Yes—you can turn a vintage corded telephone into a talking clock. In Engineerish’s build, lifting the handset activates the phone’s retained switch, an Arduino Nano 33 IoT detects that event, and a DFPlayer Mini MP3 Player module plays prerecorded audio announcing the current time.
How the talking-clock telephone works
The handset itself is the user interface. When you lift it, the telephone’s hook switch changes state. The Arduino Nano 33 IoT monitors that switch and starts the audio sequence. Instead of generating speech live, the project uses prerecorded MP3 files stored for playback by a DFPlayer Mini module.
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| Part | Role |
|---|---|
| Vintage corded telephone | Provides the enclosure, handset, speaker and hook switch |
| Arduino Nano 33 IoT | Detects the handset-lift event and controls playback |
| DFPlayer Mini MP3 Player module | Plays the prerecorded time announcements |
| Audio files | Contain the spoken time phrases used by the player |
Engineerish removed the original telephone electronics while retaining the handset speaker and the switch that senses whether the handset is on the cradle. The exact donor-phone model is not disclosed; Hackster News describes an enclosure resembling a Sears telephone from the late 1970s or early 1980s. That description identifies the style, not a verified model number.
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What you need
- A vintage corded telephone suitable for modification
- An Arduino Nano 33 IoT
- A DFPlayer Mini MP3 Player module
- Prerecorded audio files containing the time announcements
- Power, wiring and any small mounting or insulation materials needed for your particular handset and enclosure
The available project description does not specify a bill of materials beyond the named controller, audio module and donor phone, nor does it report a cost, power draw or measured reliability. Choose the power arrangement only after checking the electrical requirements of the exact modules and speaker you use.
#1 Best Overall
- OLD VINTAGE TELEPHONE WALL CLOCK WITH HIDDEN SAFE : Its case measures (H) 16" x (W) 12" x (D) 3.9". The clock's dial is 7" in diameter. It serves not only as a beautiful decorative wall clock, but also as a unique safe. You can keep jewelry, extra cash, bank cards or other small valuables in this battery operated clock with safe. Behind this telephone designed clock is a secret compartment with 2 hooks where you can hide some items and hang keys.
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Build outline
- Prepare the donor phone. Open the telephone and remove its original internal electronics. Keep the handset speaker and the hook switch that changes state when the handset is lifted.
- Identify the hook-switch contacts. Confirm which contacts open or close as the handset leaves the cradle. Treat the switch as an input to the Nano 33 IoT and insulate exposed connections inside the case.
- Connect the controller. Wire the retained switch to an Arduino Nano 33 IoT input and establish the required common reference and power connections for the controller and DFPlayer Mini. Exact pin assignments and circuit values are not published for this build, so do not copy an assumed pinout.
- Load the announcements. Put the prerecorded MP3 files on the DFPlayer Mini’s storage in the naming and folder arrangement required by that module. Create enough phrases for the times you want the phone to announce.
- Connect playback to the handset. Route the DFPlayer Mini’s audio output to the retained handset speaker using the module’s documented output arrangement and the speaker’s electrical limits.
- Program the trigger behavior. Have the Nano 33 IoT detect a handset lift, select the appropriate prerecorded files and command the DFPlayer Mini to play them. Add a short lockout or state check if repeated switch transitions cause duplicate announcements.
- Test before closing the case. Lift and replace the handset repeatedly, verify that one lift produces the intended announcement, and check that playback stops or resets in the way your program expects.
How the time announcement is produced
This design is a playback system, not a text-to-speech clock. The Arduino decides when to start audio, while the DFPlayer Mini supplies the sound from stored files. Your recordings therefore determine the available vocabulary and phrasing. A design with separate hour, minute and connector phrases can cover many times, but the source description does not document Engineerish’s exact file set or time-selection algorithm.
Why use a handset switch?
The hook switch makes the action feel like using a real telephone: lifting the handset both wakes the interaction and starts the announcement. A push button, motion sensor or other trigger could be used in a different enclosure, but those alternatives would no longer reproduce the defining telephone behavior.
Rank #2
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- PERFECT GIFT CHOICE: Combining practical privacy storage, reliable timekeeping, and antique aesthetics, this lockable telephone box clock makes an unforgettable gift for vintage enthusiasts and wine lovers on birthdays, weddings, or housewarmings.
Practical limitations
- Convenience: Picking up a handset is slower than glancing at a wall clock, watch or phone.
- Donor variability: Vintage phones differ in switch construction, speaker wiring and available space, so the mechanical and electrical work is model-specific.
- Audio coverage: Prerecorded files limit the phrases and times the software can assemble unless you create a larger library.
- Unreported performance: No measured accuracy, cost, power-consumption or reliability figures are provided for the project.
- Safety: Use an unplugged, non-connected donor telephone. Do not connect the modified device to a live telephone line; this project is an internal electronics replacement, not a line-powered phone.
Who should build it?
This is best approached as a playful electronics and restoration project. It combines teardown work, switch sensing, microcontroller programming and simple audio playback. Hackster News characterizes the concept as something undertaken because it can be done rather than because it improves timekeeping. That is the appeal: an ordinary pickup action becomes a small mechanical-and-audio performance.
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Can I use any vintage telephone?
Not without checking it. The project’s exact donor model is undisclosed, and switch contacts, speaker wiring and internal space vary between phones. Select a corded handset with an accessible hook switch and speaker, then verify those parts before wiring.
Rank #3
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- DURABLE BUILD AND EASY TO MOUNT: Built with a solid metal frame, this decorative wall clock is made to last. It includes two mounting screws, and the integrated keyhole slot on the back allows for quick, secure, and damage-free hanging—perfect for instantly upgrading your wall without the hassle
Is the DFPlayer Mini a speech synthesizer?
No. In this project it is an MP3 playback module. It plays prerecorded audio files; the Arduino Nano 33 IoT controls when playback begins.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- Decorate and enhance your home with this cool red retro clock. Great for your kitchen, dining room, bedroom, classroom, office, shop, restaurant or diner
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Rank #4
- Our contemporary hanging wall clocks measure approximately 9.5" in diameter and feature a durable black plastic case and clear lens, with a modern quartz movement to keep you in style and on time.
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