1950's LOOKING Desk Communications microphone - Shure capsule

Communications Desktop Microphone

This is an impressive looking communications microphone however it is really a mixture of styles/components.

Estimated manufacture date is from around the 1980's but it is styled on a 1950's type microphone.

The giveaway is the microphone element, a very nice Shure unit.

NN159

8216 (this looks to be the serial number, 1982 year and 16th week which would place this in April)

59082933CO2

Shure microphone element

The microphone element capsule is quite large and heavy, measuring 42mm diameter x 25mm deep - large diaphragm for capturing sound pressure waves which suggests good sensitivity = you will not need to shout at the microphone!

Mylar film diaphragm element *** this is the giveaway and the model number of the capsule points towards early 1980's manufacture.

This is mounting with two side screws into the very attractive metal shell which is a bright copper colour or indeed it may very well be copper.

The goose neck is in great shape and is 160mm high and gives full flexibility in direction but not height!

The goose neck is then fixed to the cast iron base (NOT aluminium)
This base is heavy and solid, an extremely stable foundation for the microphone. This base looks very similar to that of an Atlas microphone.

Into the base is the small push to talk button which is actually a C&K push to make, release to break (not locking) - not your traditional bar PTT switch.

The top and bottom securing hardware for the goose neck are made of brass.

The base is open underneath and it is easy to see the impedance matching transformer which will be used to assist with hum loop issues, appears to setup the impedance seen by the equipment and provides electrical isolation between the microphone element and the radio equipment. I no longer have my impedance measuring equipment but a simple DC test shows 31 Ohms on the primary and 1150 Ohms on the secondary of this transformer - this is purely resistance and not the impedance being measured.

The yellow casing of the transformer has no markings of any kind to help identify it.

Extending out from the rear of the base (fixed securely at exit) is a curly cord (500mm not extended, stretching out to 850mm when extended) terminated in a pretty standard 4 pin circular plug.

Wiring at the plug is:

Pin 1 = Common or Ground

Pin 2 = Hot audio

Pin 3 = PTT switch (switched to ground)

Of course these connections can be altered at the plug

Overall, it really looks like this microphone is modeled on a Shure 450 series desktop microphone or even an old Turner but with major differences such as the gooseneck and the round heavy cast iron base.

The build quality of this microphone is superb, very well crafted and very solid - this microphone has been built tough to last many years.

Not one piece of plastic except the top cap of the C&K PTT switch and of course the outer sheath of the curly cord.

Tested, PTT works fine and the audio is clean, clear and crisp

Medium weight at 250g