BBC condenser microphone

Made:
circa 1934
B.B.C. condenser microphone

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B.B.C. condenser microphone
Science Museum Group
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Musuem

BBC condenser microphone, c.1934. Before miniature valves became available, the need to provide a pre-amplifier near the capsule of a capacitor microphone could lead to excessively large assembly. In this example, the shape of the casing was designed to minimise the acoustic ill-effects of its large size.

From 1931 to 1935, the BBC used this streamlined condenser microphone known as "the bomb", which employed a Western Electric or STC capsule but had a BBC pre-amplifier.

Details

Category:
Radio Communication
Object Number:
1949-132
Materials:
metal (unknown) and bakelite
type:
microphone
credit:
British Broadcasting Corporation.