[ARC5] German throat mics - mystery almost solved

[Michael Hanz]

Well, the science of larynx mics was pretty well investgated even before 
the war began, and more intensively in the early part of the war.  I 
always remember with amusement the Bell Labs report that said, "[the 
throat microphone] would probably have been a very effective instrument 
but for the fact that the speech signal available at the larynx is 
intrinsically unintelligible."  (Page 131 at 
https://aafradio.org/docs/NDRC_Division_17_excerpts.pdf )

In sophisticated word articulation tests, the low percentage of success 
rates were significant.  Fortunately, the move to higher altitudes 
encourage mask mics, so the throat mics began to die out through disuse 
and more modern hands free mics like the M5A/UR boom mic originated by 
the Navy.

- Mike  KC4TOS

On 12/3/2020 9:01 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
>>
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-- 
Michael Hanz - KC4TOS

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