NBC Microphone
date: label: date made
content: 1931
name: label: maker
content: RCA Corporation
notes: label: Description (Brief)
content: The National Broadcasting Company (NBC) was the first major broadcast network in the United States. During the golden age of radio, NBC’s roster of stars included comedians Jack Benny, Edgar Bergen, George Burns and Gracie Allen, singer Al Jolson, and conductor Arturo Toscanini. This microphone dates from the 1930s. The second inauguration of President Franklin D. Roosevelt was broadcast with this type of instrument.
label: Description
content: RCA / NBC model 50A inductor microphone, marked "3031" and serial number "2568," "RCA Manufacturing Co., Inc." Inductor microphones were used experimentally at WJZ in 1921. Introduced commercially in 1931, they were in general use by 1934. Inductor and so-called "velocity" type microphones were the two most widely used in that era.
label: Description
content: A single conductor attached to an oval corrugated diaphragm functions similarly to the moving coil in the dynamic microphone. Small in size and rugged, it has most of the best features of the dynamic and the velocity microphones. It is somewhat directional, favoring sounds in front of it.
label: Description
content: This particular example came to the Smithsonian in 1938 as an example of then-current microphone technology. A 1935 NBC article about microphones refers to the model 50A, stating that, "This new device is now being put into service by NBC on all ... programs ... originating outside the studios. The chief improvements it embodies are reduction of inherent electrical noise, and increased convenience in moving the instrument about, because of its small size and light weight." Reference: Joseph, D'Agostino, "Microphone Progress," Broadcast News (September 1935): 4-5, 12.
label: Location
content: Currently not on view
topic: label: Subject
content: Radio broadcasts
setName: label: See more items in
content: Work and Industry: Electricity
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content: Popular Entertainment
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content: Communications
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content: 1939 exhibit
creditLine: label: Credit Line
content: from National Broadcasting Company, Inc.
dataSource: label: Data Source
content: National Museum of American History
identifier: label: ID Number
content: EM.311450
label: catalog number
content: 311450
label: accession number
content: 148157
label: model number
content: 50A
label: serial number
content: 2568
objectType: label: Object Name
content: microphone, inductor
label: Object Name
content: microphone
label: Other Terms
content: microphone, inductor; Audio Devices
physicalDescription: label: Measurements
content: overall: 7 in x 4 in x 4 1/2 in; 17.78 cm x 10.16 cm x 11.43 cm