subsystem4 Posted February 22, 2009 Share #1 Posted February 22, 2009 People give me stuff because they think its military. I was given this hand held microphone yesterday and i am having trouble determining its identity. Its an olive drab plastic/bakelite. The back is marked "Munston". The interior components are marked with two different mfgs. The back half with the button is W J Murdock chelsea MA. From what i can tell they were an electronics radio parts mfg that went out of business in 1960? the diaphram is marked G-228 in white, 141914 W E Co. in black, and 1/43 in red. To me it looks like a cb mic or maybe a vehicle radio mic but i have had no luck after hours of google. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hawkdriver Posted February 22, 2009 Share #2 Posted February 22, 2009 I'm no expert and am guessing, but it reminds me of the air traffic control tower mic used in the old control towers. There would be a speaker in the ceiling and these hanging by the radio. This way, the operator could move around without being tied down by a headset cord. What doe the plug end look like, tha would help alot. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
subsystem4 Posted February 22, 2009 Author Share #3 Posted February 22, 2009 Somebody took the plug off. there are just two strands of wire coming out of the black rubbery cord. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bob Hudson Posted February 22, 2009 Share #4 Posted February 22, 2009 I was a ham radio and Civil Air Patrol radio operator in the 1960's and used and owned lots of surplus military radio gear. This mike looks ALMOST government issue, but for military issue I would expect to see a government part number instead of the manufacturer's name in large letters. I would also expect it to look a little more robust. Munston did make some items under Signal Corps contracts but this one appears to be something for the civilian market for use in a vehicle (for something like police or ham radio). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hawkdriver Posted February 22, 2009 Share #5 Posted February 22, 2009 Could be that they had a lot of green bakelite laying around from a governmnet contract? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gregory Posted August 23, 2012 Share #6 Posted August 23, 2012 The back half with the button is W J Murdock chelsea MA. From what i can tell they were an electronics radio parts mfg that went out of business in 1960? The item you posted seems to be post-WWII because manufacturer's name changed and during WWII they were the Murdock Manufacturing Co. Below there is their press ad of 1942. Source: Aero Digest, Vol. 41 No. 3, September 1942 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gregory Posted August 23, 2012 Share #7 Posted August 23, 2012 Only late WWII they changed their company's name to WM. J. Murdock Co. (but not W J Murdock as on your item). Source: Aero Digest, Vol. 49 No. 4, May 15, 1945 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now