Hello and welcome to The House of Chrome.
Before the Astatic JT-30 model microphone there was the Model 30. You are looking at a unique and rarer 1930's / early 40's era Astatic Model 30 crystal microphone made in Youngstown, Ohio and it comes complete with the short 8 foot cable shown which allows this mic to operate as well as the detachable early Astatic desk stand.
Pic # 2 shows an Astatic JT-30 model from the late 1940's catalog I have.
You'll notice the similarity between the common JT-30 and this early Model 30. They both have the same overall design the biggest difference was that the Model 30 shown lacked the lower Amphenol cable connector that the JT-30 had. The Model 30 simply had an attached cable that runs into the bottom of the mic. The Model 30 also incorporated the classic umber brown paint scheme.
I very rarely come across these mics due to there rarity today and this one is in pretty nice condition overall though the original crystal element is dead and no longer works. This mics have quite a bit of room inside however and a newer crystal or Shure C.M / C.R element would have this mic working again in no time at all.
This Model 30 mic was originally intended for home recording and general broadcasting purposes but again, happens to make a fantastic harp mic these days due to it's lite weight and smaller size. Easy to grip and cup in the hand. It's about the size of a tangerine.
The all metal body with original painted finish shows typical lite wear. It shows just a few tiny paint chips, scratches and scuff marks but free of any dents or engravings. The front chrome grill looks very good with zero dents, odors or pitting but there is slight chrome loss. The inner cloth screen is free of any rips or holes. Mic has all original screws. I would give it a very conservative 7 on a scale of 1 - 10 physically speaking though others would rate it higher.
This mic comes with the vintage 8 foot cloth cable in which to operate. It's original and the cable is soft and pliable. It has a standard male Switchcraft 1/4 inch end connector for use with most audio equipment.
This Model 30 will screw onto any desk or floor stand you might be using though an original Astatic stand is provided.
The stand is a 1940's / 40's era Astatic brand desk stand. It's similar to the E6G model but because it's such an early model I have no info on it or have I seen any ads for it in my catalogs. I have sold a few of these in the past but the model # is still a mystery to me.
This model was a detachable desk stand that has a painted wood base with detachable painted wooden handle allowing the user of the mic to quickly release the mic attached and walk around using the handle to support the mic with a small twist of the handle.
This design was very practical for it's time as very few people actually held those older mics in their hand. It was considered taboo so the mic stand handle was a more civilized and practical option.
The stands riser seats on the base via a small hole where the riser sits. There is plenty of tension once applied. Easy to remove once twisted and lifted upwards.
The top wooden riser has the original brown painted finish and looks very nice while the bottom painted wood base shows a bit more wear. Please let the detailed pics be your guide. The stand has the original felt pad and it's in excellent shape. Stand is appx 6 inches tall X 5 inches wide. With mic on top it's appx 9 inches tall.
As with all my vintage items...
I can promise you will be happy with it for the price paid. If not...I have a no hassle return policy. The shipping will be on you as I believe that's fair but the purchase price would be refunded. Simply return in the same nice condition...period. Check my rating. INTERNATIONAL BUYERS are welcome as well. Buyer must pay within 24 hours or an unpaid case will be opened and item relisted. Domestic buyer will get priority shipping.
If you have any questions feel free to ask and...thanks for looking.
| Condition | Non Functioning (Used) Non-functioning items do not work as they should. All known issues should be described in the listing description.Learn more |
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