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A Short History of the Gramophone

A Short History of the Gramophone

A Brief History of Wireless

A Brief History of Wireless


Image of RONETTE CRYSTAL MICROPHONE TYPE B110 , 1950's

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RONETTE CRYSTAL MICROPHONE TYPE B110 , 1950's

Popular microphone for the amateur in the 1950's the element is piezo crystal in spite of its low output, the plastic is Polopas, (trade name) which is a form of Bakelite. Price in the 1950's $13.50. Like Crystal cartridges these units have a high output voltage up to one volt peak.

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A1475

Image of ACOS MIC35-1 CRYSTAL MICROPHONE, 1950's

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ACOS MIC35-1 CRYSTAL MICROPHONE, 1950's

Crystal microphone made in the early 1950's at the Enfield factory of Cosmocord Ltd, they relocated to Waltham Cross in 1956. Crystal Microphones are very high impedance and provide a higher voltage output than other types, they are fragile and if dropped will probably cease to function, they are however the cheapest type. These types of microphone were supplied with low cost equipment such as Tape Recorders for domestic use.

Nortel Collection

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A1354

Image of ACOS CRYSTAL LAPEL MICROPHONE, 1950's

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ACOS CRYSTAL LAPEL MICROPHONE, 1950's

Crystal microphone for wearing on the lapel, made in the early 1950's at the Enfield factory of Cosmocord Ltd, they relocated to Waltham Cross in 1956. Crystal Microphones are very high impedance and provide a higher voltage output than other types, they are fragile and if dropped will probably cease to function, they are however the cheapest type. These types of microphone were supplied with low cost equipment such as Tape Recorders for domestic use.

Nortel Collection

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A1353

Image of STC 4114A MOVING COIL MICROPHONE, 1960's

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STC 4114A MOVING COIL MICROPHONE, 1960's

Less expensive version of the 4113A version, housed in a plastic box and using a standard round diaphragm with a coil impedance of 200 ohms. The price written on the box is £1-15s-0d.

Nortel Collection

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A1352

Image of STC 4113A RIBBON MICROPHONE, 1960's

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STC 4113A RIBBON MICROPHONE, 1960's

Ribbon Microphone for Public Address systems made by STC, it has a low
impedance of only 5 ohms and is small light and very robust.
The internal construction is of high quality, the Ribbon is fed by a horn,and is only 5mm across. No other information is known by the museum.


Nortel Collection

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A1351

Image of MICROPHONE USED BY GEORGE V IN 1924

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MICROPHONE USED BY GEORGE V IN 1924

The Microphone used by His Majesty George V in 1924 when he opened the Great Wembley Exhibition of that year, it is called a Double Button Carbon Granule Microphone, and was connected to a Public Address system also made by STC. This type of Microphone or Transmitter as it would have been known by, was patented by Standard Telephones & Cables in 1918 as ES386.

Nortel Collection

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A1350

Image of CARBON PUBLIC ADDRESS MICROPHONE IN FRAME, 1930's

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CARBON PUBLIC ADDRESS MICROPHONE IN FRAME, 1930's

Carbon Microphone for Public Address applications, fitted into a box with an on/off switch. Also in the box is a transformer to change the impedance of the device from low to standard 300ohm balanced line, a battery is required to drive the unit, which is wired to the input of the transformer and there is a space in the box for this.

"Reisz" type microphone

Nortel Collection

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A1324

Image of EARLY HAND MICROPHONE, 1920's

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EARLY HAND MICROPHONE, 1920's

Early Microphone of the carbon type used for Public Address,
with no makers identification, possibly a Kellog hand type. Marked with a broad arrow and the letter 'L'

Bruce Hammond Collection

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A1264

Image of BTH MICROPHONE, 1930's

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BTH MICROPHONE, 1930's

Carbon Granules are packed between two carbon rods in a chamber on which one side is a diaphragm of Mica sheet , sound waves move the sheet and subsequently the granules, varying an electric current passed between the electrodes.
Early Microphone probably used for Public Address systems.

Donated by Kenneth Thompson

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A1031

Image of RESLOSOUND RIBBON MICROPHONE, 1950's

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RESLOSOUND RIBBON MICROPHONE, 1950's

Ribbon type Microphone 30 ohms with transformer for Simon Sound recorder item A0933.

Donated by Mr P Holmes

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A0934

Image of HMV RIBBON  MICROPHONE, 1950's

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HMV RIBBON MICROPHONE, 1950's

Ribbon microphone mainly used for Public Address, but of sufficient quality for a small studio.

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A0560

Image of STC 4021 'APPLE & BISCUIT' MICROPHONE, 1950's

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STC 4021 'APPLE & BISCUIT' MICROPHONE, 1950's

Microphone Moving Coil type Nicknamed 'Apple and Biscuit' because of its shape.
Seen on TV in the 50's being used by reporters.

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A0561

Image of WOODEN CARBON MICROPHONE, 1930's

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WOODEN CARBON MICROPHONE, 1930's

Carbon Granule Microphone for use with Public Address Systems.
"Reisz" type microphone

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A0734

Image of CARBON MICROPHONE, 1930's

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CARBON MICROPHONE, 1930's

Carbon Granule Microphone for public address use.
"Reisz" type microphone

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A0736

Image of MOVING IRON MICROPHONE, 1930's

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MOVING IRON MICROPHONE, 1930's

Probably just a toy for adults or early learners, the unit is of the carbon type. In the base is a matching transformer, and the primary element requires 1.5 volts to operate.
In use it has a unique sound like an early wireless broadcast.

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A0317

Image of MPR CARBON MICROPHONE, 1930's

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MPR CARBON MICROPHONE, 1930's

Low cost Carbon Microphone for the non professional market.

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A0318

Image of SHAFTESBURY RIBBON MICROPHONE, 1940's

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SHAFTESBURY RIBBON MICROPHONE, 1940's

Ribbon Microphone for Public Address and recording systems.
Ribbon Microphones produce the highest quality for the human voice and are used in recording studios.
This unit may have been used in a broadcast studio. And was made at.The Dulci Works Tower Road London NW10. Marked on back

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A0319

Image of GRAMPIAN TYPE MCR MICROPHONE, 1930's

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GRAMPIAN TYPE MCR MICROPHONE, 1930's

Early Moving Coil Microphone used with Public Address systems.

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A0583

Image of MAHOGANY CARBON MICROPHONE, 1930's

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MAHOGANY CARBON MICROPHONE, 1930's

Carbon granule type microphone in correct mounting, used for Public Address Systems.

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A0735

Image of LISTEN AND LAUGH MICROPHONE, 1930's

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LISTEN AND LAUGH MICROPHONE, 1930's

If this was plugged into the Gramophone input at the back of a wireless receiver (of the same period), sounds directed at the device would emit from the receivers speaker.

This item would provide great entertainment for the whole family.

Bruce Hammond Collection

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A1255


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