Acos crystal mics. - UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Discussion Forum

suebutcher · 27th Oct 2012, 1:26 am

Part of a 1959 advert for Acos. I thought it might be of some help with the FAQ "What mike would work with this recorder?". Prices are Australian, as usual. If anyone wants a more detailed scan of the microphone images, let me know.

Tractorfan · 27th Oct 2012, 11:37 am

Hi,
The second one from the left (MIC40) used to to supplied with the "Fidelity Playmaster" tape recorder and was badged accordingly.
I wonder what the exchange rate between the Australian pound and the British pound would have been at that time?
Cheers, Pete

Nickthedentist · 27th Oct 2012, 11:59 am

Also seen that one with a Portadyne machine of the same era and price bracket (i.e. a cheapie with a BSR TD2 deck).

Nick.

fetteler · 27th Oct 2012, 12:50 pm

I had the second from the left too. It came with my Fidelity TR6 tape recorder ~ '67 - 68 ish I guess.... Ahhhhh... hapy days

Steve.

PS I should add that the "pleasant two tone colours" were, in my case, light grey for the body and a medium grey for the fold down stand. Very smart in its day.

Nickthedentist · 27th Oct 2012, 12:54 pm

They were black and black in the case of mine!

brenellic2000 · 27th Oct 2012, 3:52 pm

To be honest, the ACOS (later Acos-Cosmocord) was available for almost every 'domestic' British tape deck of the 1950s/early 1960s - standard on budget cheap and cheerful models (Alba, Fidelity etc) or as cheaper option to the better Lustraphone used by Brenell etc.

Acos also made 'branded' mics such as the Credenza. Stan Kelly of speaker fame was their Chief Engineer.

Barry

AndiiT · 27th Oct 2012, 8:39 pm

Hi,
I have seen the ACOS Mic 40 supplied with a number of "budget" machines over the years including Ekco and the BSR 222 and 444 "catalogue specials"

The microphones supplied with the Fidelity Playmaster were often badged as Fidelity, but I have seen ACOS badged ones supplied with the Playmaster too.

The later Fidelity Braemar (basically a cosmetically "enhanced" Playmaster) was supplied with the more modern looking ACOS Mic 43.

Regards

Andrew

suebutcher · 28th Oct 2012, 11:06 am

In answer to your question, Pete, the exchange rate in the early sixties was somewhere around one pound ten shillings Australian to a British pound. But our local electronics industry was heavily protected by import duty, too, and that's reflected in the high prices for British-made equipment.

suebutcher · 28th Oct 2012, 11:32 am

Here's the original mike for the Walter 303 Mk1. It's diecast, with an Acos element inside.

27th Oct 2012, 1:26 am	#1
suebutcher Heptode Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Daylesford, Victoria, Australia Posts: 675	Acos crystal mics. Part of a 1959 advert for Acos. I thought it might be of some help with the FAQ "What mike would work with this recorder?". Prices are Australian, as usual. If anyone wants a more detailed scan of the microphone images, let me know. Attached Thumbnails

27th Oct 2012, 11:37 am	#2
Tractorfan Dekatron Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: St. Frajou, l'Isle en Dodon, Haute Garonne, France.(Previously: Ellesmere Port, Cheshire, UK.) Posts: 3,184	Re: Acos crystal mikes Hi, The second one from the left (MIC40) used to to supplied with the "Fidelity Playmaster" tape recorder and was badged accordingly. I wonder what the exchange rate between the Australian pound and the British pound would have been at that time? Cheers, Pete __________________ "Hello?, Yes, I'm on the train, I might lose the signal soon as we're just going into a tunn..."

27th Oct 2012, 11:59 am	#3
Nickthedentist Dekatron Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Oxford, UK. Posts: 17,869	Re: Acos crystal mikes Also seen that one with a Portadyne machine of the same era and price bracket (i.e. a cheapie with a BSR TD2 deck). Nick.

27th Oct 2012, 12:50 pm	#4
fetteler Octode Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Staffordshire Moorlands, UK. Posts: 1,480	Re: Acos crystal mikes I had the second from the left too. It came with my Fidelity TR6 tape recorder ~ '67 - 68 ish I guess.... Ahhhhh... hapy days Steve. PS I should add that the "pleasant two tone colours" were, in my case, light grey for the body and a medium grey for the fold down stand. Very smart in its day. __________________ Those who lack imagination cannot imagine what is lacking... Last edited by fetteler; 27th Oct 2012 at 12:52 pm. Reason: PS colours

27th Oct 2012, 12:54 pm	#5
Nickthedentist Dekatron Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Oxford, UK. Posts: 17,869	Re: Acos crystal mikes They were black and black in the case of mine!

27th Oct 2012, 3:52 pm	#6
brenellic2000 Octode Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Rye, East Sussex, UK. Posts: 1,647	Re: Acos crystal mikes To be honest, the ACOS (later Acos-Cosmocord) was available for almost every 'domestic' British tape deck of the 1950s/early 1960s - standard on budget cheap and cheerful models (Alba, Fidelity etc) or as cheaper option to the better Lustraphone used by Brenell etc. Acos also made 'branded' mics such as the Credenza. Stan Kelly of speaker fame was their Chief Engineer. Barry

27th Oct 2012, 8:39 pm	#7
AndiiT Octode Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Saltburn-East, Cleveland, UK. Posts: 1,786	Re: Acos crystal mikes Hi, I have seen the ACOS Mic 40 supplied with a number of "budget" machines over the years including Ekco and the BSR 222 and 444 "catalogue specials" The microphones supplied with the Fidelity Playmaster were often badged as Fidelity, but I have seen ACOS badged ones supplied with the Playmaster too. The later Fidelity Braemar (basically a cosmetically "enhanced" Playmaster) was supplied with the more modern looking ACOS Mic 43. Regards Andrew

28th Oct 2012, 11:06 am	#8
suebutcher Heptode Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Daylesford, Victoria, Australia Posts: 675	Re: Acos crystal mics. In answer to your question, Pete, the exchange rate in the early sixties was somewhere around one pound ten shillings Australian to a British pound. But our local electronics industry was heavily protected by import duty, too, and that's reflected in the high prices for British-made equipment.

28th Oct 2012, 11:32 am	#9
suebutcher Heptode Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Daylesford, Victoria, Australia Posts: 675	Re: Acos crystal mics. Here's the original mike for the Walter 303 Mk1. It's diecast, with an Acos element inside. Attached Thumbnails