Corrected entry: When Sarah calls Ginger and gets the machine (as Ginger is being killed), he machine starts playing the message immediately after the first ring - before the phone bell even stops ringing. Since the machine is mechanical (before digital technology), it is unlikely that the machine could have reacted that fast. These types of machines would typically ring 2-3 times, then answer and take a message, then the next call would be picked up after just one ring - but not as fast as this one does. (00:26:30 - 00:32:40)
DavidRTurner
6th Oct 2013
Correction: Digital, mechanical, it's all activated by an electrical signal from the phone receiving a call. Only the medium on which the message is recorded has really changed in any significant way over the years. There's a switch on the side of most old answering machines that let's you choose from 1-4 rings before it picks up.
Phixius ★