1950s tape recorder microphone identity - UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Discussion Forum

brenellic2000 · 30th Mar 2023, 7:49 am

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?

peter_sol · 30th Mar 2023, 8:06 am

i wonder if this is made by STC?

brenellic2000 · 30th Mar 2023, 8:33 am

... predating the 4021 'Apple?'

vidjoman · 30th Mar 2023, 8:43 am

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

Radio Wrangler · 30th Mar 2023, 8:50 am

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

brenellic2000 · 30th Mar 2023, 11:21 am

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.

vidjoman · 30th Mar 2023, 12:19 pm

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

Reelman · 30th Mar 2023, 8:41 pm

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

brenellic2000 · 31st Mar 2023, 10:56 am

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

brenellic2000 · 1st Apr 2023, 7:28 am

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

Bobsound · 1st Apr 2023, 4:20 pm

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

brenellic2000 · 2nd Apr 2023, 10:38 am

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...?

barrymagrec · 2nd Apr 2023, 1:34 pm

Looks a bit Acos to me.

Reelman · 2nd Apr 2023, 6:15 pm

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.

brenellic2000 · 3rd Apr 2023, 7:48 am

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

30th Mar 2023, 7:49 am	#1
brenellic2000 Octode Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Rye, East Sussex, UK. Posts: 1,634	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? Attached Thumbnails

30th Mar 2023, 8:06 am	#2
peter_sol Octode Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Welwyn Garden City, Herts. UK. Posts: 1,869	Re: 1950s tape recorder microphone identity i wonder if this is made by STC?

30th Mar 2023, 8:33 am	#3
brenellic2000 Octode Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Rye, East Sussex, UK. Posts: 1,634	Re: 1950s tape recorder microphone identity ... predating the 4021 'Apple?'

30th Mar 2023, 8:43 am	#4
vidjoman Dekatron Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: East Sussex, UK. Posts: 3,069	Re: 1950s tape recorder microphone identity Looks like a version of the STC ball & biscuit mic to me without the biscuit.

30th Mar 2023, 8:50 am	#5
Radio Wrangler Moderator Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Fife, Scotland, UK. Posts: 21,419	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 __________________ Can't afford the volcanic island yet, but the plans for my monorail and the goons' uniforms are done

30th Mar 2023, 11:21 am	#6
brenellic2000 Octode Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Rye, East Sussex, UK. Posts: 1,634	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.

30th Mar 2023, 12:19 pm	#7
vidjoman Dekatron Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: East Sussex, UK. Posts: 3,069	Re: 1950s tape recorder microphone identity Found an interesting site on microphones. He might recognize it. https://martinmitchellsmicrophones.wordpress.com/

30th Mar 2023, 8:41 pm	#8
Reelman Octode Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Rotherham, South Yorkshire, UK. Posts: 1,508	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

31st Mar 2023, 10:56 am	#9
brenellic2000 Octode Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Rye, East Sussex, UK. Posts: 1,634	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...

1st Apr 2023, 7:28 am	#10
brenellic2000 Octode Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Rye, East Sussex, UK. Posts: 1,634	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.

1st Apr 2023, 4:20 pm	#11
Bobsound Tetrode Join Date: Jan 2015 Location: St Jean d'Angely, Charente-Maritime, France Posts: 81	Re: 1950s tape recorder microphone identity I believe this mic was made by Tannoy for the Baird tape recorder

2nd Apr 2023, 10:38 am	#12
brenellic2000 Octode Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Rye, East Sussex, UK. Posts: 1,634	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...?

2nd Apr 2023, 1:34 pm	#13
barrymagrec Octode Join Date: Dec 2017 Location: Morden, Surrey, UK. Posts: 1,439	Re: 1950s tape recorder microphone identity Looks a bit Acos to me.

2nd Apr 2023, 6:15 pm	#14
Reelman Octode Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Rotherham, South Yorkshire, UK. Posts: 1,508	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. Attached Thumbnails

3rd Apr 2023, 7:48 am	#15
brenellic2000 Octode Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Rye, East Sussex, UK. Posts: 1,634	Re: 1950s tape recorder microphone identity Brilliant - l'm happy to concede it's a Tannoy - that's the easy bit done...