What !! - UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Discussion Forum

peter.sables · 18th Apr 2015, 9:58 pm

Hi

I was invited to clear out a shed. It was old and well past it. Anyway in a box there was this lot. I think it's audio. What you think?

Pete G4MRU

PJL · 18th Apr 2015, 10:04 pm

The first item is a No.1 Microphone from a candlestick telephone (missing the bakelite piece) which looks to be fixed to an earpiece from a headset.

peter.sables · 18th Apr 2015, 10:05 pm

Ha just one more..

Pete

mark pirate · 18th Apr 2015, 10:05 pm

Looks like a microphone and and an earphone, strange use of a 15a plug though!

Mark

PJL · 18th Apr 2015, 10:09 pm

The bullphone is part of a horn speaker http://www.radiomuseum.org/r/bullen_...ghtingale.html.

AC/HL · 18th Apr 2015, 10:10 pm

The first one is a carbon microphone, the second is probably an earpiece with a once very risky connector!. Depending on size, the third could be a horn speaker driver?

peter.sables · 18th Apr 2015, 10:14 pm

thanks PJL. So the first bit is a vintage lashup. Ha, yes, could be.

Thanks Pete

AC/HL · 18th Apr 2015, 10:18 pm

The battery and output terminals would suggest that it was made as a desk microphone.

peter.sables · 18th Apr 2015, 10:18 pm

Around the gold band its says :-

HILL PORTER (NCLE) LTD (pernsig) M. O. P.and R Curti

IS. 1040 Methane 5513.

pete

peter.sables · 18th Apr 2015, 10:22 pm

Yes it has a full size 15 amp plug. That would make your ears ring.

pete

Nicklyons2 · 18th Apr 2015, 10:28 pm

I agree with the suggestions above and with the horror of the connector! I wonder if the mic/earpiece combos were set up as a demonstration or similar thing for say some 'scouts' or radio club many years ago, as a primitive intercom etc. I just hope no-one has ever plugged that plug into where it was intended by the manufacturer. I hope I'm not digressing too much here but I've had this sort of thing in the past with 'Village Hall' and 'Am-Dram' productions; the Vicar and other worthies can't understand why we tech types get hot & bothered about using the correct connector "we've got loads of these since the vicarage was rewired and we haven't got the money for XLRs" and so microphones end up with coax plugs on and speakers with mains plugs on etc. ( I suppose on 100V line and 200V line speaker systems it could be excusable just about, but only just, and only if there were no plugs/sockets of the same type carrying mains in the same building)

Believe it or not I once encountered a 'professionally installed' P.A. setup which used mains 2Amp plugs and sockets for all the low impedance balanced microphones; cheaper than XLRs and surface mount sockets were readily available to hide in the footlight area.

peter.sables · 18th Apr 2015, 10:51 pm

Well Heptode. I think you are right on the button. A little more fine workmanship perhaps...

Mr Moose · 19th Apr 2015, 12:23 am

Hello,
I have a little used microphone in its rather tatty box like the one shown in the first two pictures and it is, to quote from the box, the:-

"ELECTROMICRO"
British Made Microphone
Complete with transformer.
Every Part Guaranteed and Replaceable.
Reg Design No 796516.
Price 9/6.
Ideal for Home Broadcasting.

It is actually a No1 transmitter from a candlestick or similar aged phone with the trumpet replaced by a wire gauze, held onto a turned wooden base by one of the lengthened side screws. The base contains a simple bobbin wound transformer held in place by wax, and there are two pairs of terminals, one for a battery for the microphone and the other for the output from the secondary of the transformer.
I found this picture from an auction catalogue http://www.batemans.com/lot.php?lot=71247
Yours, Richard

peter.sables · 19th Apr 2015, 10:52 am

Hi Richard.

Yes that's the beast. Think that wraps it up, the old man was a tinkerer.

Thank you all.

Pete G4MRU

AC/HL · 19th Apr 2015, 12:50 pm

From the inscription I'd guess the earpiece may have been intrinsically safe, the connector most certainly isn't.

18th Apr 2015, 9:58 pm	#1
peter.sables Rest in Peace Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Doncaster, South Yorkshire, UK. Posts: 385	What !! Hi I was invited to clear out a shed. It was old and well past it. Anyway in a box there was this lot. I think it's audio. What you think? Pete G4MRU Attached Thumbnails

18th Apr 2015, 10:04 pm	#2
PJL Dekatron Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Seaford, East Sussex, UK. Posts: 5,997	Re: What !! The first item is a No.1 Microphone from a candlestick telephone (missing the bakelite piece) which looks to be fixed to an earpiece from a headset.

18th Apr 2015, 10:05 pm	#3
peter.sables Rest in Peace Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Doncaster, South Yorkshire, UK. Posts: 385	Re: What !! Ha just one more.. Pete Attached Thumbnails

18th Apr 2015, 10:05 pm	#4
mark pirate Dekatron Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Worthing, West Sussex, UK Posts: 5,185	Re: What !! Looks like a microphone and and an earphone, strange use of a 15a plug though! Mark

18th Apr 2015, 10:09 pm	#5
PJL Dekatron Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Seaford, East Sussex, UK. Posts: 5,997	Re: What !! The bullphone is part of a horn speaker http://www.radiomuseum.org/r/bullen_...ghtingale.html.

18th Apr 2015, 10:10 pm	#6
AC/HL Dekatron Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Heckmondwike, West Yorkshire, UK. Posts: 9,642	Re: What !! The first one is a carbon microphone, the second is probably an earpiece with a once very risky connector!. Depending on size, the third could be a horn speaker driver?

18th Apr 2015, 10:14 pm	#7
peter.sables Rest in Peace Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Doncaster, South Yorkshire, UK. Posts: 385	Re: What !! thanks PJL. So the first bit is a vintage lashup. Ha, yes, could be. Thanks Pete

18th Apr 2015, 10:18 pm	#8
AC/HL Dekatron Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Heckmondwike, West Yorkshire, UK. Posts: 9,642	Re: What !! The battery and output terminals would suggest that it was made as a desk microphone.

18th Apr 2015, 10:18 pm	#9
peter.sables Rest in Peace Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Doncaster, South Yorkshire, UK. Posts: 385	Re: What !! Around the gold band its says :- HILL PORTER (NCLE) LTD (pernsig) M. O. P.and R Curti IS. 1040 Methane 5513. pete

18th Apr 2015, 10:22 pm	#10
peter.sables Rest in Peace Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Doncaster, South Yorkshire, UK. Posts: 385	Re: What !! Yes it has a full size 15 amp plug. That would make your ears ring. pete

18th Apr 2015, 10:28 pm	#11
Nicklyons2 Octode Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: Barnsley, South Yorkshire, UK. Posts: 1,517	Re: What !! I agree with the suggestions above and with the horror of the connector! I wonder if the mic/earpiece combos were set up as a demonstration or similar thing for say some 'scouts' or radio club many years ago, as a primitive intercom etc. I just hope no-one has ever plugged that plug into where it was intended by the manufacturer. I hope I'm not digressing too much here but I've had this sort of thing in the past with 'Village Hall' and 'Am-Dram' productions; the Vicar and other worthies can't understand why we tech types get hot & bothered about using the correct connector "we've got loads of these since the vicarage was rewired and we haven't got the money for XLRs" and so microphones end up with coax plugs on and speakers with mains plugs on etc. ( I suppose on 100V line and 200V line speaker systems it could be excusable just about, but only just, and only if there were no plugs/sockets of the same type carrying mains in the same building) Believe it or not I once encountered a 'professionally installed' P.A. setup which used mains 2Amp plugs and sockets for all the low impedance balanced microphones; cheaper than XLRs and surface mount sockets were readily available to hide in the footlight area. Last edited by Nicklyons2; 18th Apr 2015 at 10:30 pm. Reason: spelling

18th Apr 2015, 10:51 pm	#12
peter.sables Rest in Peace Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Doncaster, South Yorkshire, UK. Posts: 385	Re: What !! Well Heptode. I think you are right on the button. A little more fine workmanship perhaps... Attached Thumbnails

19th Apr 2015, 12:23 am	#13
Mr Moose Octode Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Gloucestershire, UK. Posts: 1,043	Re: What !! Hello, I have a little used microphone in its rather tatty box like the one shown in the first two pictures and it is, to quote from the box, the:- "ELECTROMICRO" British Made Microphone Complete with transformer. Every Part Guaranteed and Replaceable. Reg Design No 796516. Price 9/6. Ideal for Home Broadcasting. It is actually a No1 transmitter from a candlestick or similar aged phone with the trumpet replaced by a wire gauze, held onto a turned wooden base by one of the lengthened side screws. The base contains a simple bobbin wound transformer held in place by wax, and there are two pairs of terminals, one for a battery for the microphone and the other for the output from the secondary of the transformer. I found this picture from an auction catalogue http://www.batemans.com/lot.php?lot=71247 Yours, Richard Last edited by Mr Moose; 19th Apr 2015 at 12:37 am.

19th Apr 2015, 10:52 am	#14
peter.sables Rest in Peace Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Doncaster, South Yorkshire, UK. Posts: 385	Re: What !! Hi Richard. Yes that's the beast. Think that wraps it up, the old man was a tinkerer. Thank you all. Pete G4MRU

19th Apr 2015, 12:50 pm	#15
AC/HL Dekatron Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Heckmondwike, West Yorkshire, UK. Posts: 9,642	Re: What !! From the inscription I'd guess the earpiece may have been intrinsically safe, the connector most certainly isn't.