a terminal connect to it via an RS232 port and the later ones offering full graphics support to show the location of an alarmed device in a facility, networkability to other panels in a building and/or campus, integration with building automation equipment and quite a few other things as well, Definitely a goal of mine to get a hold of one someday lol. glad they swapped over to more standard cassettes instead of keeping with those ones.

    • @ltsradio
      @ltsradio 18 дней назад +1

      You forgot the 2100 multiplex
      You know, the fire alarm CPU running a Motorola 6800
      at 900 khz clock speed and the transponders at 300 baud.

    • @mekaHX
      @mekaHX 17 дней назад

      @@ltsradio completely forgot about 2100, thank you for mentioning it. That was another neat system of the time

  • @cmeier
    @cmeier 18 дней назад +3

    The puppet drill bit was so funny. Yeah to using the puppet again. Great video.

  • @chrislehmier
    @chrislehmier 20 дней назад +16

    When a micro cassette and a floppy disk love each other very much...

  • @LorenzoLeonardini
    @LorenzoLeonardini 20 дней назад +47

    the drill bit (pun intended) cracked me up

  • @voltare2amstereo
    @voltare2amstereo 20 дней назад +29

    waited for a "this is not a drill" with a hammer or something but it wasnt to be

  • @BurleyBoar
    @BurleyBoar 19 дней назад +3

    Your pronunciation of Oregon was perfect. Thank you. Also love your humor and puppets along with your earnest love of what you show. Again, thank you.

  • @kassemir
    @kassemir 19 дней назад +15

    Honestly, just glad to see the puppets again. I get that most people didn't like the skits, but I always liked them :)

    • @timfischer
      @timfischer 18 дней назад +1

      "Most people"?? I liked them, and I didn't comment to say I liked them. I bet many more people were the same. And I bet a lot higher percentage of people who hated them commented than those who simply liked them. They were always at the end of the video and easily skipped if you didn't like them.

  • @urielbourque
    @urielbourque 19 дней назад +13

    20:45 What you've just done is going to be very well appreciated by many fire alarm enthusiasts (yes, that is a thing). If you ever have the time, I think lots of people would appreciate lossless recordings of those messages for hobby fire systems or archival purposes.

    • @segamon
      @segamon 19 дней назад +3

      Rep. Jamaal Bowman would probably appreciate it.👍

    • @meechmushrooms
      @meechmushrooms 19 дней назад +2

      ​@segamon I hate that I understood this reference. 🤦🏻‍♂️

    • @Techmoan
      @Techmoan  19 дней назад +6

      I’ve added a download link in the video description.

    • @urielbourque
      @urielbourque 19 дней назад +2

      @@Techmoan Awesome, many thanks!

    • @urielbourque
      @urielbourque 19 дней назад +2

      @@segamon just looked this up, wtf

  • @jinky0u812
    @jinky0u812 18 дней назад +2

    As always, a complete joy to watch! Thanks Al for sending these to Matt!

  • @alexandersalarms5380
    @alexandersalarms5380 19 дней назад +6

    The autocall CD-NA and many other 1970s- 1980s fire alarm voice evacuation systems, used tape decks too, that looked either like this or worked similarly. Mirtone ones, straight up just had a tape player in them built in! this old history is incredible and should be preserved.

  • @MrButtonpresser
    @MrButtonpresser 20 дней назад +17

    Techmoan battles with the obscure audio formats so we don't need to. Great work.

  • @siacadp
    @siacadp 20 дней назад +19

    Very similar to the announcements at my work office. Although being British it's a bit politer saying "Attention please" and calls them lifts instead of elevators.

  • @calebbell5018
    @calebbell5018 19 дней назад +4

    Glad Matt is getting a few ideas for Puppet involvement again :) it's good for a laugh!

  • @TheObserver3
    @TheObserver3 20 дней назад +22

    This is a drill, this is a drill, this is a drill 😂

  • @monotonehell
    @monotonehell 20 дней назад +16

    Was screaming at my screen - you should not hook the heads up in parallel! lol
    Also I like your shirt.

  • @TuesdayOra
    @TuesdayOra 19 дней назад +4

    Fun fact, there is actually a digital version of this! These would’ve gone with the “voice evacuation” system on a Simplex 2001, 2100, or 2120. They’re usually paired with tone generators that produced a repeating 3-5 second whooping tone. The other version of this uses a ROM chip to store the messages as far as I know, which is what one other person has in a complete system. The same message format is still being used today, although they have since changed voice actors twice from when that was made.

    • @bostonrailfan2427
      @bostonrailfan2427 19 дней назад +1

      was this implemented in the 90s? i recall my high school having a similar system when it opened in 1996

    • @TuesdayOra
      @TuesdayOra 19 дней назад +1

      @@bostonrailfan2427 These were implemented sometime in the early 1980s when these systems first released. Yours probably had a 4100 plus, which used ROM chips to store the voice alarm

  • @nhand42
    @nhand42 20 дней назад +7

    The most sensational, inspirational, celebrational, informational, RUclips Show

  • @hfric
    @hfric 20 дней назад +10

    🤣🤣😂😂 16:28 don't ever stop using those puppets man ... 🤣

  • @misterx420
    @misterx420 20 дней назад +7

    14:00 - I repaired countless tapes back in the day without the aid of a tape splicing kit and they all still work fine today. In fact, I've never used one. A tape splicing kit isn't necessary. You just have to be careful. Cheers Mat!

  • @gilmour73
    @gilmour73 19 дней назад +7

    The long awaited return of the Techmoan Muppet Revue!

  • @herbiehusker1889
    @herbiehusker1889 20 дней назад +8

    This is a drill...this is a drill. No flippin' heck, i thought it was a hammer.

    • @mrnmrn1
      @mrnmrn1 20 дней назад +2

      You were correct, everything can be used as a hammer.

  • @TOOLMANTIMSWORKSHOP
    @TOOLMANTIMSWORKSHOP 28 дней назад +41

    Matt I never tire of your videos. This was truly a product/format lost to time that you are able to archive. Thanks for everything you do. This would be as close to a perfect techmoan video there is. An odd tape format, a successful rebuild, recordings on the odd format and of course puppets

  • @KidderVerseFireSystems
    @KidderVerseFireSystems 15 дней назад +1

    As a fire alarm enthusiast (yes we exist) I have to say seeing this old Simplex system is awesome, I applaud your efforts into get the tapes wound in a new cassette. Thank you for sharing this techmoan

  • @jonleonard1555
    @jonleonard1555 20 дней назад +27

    I appreciate the "disassembly music track". 4:03 and 9:34. Well chosen.

    • @zsoltike
      @zsoltike 19 дней назад

      Can you tell the title? I've been listening to it again-again, seems familiar, but I can't recognise it:))

  • @K-o-R
    @K-o-R 18 дней назад +2

    It amazes me how compatible tape is between formats.

    • @dudidudoh
      @dudidudoh 17 дней назад +3

      the beauty of analog saved information.

  • @MaxStax1
    @MaxStax1 20 дней назад +15

    I would have liked to have heard "Run for your Lives!!" "Every man for Himself!"

    • @DerekLippold
      @DerekLippold 18 дней назад

      Nah, when I was in college the fire alarm often went off (drills or whatever) and it was “Please evacuate the building” or something but it was pretty chill and quiet (especially for a fire alarm) so it’s good there wasn’t ever the fire. Also, the dorm wasn’t even up to fire code.

    • @hurricane567
      @hurricane567 18 дней назад

      Denethor, Steward of Gondor?

  • @davidblankenship7985
    @davidblankenship7985 20 дней назад +9

    Looks like Techmoan only has one drill. Don't buy a second! They breed! I have 5 or 6 and only remember buying 2

    • @kappaskurlass1301
      @kappaskurlass1301 19 дней назад +1

      Tool ‘acquisitions’ I guess 😂

    • @rambo1152
      @rambo1152 18 дней назад

      Remember the days when you bought a cordless drill for £100 and they gave you a free battery and charger? Now it seems they want £100 for the battery and charger and you get the drill free, and they (Ryobi) think that's clever marketing.

  • @mitschiewaldmann9450
    @mitschiewaldmann9450 20 дней назад +8

    This is a drill 😂😂😂 made my Day!!!

  • @rikp
    @rikp 18 дней назад +2

    It's always interesting to discover "lost media," even when it's just an emergency warning.

  • @rexthewarhorse7110
    @rexthewarhorse7110 20 дней назад +10

    I come here for the tech and stay for the wonderful humor 😅
    This is a drill...

  • @WorldCupWillie
    @WorldCupWillie 20 дней назад +6

    It's Saturday morning and I'm having a rare lay in. The wife and kids are all out doing various activities and for once, my chauffeur services weren't needed. And to top it off, Techmoan has uploaded a new video. 👍

  • @joelachiana9912
    @joelachiana9912 20 дней назад +8

    Good episode! When you think we've seen all the cassettes here's another.

  • @johnlewan1114
    @johnlewan1114 12 дней назад +2

    Nice of them to create that tape format just so we know what a drill is. You and your puppets always make my day, thanks Matt!

  • @Ericstrains
    @Ericstrains 20 дней назад +79

    Up with insomnia, which stinks, but it's better when a new Techmoan video gets posted. Thank you!

    • @cebruthius
      @cebruthius 20 дней назад +3

      Ever had a sleep study done? My insomnia was caused by UARS. I can finally sleep now.

    • @phillipmarnik
      @phillipmarnik 20 дней назад +1

      One positive, only three more sleeps to Christmas?

    • @ShriekingSardonic
      @ShriekingSardonic 20 дней назад

      I stayed up 36 hours yesterday, absolutely miserable time.

    • @turokforever007
      @turokforever007 20 дней назад

      I didn't really sleep for around 15 years. i would manage to get 2 or 3 hours every few days if i was lucky

    • @AlbySilly
      @AlbySilly 20 дней назад

      Hope you don't feel too tired tomorrow

  • @mattrobinson973
    @mattrobinson973 20 дней назад +6

    I was concerned that the ambitious plan at the start was going to work perfectly there for a minute. Mat’s frustration is always to our benefit!

  • @frankowalker4662
    @frankowalker4662 20 дней назад +3

    I must have used about 20 cassette players to get various tape based systems to work in the past. Both mono and stereo.
    Neat little tapes. I like the design.

  • @hobpie
    @hobpie 20 дней назад +4

    One of your most enjoyable "personal journey" videos!

  • @someonebald2022
    @someonebald2022 20 дней назад +30

    Yet another addition to the "Unusual Tape Formats" collection. Good to see the puppets back, too. 🙃

  • @michaeldeloatch7461
    @michaeldeloatch7461 20 дней назад +2

    @ 5:30 -- OK, right now there are about 6 or 7 indie bands out there somewhere scratching their heads and saying -- "hey let's release our next album on cartrette!"

  • @NiddNetworks
    @NiddNetworks 20 дней назад +6

    What a weird twisted little cassette cartridge! And an awesome 20 min video on the format and content. The "This is a drill" part of the announcement almost sounded British English to my ear... Then the rest was definitely US English. Can't start my weekends without Techmoan! Cheers, Mat.

  • @ukfireenthusiast2301
    @ukfireenthusiast2301 20 дней назад +15

    The fire alarm community will have a field day with this video

    • @NLind
      @NLind 19 дней назад +2

      Yep we are! Starting to make the rounds.

    • @Techmoan
      @Techmoan  19 дней назад +1

      I’ve added a download link in the video description.

  • @mitchelldries6628
    @mitchelldries6628 19 дней назад +3

    i lost it with the puppet "this is a drill" part!🤣

  • @pkunkbwok
    @pkunkbwok 20 дней назад +20

    Fire! The untamed element. Oldest of mans mysteries. Giver of warmth, destroyer of forests. Right now, this building is on fire. Yes! The builing is on fire. Leave the building - enact the age old drama of self preservation.

    • @Colaholiker
      @Colaholiker 20 дней назад +3

      Isn't that a quote out of some movie? I am trying to recall why this reads so familiar...

    • @callumrobertson1081
      @callumrobertson1081 20 дней назад +6

      It's from Germlins 2. ​@@Colaholiker

    • @Colaholiker
      @Colaholiker 20 дней назад +1

      @@callumrobertson1081 thanks, now I remember! 😂

    • @georgeyreynolds
      @georgeyreynolds 20 дней назад +2

      The fire alarm at my place of work says 'Please remain calm and await further instructions' as one of the messages .. .

  • @SomeOrangeCat
    @SomeOrangeCat 20 дней назад +2

    That man's voice probably hasn't been heard for decades. A ghost from the past.

  • @tylaranderson8559
    @tylaranderson8559 19 дней назад +3

    Great video, especially the
    " this is a drill"
    part

  • @BryceLynch838
    @BryceLynch838 18 дней назад +1

    I've done security in different office towers for years and I've got a lot of experience on how to use modern fire alarm PA systems. They always have an automated message where you turn a key to run the emergency signal and a mike for backup where you can read the signal to the floors in case it doesn't work. I imagine these had to have a backup as well in case the tape jammed during an emergency.

  • @mackpines
    @mackpines 20 дней назад +31

    OMG! The puppet bit!😂😂😂😂
    The cartridges kinda look like a cross between an 8 track and a floppy disc.
    Too bad we didn’t have announcements like these in school before the fire alarm went off for testing. Would’ve been better prepared for the loud noise.

    • @xaenon
      @xaenon 20 дней назад

      I thought it was a Playtape at first. TM did a video about those a while ago.

  • @oliverw.douglas285
    @oliverw.douglas285 19 дней назад +2

    Good show Mat. Demonstrating that old Simplex Announcement System was actually very interesting. My kids caught the part with "This is a Drill", & loved it. Very cheeky my daughter says. :)
    The voice on the tape reminds me of a friend's car in the early 1980s, that would say in a very robotic voice, "The door is ajar". His little sister would often say back to it, "No silly, it's a door!" :p. Good Memories. Thanks.

  • @Iconoclasher
    @Iconoclasher 20 дней назад +4

    It's interesting they came up with a different tape format. They could have used an off the shelf cassette mechanism with an endless cassette tape. (those were a thing)

  • @PascalGienger
    @PascalGienger 18 дней назад +1

    STAAR (usines Gustave Staar) began as record players manufacturer in the 1930ies.
    They invented a special tape capstan system in the 1970ies and it was often used by JVC, Pioneer and others. Cassette decks with "Under license from Staar SA, Belgium" text on the back.

  • @GunnarMiller
    @GunnarMiller 20 дней назад +4

    I really enjoyed this! I'm a bit surprised the DC motor voltage wasn't marked/labeled. One thing that you could've used for an initial trial was one of those cassette-to-aux adaptors; that way you could've kept that cheap-but-cheerful cassette player intact.

  • @edrose5045
    @edrose5045 20 дней назад +6

    I suspect that leaving the other play head connected was destroying the signal. Either that or the older tape head was broken. Either way, well done recovering the original audio!

    • @Techmoan
      @Techmoan  20 дней назад +4

      Yep 15:33

    • @edrose5045
      @edrose5045 20 дней назад +1

      I didn't notice the speech bubble, sorry to repeat what you already knew!

  • @ThinkDifferentlier
    @ThinkDifferentlier 20 дней назад +10

    It’s time for the Bang&Olufsen cassette deck.

  • @terrynutlob4073
    @terrynutlob4073 20 дней назад +1

    That was great. To hear those announcements was true history. I love this channel for that reason, plus you're a fabulous presenter and make old tech projects fascinating.

  • @peterofenback9263
    @peterofenback9263 20 дней назад +5

    It's fascinating that you're still finding more exotic sound media formats. I wonder, though, why the manufacturers thought this variety of formats was necessary.

    • @CARLiCON
      @CARLiCON 20 дней назад +4

      Trap the customers, that way they have to purchase replacement tapes rom Simplex

    • @KaitouKaiju
      @KaitouKaiju 19 дней назад +1

      Proprietary bullshit
      Very occasionally the use case will be so niche that it does require a new solution

  • @EASsirenVids01
    @EASsirenVids01 13 дней назад

    I bet these old simplex cards are VERY rare! So many fire alarm enthusiasts would love to get their hands on them! And also THANK YOU for recovering these messages!! The fire alarm community has wanted this for YEARS!

  • @FatNorthernBigot
    @FatNorthernBigot 20 дней назад +13

    Techmoan's frequent graphic corrections of the original video implies RUclips viewers are both pedantic and desperate to point-out errors. I'm sure this isn't the case. 😂

  • @draygosmith
    @draygosmith 20 дней назад +2

    Good to see these obscure formats get documented! And it's fascinating to me to hear the kind of announcements that people from back in the day would have heard preserved as well, instead of being lost to time.

  • @PhD63
    @PhD63 20 дней назад +6

    Matt’s opening comment made me smile, everything he shows is unusual 😂.

    • @michaeldeloatch7461
      @michaeldeloatch7461 20 дней назад

      Right? I was thinking, well you can knock me over with a feather...

  • @danhorton6182
    @danhorton6182 19 дней назад +2

    Hello from Salem, Oregon! About an hour south of Portland. Thank you for pronouncing Oregon correctly!

  • @Hope_Boat
    @Hope_Boat 20 дней назад +4

    Must have been used in a tools store to inform people what kind of tool they are looking at back then when drills were a novelty still.

  • @demcomp
    @demcomp 20 дней назад +2

    Mat, when I heard "This is a drill"... I wasn't looking at the screen
    And I thought.. "he'd better be showing a drill..."
    I was so happy to see you never disappoint!
    Hats off to you!
    Enjoy your weekend

  • @KevinT3141
    @KevinT3141 20 дней назад +5

    Seems like it would have been right at home in a broadcast studio as a far more compact version of the NAB cartridge.
    Thanks for the puppet reappearance, that was a good one!

  • @JohnKiniston
    @JohnKiniston 13 дней назад +1

    Love the puppets, your skill at repairs has come so far in the years u have watched you.

  • @artempriadko6974
    @artempriadko6974 20 дней назад +3

    As always, you are the real gem on RUclips, Techmoan

  • @mrawesome2524
    @mrawesome2524 20 дней назад +2

    I laughed out loud at “Puppet Drill”. Classic!!

  • @blinski1
    @blinski1 20 дней назад +6

    Nyshnehtta! Nyshnehtta!

  • @matthewgragg2152
    @matthewgragg2152 20 дней назад +2

    Happy to see a puppet on here again. Love the bit.

  • @Jamato-sUn
    @Jamato-sUn 20 дней назад +6

    Yes, yess! My thirst for obscure tech will be satiated for one more day!

  • @CMDRSweeper
    @CMDRSweeper 4 дня назад

    Those puppets made me remember the simpler times of this channel and really made me chuckle.
    Great throwback fun!

  • @mjouwbuis
    @mjouwbuis 20 дней назад +5

    Staar in Belgium held a lot of tape related patents. Might be worth some research.

    • @adamstan84
      @adamstan84 19 дней назад

      If I'm not mistaken, they were also co-credited for Compact Cassette together with Philips.

  • @MrSirViking
    @MrSirViking 16 дней назад

    I love the little guy that comes up in the corner to correct stuff. I think its a great way and probably easier way to correct errors. And once again another interesting video about some interesting old format.

  • @moshly64
    @moshly64 20 дней назад +8

    Wiring the head in parallel would short out the signal. Try a phono amp in magnetic cartridge mode.

    • @Colaholiker
      @Colaholiker 20 дней назад +4

      That's what i thought when I saw him parallel the two tape heads. With the extremely low voltage signal you get from the tape head, the second one is a dead short. The amp needs to have a high input impedance for things to work properly, but a dead short is anything but high impedance.
      But given the state of the tape splices inside the cartdridges, it wouldn't have worked for long even if it would have functioned electrically. So I guess we didn't lose much but got a good learning opportunity that you can't parallel tape heads.

    • @Techmoan
      @Techmoan  20 дней назад +2

      Yep 15:33