Microphones of the early 20th century

Here's a short audio sample from five of the mics in my collection of old, historic and vintage microphones. The 234W was first made in 1900 for the telephone system and was worn on the chest. Decades later in the 1920's the 4A horn was designed to be used with the 360 transmitter for more effective miking at a distance, such as near switchboard operations. The 600A in it's "ring and springs" is one of the most recognizable carbon mics due to it's common use in American broadcasting while the Reisz mic may be more familiar to Europeans. The latter mic also designed in the 1920's, was patented by Eugen Reisz as an improved carbon mic with a design reportedly by Georg Neumann just prior to him establishing his own manufacturing company. The very rare tube condenser mic from MGM appears to have been a project from the motion-picture studio as it bears interesting tooling and foundry marks and employs a Western Electric 394 capsule. The Journal of the SMPE from 1932 refers to a photo of this mic from MGM as "the bomb" and describes it as a "modification to the normal cylindrical" unit. To my great excitement I found a picture of this specific mic with it's serial number visible, being used to mic Greta Garbo and John Gilbert on the set of the 1933 film "Queen Christina". For more information on Les Harrison's Vintage Microphone Collection and for all your equipment rental needs - call us at 323-466-2416 or visit our website www.hollywoodsound.com.