paulears Posted June 3, 2012 Share Posted June 3, 2012 Just unearthed the original sound system used in the theatre when it was built. Two units, one a mixer/pre-amp and then a valve amp unit for the column loudspeakers. 2 microphones in the floats, with a centre riser microphone, that raised out of the floor by a small up/down/stop panel in thee wings (with manual backup lever), one other mic each side, labelled ps and op, and one final knob labelled grams. Each rotary control has an on/off switch. No gains, no eq, no send and no master. The shows at the time looked like the poster - so not exactly simple. Interesting to see how sound has moved on.http://www.earsmedia.co.uk/oldamp3.jpghttp://www.earsmedia.co.uk/brit5.jpg Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Oldradiohand Posted June 3, 2012 Share Posted June 3, 2012 A handful of electrolytics,, a couple of valves and a new mains lead and it'll be good as new. Rotaries, Kellog keys and grams - it's a shame you haven't got the mics that went with it, it'd make a great foyer exhibit. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paulears Posted June 3, 2012 Author Share Posted June 3, 2012 To be honest, I did have some of the mics - All STCs, but they were ebay'd last year - all were working bar one, and they fetched very good prices. This system lasted until the 70s when it was replaced with a Shure Vocalmaster system. I still have that somewhere, although that is in a pretty rough state, with the matching amp. two loudspeakers are still hanging, but to remove them, I need to disturb the mountings which drop through an asbestos panel and unsealing this has been banned by the local environmental people without the spacesuit palava - so they are still dangling. The riser mic motor is still connected and spins - but the chain drive to the tube has broken. The manual wire controls are still functional - so if you heavy the lever in the wings, the chrome stand pops out of the floor! We did wonder if with care, we could wait for a comedian or someone static to stand over it and then slowly raise it up their trouser leg? With a sheet, you could do an excellent levitation act! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
laolu Posted June 4, 2012 Share Posted June 4, 2012 Yep, the shows weren’t simple, and the actors weren’t amateurs. I often think of the imbalance of high tech equipment, what we have today, and the comparatively low quality of the “talents” who use it. The big misconception is: if we use the high tech equipment (like the pros), then our mediocre acting, singing, dancing, whatever will also come out high quality. It ain’t so, dudes, it ain’t so... :P Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dbuckley Posted June 4, 2012 Share Posted June 4, 2012 I loved those riser microphones. Wonderful technology! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bazz339 Posted June 4, 2012 Share Posted June 4, 2012 Just unearthed the original sound system used in the theatre when it was built. Two units, one a mixer/pre-amp and then a valve amp unit for the column loudspeakers. Even without the mics that would still make an interesting foyer exhibit IMHO. Is that a Grand Master in the backround or just a picture of one? What theatre out of interest? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paulears Posted June 4, 2012 Author Share Posted June 4, 2012 The Britannia in Gt Yarmouth - and yes, it's a junior in the background - 4 shafts = 8 dimmers on each shaft. I did post a picture at some time, but I can't find it. Here's a new one. http://www.earsmedia.co.uk/gm3.jpg Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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