[Boatanchors] [Milsurplus] T-17 microphone

[hwhall at compuserve.com]

>What are the dimensions of that element?

The outside diameter of the pictured unit is 1.75 inches.
 

 Wayne

 

-----Original Message-----
From: Jim Haynes <jhhaynes at earthlink.net>
To: hwhall <hwhall at compuserve.com>
Cc: milsurplus <milsurplus at mailman.qth.net>; boatanchors <boatanchors at mailman.qth.net>
Sent: Wed, Aug 27, 2014 8:29 pm
Subject: Re: [Milsurplus] T-17 microphone


What are the dimensions of that element?  Wonder if a modern telephone
handset carbon mike element would fit in there.  (I know people used to
substitute the old F1 telephone mike elements, but they were too big
and had to be taped on to the front of the T-17.  Very non-authentic.

A modern (for 1960) carbon mike element is the T-1 used in the Bell 500
type phones, G-type handset.  I just measured one to be 1 3/4" in
diameter at the rim, then the rim part is about 1/4" thick, then the
total thickness is about half an inch.  Without a T-17 mike to look
at I'm guessing that might fit inside.  Much easier than trying to take
the original apart and replacing the carbon.  Also you can get an
electret replacement for the telephone carbon transmitter.

Now the T-17 mikes were remarkably insensitive even when new.  I don't
have the facts, but it's my belief that was done intentionally so that
the user had to yell into the mike to be heard over the engine noise
in an airplane.  The T1 should be a lot more sensitive.

Jim W6JVE

jhhaynes at earthlink dot net