1950s 60s small microphones what make models ?

[gary o]

Seen videos of old TV shows with some great sounding smaller mics different shapes and sizes...... Im wondering what mics they are..seen various artists using them Marvin Gaye for one.... I know BBC had C28s Im lucky enough to have 3 from the BBC always wondered whos DNA is on the capsules haha......

Heres clip of Everleys sounding brilliant as ever using one little mic...... look like a Beyer M260 but cant be its hyper cardiod for one. the Everleys one seems to be omni....

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lTYe9eDqxe8

 

[shot]

I'd say this is AKG D160
Nice omni mic!
Can be had for cheap on ebay

When it comes to 60s mics, anyone tried AKG D202 ?
It's dual capsule mic. Sounds good!!

 

[ln76d]

It's D24C

Yes i had few D202 in the past. Also D200 is dual system and Telefunken M611 and Uher M539.
These are using different capsule for mid/low frequencies - similar model to the D190 capsule.

 

[panman]

It's D24C

Yes, it is a D24 I agree, but I do not get the "C".  The mic is of course AKG, but marketed to the States as Norelco(Philips trade mark) D24 and since it has the "Klein-Tuchel"-connector, it is a D24B. D24E is with XLR(cannon). But very often the B or E are left out. But the AKG markings were often all over the place and not consequent at all, so I have also seen long-body variable output-impedance D24:s with 5-pin XLR:s marked as D24E the same style as long-body D19E.  I would not be surprised to see a D24C marking  at all.

 

[panman]

Oh, I almost forgot. D24 is especially a vocal mic. Frank Sinatra was most often seen singing to it and even some of the vocals on his records were cut with a D24. It was very popular through the sixties in general, but faded out for reasons, that I do not really know or understand, because I find  It is a great mic and use it a lot for some instruments too.

 

[ln76d]

Sorry, right these mostly weren't marked as B C E. For the 60's for klein tuchel it would be B, BK for high impedance and mostly with cable. I confused marking with D224, which is C for klein tuchel, E for XLR - and also another dual system microphone from AKG but with double small diaphragm capsule. Great for wooden snare.
I think that D24 was always somewhere in the shadow of D19 popularity, but both were discontinued probably from the same reason as D12 "family". Plastic, glued diaphragm, capsules were always cheaper in production...

 

[gary o]

Thanks for responses so the Everlys mic is D24 then ...... I read its cardiod looks omni on film .....I have seen Marvn G use something that look similar , Seen many other mic used live on TV clips & been amazed at the sound & the levels( wonder what limiters they used too)

Any others live on TV show mics you guys can think of while we here.......

I will see if I can find some more vids, I saw lady singing into what looked like a futuristic wand on TV other cant think of singer..... will have a buchers hook (look) for you american's

Big thanks 

 

[MS Vienna]

Here Tom Jones uses a Sennheiser MD211N 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=2&v=VBdSqk78nHw

Regarding the suffix letters on AKG models:
As In76d said
"C" is the small DIN connector (aka "Kleintuchel"),
"E" is XLR, 
"L" is LEMO.

If there´s a "B" it means "Bassabschwächer" (switchable bass rolloff),  i.e. C451E vs. C451EB
That was somewhat inconsistent too. I.e. the two way mics don´t have the B  despite their low cut switch.

The D24 and D19 models were introduced when XLR wasn´t even an option yet, so early examples don´t have that connector code. The D19 in the middle of my pic is Serial No. 44, the one on the right way above 10.000.

The first AKG-made mic with the "E" suffix was the ELA M 251E system.  Altough XLR wasn´t an established standard yet the PSU ELA M 950E used a forerunner of it made by Cannon.

 

[MS Vienna]

Scan from the brochure

 

[ln76d]

Thanks MS Vienna!
If you have more old brochure/service manual/schematics scans - please put it here

 

[micaddict]

Hey, fine contributions, MS Vienna. 
Thanks!

Are you somehow related to AKG?

And do you know Max Kircher?

 

[micaddict]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VHJ3iZpfBRI

 

[panman]

Regarding the suffix letters on AKG models:
As In76d said
"C" is the small DIN connector (aka "Kleintuchel"),
"E" is XLR, 
"L" is LEMO.

This is only true with some AKG models(e.g. C451) and cannot be generalized.  I repeat, concerning D24, the "B" meant the DIN-connector, although it mostly was left out(see the attachement!).
And then the D19. Originally the suffixes "B, C" referred to different models approx. up to sn. 50 000, which both had the DIN-connector. The "E" came later and was also referring to another model, but later came to denote the XLR connector too. I am just mentioning the main lines(there were many exceptions and overlappings later). From my several years of involvement in repairing these mics, I can gather the following. There were three different capsules: B, C and the one used in D24. D19E(long body, o-trafo)and D119models came later and used the same capsule as theD24. B and C capsule top-plates were with two screws and the D24 with three screws. B-capsule had a stiffer blue diaphragm and C and D24 had the same softer diaphragm, that was transparent and the form was also differing from that of D19B. The three capsules were also differend inside, I do not wish to go to details , unless desired.  The B-type capsule was only made up to sn. 50 000 and after that on the D19B was using the same capsule as the D19C, but the blue diaphragm remained. AKG D19C remained the same, but in general the OEM D19B and D19C were getting the same capsule, this time all with the blue diaphragm. I have seen more than ten OEM D19:s (Telefunken, Norelco, Uher, Revox, Grundig, Graetz etc...). However, when these mics were repaired by AKG, they got whatever was around and overlappings and confusion is mostly due to that.

If there´s a "B" it means "Bassabschwächer" (switchable bass rolloff),  i.e. C451E vs. C451EB
That was somewhat inconsistent too. I.e. the two way mics don´t have the B  despite their low cut switch.

Yes, very inconsistent. Take AKG D20, that originally was without the bass-attennuator. Then with the attennuator it became D20B, but since all models afterwards were with the attenuator, the B was left out I guess.

 

[panman]

Some more info.

 

[panman]

And this.

 

[bruno2000]

Neumann U64
My Fave
Best,
Bruno2000

 

[panman]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VHJ3iZpfBRI

Yes, That`s what I meant!

 

[MS Vienna]

Hey, fine contributions, MS Vienna. 
Thanks!

Are you somehow related to AKG?

And do you know Max Kircher?

You´re welcome!

Well, I´m not a slave of the Harman-regime...

I´ve met Max years ago and only recently tested two MK-47 (with M7 blue line) owned by a collegue of mine. Impressing sound quality!

Following the request I´ve scanned descriptions of the D19 and D24 from the 1960 main brochure. Note the tolerance range of the frequency response... As stated the D24 has a slightly better sound cancellation at 180°. It was aimed at professional users whereas the D19 was marketed for the demanding amateur and sound hunter.

It´s in german. If you need some translation please let me know.

 

[MS Vienna]

Btw, the blue diaphragms are made from Cellulose Triacetate film and exhibit a distinctive texture. This comes from the manufacturing process. The film was pressed against a rubber plate with a heated negative shaped upper mold. To prevent the hot film from sticking to the rubber a piece of silk cloth was sandwiched in between - hence the texture.

Makrofol (the clear diaphragms) is the brand name for polycarbonat film by BAYER  (Leverkusen, Germany). It´s a favourite for molded diaphragms because it doesn´t tend to alter it´s form over time. Some might have noticed the weird random pattern embossed in CK1 diaphragms. Those were made from Makrofol (3µm) for the same reason. 

 

[MS Vienna]

blue one