[ARC5] German throat mics - mystery almost solved

Scott Robinson spr at earthlink.net
Thu Dec 3 21:38:36 EST 2020


I remember playing with one of these when I was abut 13 If I said 'you', 
the mic signal sounded like 've'. I powered it by putting it in the 
cathode lead of a triode preamp and grounding the grid.

/scott robinson

On 12/3/20 6:01 PM, MARK DORNEY via ARC5 wrote:
> I wonder if the Germans had better luck with their throat mics than the 
> US had with theirs. While never fully eliminated from USAAF use, they 
> were replaced by better mask mics and even the T-17 lollipop mic because 
> hardly anybody could understand what the hell was being said when the 
> throat mic was used.  But it’s use sure looked good in the movies.
> 
> Mark D.
> WW2RDO
> 
> “In matters of style, float with the current. In matters of Principle, 
> stand like a rock. “.   -   Thomas Jefferson
> 
> Sent from my iPhone
> 
>> On Dec 3, 2020, at 6:20 PM, Hubert Miller <Kargo_cult at msn.com> wrote:
>>
>> 
>>
>> I'm going thru my stuff and picking out downsizing candidates, and 
>> found a German
>>
>> 'throat microphone', but with a 5 pin connector, so not Panzer. The 
>> strap has only
>>
>> the number L38114, so on a lark, I decided to try to look this up. Lo 
>> and behold, an
>>
>> "Online Throat Microphone Museum",
>>
>> http://beatboxmics.com/#!/pages/museum 
>> <http://beatboxmics.com/#!/pages/museum>
>>
>> Who would have thought?
>>
>> <image001.png>
>>
>> I learned this:
>>
>> "Abfragegarnitur L38 - Luftwaffe headset with throat microphone and 
>> single receiver.
>>
>> All parts have special codes starting with "L38". Throat microphone L 
>> 38114 is exactly the same
>>
>> as Kmf.b tank throat microphone. Luftwaffe production control marks 
>> are all around
>>
>> (BAL = Bau Aufsicht Luftfahrt). The 5-pin connector is of the type 
>> widely used by German
>>
>> Wehrmacht for telephone equipment. Maybe such "L38" headsets were in 
>> use at
>>
>> Luftwaffe telephone switchboards."
>>
>> That seems likely. Anyway, the mystery of what this item was, is 
>> solved.  Also I had looked
>>
>> at German tubes for many years and never knew what "BAL" referred to. 
>> How about that !
>>
>> I have a Swedish "Ericsson" throat mic this museum doesn't know about. 
>> I wonder if it was
>>
>> supplied to the German Luftwaffe during WW2 or just prior to the war. 
>> Sweden did trade
>>
>> with Germany until the point they saw Germany was on its last legs and 
>> no longer presented
>>
>> a threat of taking their country.
>>
>> -Hue Miller
>>
>> ______________________________________________________________
>> ARC5 mailing list
>> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/arc5
>> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
>> Post: mailto:ARC5 at mailman.qth.net
>>
>> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
>> Please help support this email list: https://www.qsl.net/donate.html
> 
> ______________________________________________________________
> ARC5 mailing list
> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/arc5
> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
> Post: mailto:ARC5 at mailman.qth.net
> 
> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
> Please help support this email list: https://www.qsl.net/donate.html
> 


More information about the ARC5 mailing list