1950s tape recorder microphone identity
 

Does anyone recognise this early-1950s tape-recorder candle-stick microphone? It has no identification marks. It is enamelled metal with turned aluminium ferrules.

Unusually it has a flat top with wide chrome bezel and a 1" dia pierced metal guard rather than the more common domed wire mesh.

I don't recognise it as a Brush, ACOS/Cosmocord or Ronette. Did Lustraphone make one... or is it foreign?

Re: 1950s tape recorder microphone identity
 

i wonder if this is made by STC?

Re: 1950s tape recorder microphone identity
 

... predating the 4021 'Apple?'

Re: 1950s tape recorder microphone identity
 

Looks like a version of the STC ball & biscuit mic to me without the biscuit.

Re: 1950s tape recorder microphone identity
 

I had an STC microphone similar to that, except that the flat mesh was larger in diameter with a narrower swaged (aluminium?) bezel around it. The bezel was anodised/plated dark bronze, the microphone body was finished in black wrinkle. There was a socket at the base and I had no other fittings for it.

It came from M&B who handled a lot of ex-BBC stuff, so that was a probable source. Inside, there was some commonality with the ball and biscuit, so this may have been a precursor.

It was a magnetic dynamic type and surprisingly heavy.

David

Re: 1950s tape recorder microphone identity
 

This is quite light in weight so I doubt its an STC or Westrex. Three of the four bezel screws wont budge; the fourth is loose and has stripped the thread in the 'Bakelite' so I'm reluctant to open her up and look inside for marks.

Re: 1950s tape recorder microphone identity
 

Found an interesting site on microphones. He might recognize it.
https://martinmitchellsmicrophones.wordpress.com/

Re: 1950s tape recorder microphone identity
 

It looks like a variant of the Mike originally supplied with the Scophony-Baird tape recorder in the 50s. The grille and bezel are identical. Unfortunately I can’t find mine in order to take a photo. No idea of manufacturer.

Peter

Re: 1950s tape recorder microphone identity
 

Could well have been supplied with an SB, as I had a couple, but don't recall seeing this mic in the brochures...

Re: 1950s tape recorder microphone identity
 

... which shows a similar table-top (vs candle-stick) mic. Note the wine-glass shaped body rather than the more common orb.

Re: 1950s tape recorder microphone identity
 

I believe this mic was made by Tannoy for the Baird tape recorder

Re: 1950s tape recorder microphone identity
 

Thanks, that sounds plausible as the Soundmaster was sold, as advertised, with a Tannoy mic; albeit the only illustrations I have seen are of the stubby table-top version. The war time Tannoy field 'phones had a perforated guard. Given Tannoy's post-war financial state, and contracted war-time production of field 'phones, I wonder if Truvox/Rola-Celestion were involved...?

Re: 1950s tape recorder microphone identity
 

Looks a bit Acos to me.

Re: 1950s tape recorder microphone identity
 

Rare microphones for sure but guess what? A stall at Golborne today had this Tannoy Mike on it, amazing coincidence! It was the stall next to the lady collecting the cash. The one I have certainly does not have a maker’s name on it.

Re: 1950s tape recorder microphone identity
 

Brilliant - l'm happy to concede it's a Tannoy - that's the easy bit done...