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Author Topic: D 104 Microphones History and Lore  (Read 46396 times)
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Steve - WB3HUZ
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« Reply #25 on: March 20, 2005, 07:17:39 PM »

Those spring mounted D-104s were the bees knees!
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W1GFH
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« Reply #26 on: March 20, 2005, 08:31:14 PM »

:idea: Shouldn't be too hard to make a ring and spring D-104. I got one in surgery already started....

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Ed KB1HVS
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« Reply #27 on: March 20, 2005, 08:45:34 PM »

Quote from: W8ER
Quote from: Ed KB1HVS
Rochester salt. One of the stories out there is they are low on rochester salt used for the crystal elements. I read it somewhere. Do not know how true.


Actually Ed, when I heard that they were going to stop making the D104 I called and ordered several elements for the shelf. The marketing gal that I spoke with said that the reason that they decided to halt production on the D104 was becasue the molds were needing reworked and the cost was staggering. In that year they only sold 35 D104's and there was no way to justifiy the cost of the mold work.

It appears to be a case where the product was so cheap and so good that obsolence became a big factor. I've got 3 D104's here and just about every ham I know has a few on the shelf. Why buy a new one when you could order a new element and get a few more good years with it?


--Larry W8ER


  Yes I also heard that too. I have 3 d-104s here. One  modified with a j-fet preamp and a phase switch. Works nice. I also have a DN HZ dynamic Astatic mic. Is very tinny but it really cuts through the fog.
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KB1HVS. Your Hi Value Station
k4kyv
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Don
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« Reply #28 on: March 20, 2005, 09:49:01 PM »

A closeup of the ring mounted D-104.

Careful examination of the photo reveals that the spring hooks are not spaced exactly 90 degrees apart around the rim of the head,  to avoid interference with the four screws and their spacer sleeves that hold the head together.  So the springs don't sit exactly symmetrically with the same tension when the mic is mounted in the ring.  In this photo, notice the horizontal springs at the top.  The one on the  left is stretched longer than the one on the right.  Same with the vertical springs.  On the left, the upper one is stretched longer, but on the right, the lower one is stretched  longer.  Of the bottom horizontal springs, notice the one on the right is stretched longer.

This head is a full 1" thick, unlike modern heads which are 13/16" thick.


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Don, K4KYV                                       AMI#5
Licensed since 1959 and not happy to be back on AM...    Never got off AM in the first place.

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This message was typed using the DVORAK keyboard layout.
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k4kyv
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Don
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« Reply #29 on: March 20, 2005, 10:03:33 PM »

Quote from: W1GFH
:idea: Shouldn't be too hard to make a ring and spring D-104. I got one in surgery already started....



Wrong type of head.  Notice the difference in the knurling on the front and back plates, plus the difference in thickness.

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Don, K4KYV                                       AMI#5
Licensed since 1959 and not happy to be back on AM...    Never got off AM in the first place.

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This message was typed using the DVORAK keyboard layout.
http://www.mwbrooks.com/dvorak
W1GFH
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« Reply #30 on: March 20, 2005, 10:38:27 PM »

Quote from: k4kyv


Wrong type of head.  Notice the difference in the knurling on the front and back plates, plus the difference in thickness.


True, it would be a modern D-104 head with a HB ring and spring mount.

And depending on mounting points of the springs you can make the suspension a square or a diamond shape.

(Carbon example)

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Steve - WB3HUZ
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« Reply #31 on: March 21, 2005, 07:59:57 AM »

Here's the schematic for the preamp for those who have the amplified D-104s.

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Vortex Joe - N3IBX
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« Reply #32 on: March 22, 2005, 07:29:31 AM »

Quote from: Jack-KA3ZLR-
Here's an outfit that is offering a newer style head for Astatic users.

http://www.rmscomanagement.ca/canadianastatic/images/2002-05-08_018.jpg



You mean someone mixed "viagra" in with their D-Ten-Four??
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Joe Cro N3IBX

Anything that is Breadboarded,Black Crackle, or that squeals when you tune it gives me MAJOR WOOD!
Vortex Joe - N3IBX
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« Reply #33 on: March 22, 2005, 07:31:52 AM »

Quote from: W1GFH
Quote from: k4kyv


Wrong type of head.  Notice the difference in the knurling on the front and back plates, plus the difference in thickness.


True, it would be a modern D-104 head with a HB ring and spring mount.

And depending on mounting points of the springs you can make the suspension a square or a diamond shape.

(Carbon example)



The microphone in this picture is a "Universal" model BB double button carbon job.
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Joe Cro N3IBX

Anything that is Breadboarded,Black Crackle, or that squeals when you tune it gives me MAJOR WOOD!
Vortex Joe - N3IBX
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« Reply #34 on: March 22, 2005, 07:36:23 AM »

Quote from: KL7OF
Bacon....I tried the Mouser xtal and  another in ceramic from mouser... Both worked OK....Steve


Steve,
        How did the element stack up against a crystal Astatic element in frequency response and fit/function? I'd like to buy a few as replacements for D-Ten-Fours I have that have crapped out their crapstal elements. Any info will be appreciated.
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Joe Cro N3IBX

Anything that is Breadboarded,Black Crackle, or that squeals when you tune it gives me MAJOR WOOD!
k4kyv
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Don
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« Reply #35 on: March 22, 2005, 11:08:36 AM »

Quote from: Vortex Joe - N3IBX
Quote from: KL7OF
Bacon....I tried the Mouser xtal and  another in ceramic from mouser... Both worked OK....Steve


Steve,
        How did the element stack up against a crystal Astatic element in frequency response and fit/function? I'd like to buy a few as replacements for D-Ten-Fours I have that have crapped out their crapstal elements. Any info will be appreciated.



I attempted to contact Canadian Astatic about their version of the D-104:


To: <sales@canadianastatic.com>
Sent: Monday, 21 March, 2005 09:30
Subject: D-104 replacement cartridges

> Do you supply replacement crystal elements that will fit the classic D-104
> with the flat profile screen?  I notice in the photo that the 1075 Window
> Microphone has a different screen on the front of the  head that protrudes
> outwards.  Would the element used in this microphone fit the older style
> head that lacks the bulge?
>
> Thank you.

This is the reply I got:

   ----- The following addresses had permanent fatal errors -----
sales@canadianastatic.com>

   ----- Transcript of session follows -----
<sales@canadianastatic.com>... Deferred: Connection refused by canadianastatic.com.
Message could not be delivered for 1 day
Message will be deleted from queue
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Don, K4KYV                                       AMI#5
Licensed since 1959 and not happy to be back on AM...    Never got off AM in the first place.

- - -
This message was typed using the DVORAK keyboard layout.
http://www.mwbrooks.com/dvorak
Ed Nesselroad
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« Reply #36 on: March 22, 2005, 02:01:32 PM »

Anyone replaced the Astatic cartridge with a Heil 5?  I have a number of 104's, an N 30, and a JT 30 and had thought this might be a workable swap when they require replacement.
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Jack-KA3ZLR-
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« Reply #37 on: March 26, 2005, 03:26:17 AM »

Here's another version i found on the net:

http://bobscb.com/microphones/super_star/silver_salute.htm
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W8ER
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« Reply #38 on: March 26, 2005, 04:56:02 AM »

Quote from: Ed Nesselroad
Anyone replaced the Astatic cartridge with a Heil 5?  I have a number of 104's, an N 30, and a JT 30 and had thought this might be a workable swap when they require replacement.


Ed I tried this and was not pleased with the results. It worked but   :cry:

--Larry W8ER
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W8ER
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« Reply #39 on: March 26, 2005, 04:58:02 AM »

Quote from: Jack-KA3ZLR-
Here's another version i found on the net:

http://bobscb.com/microphones/super_star/silver_salute.htm


Jack ... THAT is the ugliest microphone that I have ever seen!  :lol:  :lol:

--Larry W8ER
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Jack-KA3ZLR-
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« Reply #40 on: March 26, 2005, 08:54:27 AM »

Hi Larry  Cheesy ,

 http://bobscb.com/images/super_star/silver_salute.jpg

here's another pic of it:

http://www.wb0w.com/workman/images/silver-salute.jpg

It is kinda unique... Cheesy

Here's the characteristics:

http://www.bellscb.com/products/microphones/Superstar/Superstar_Silver_Salute.htm
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KL7OF
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« Reply #41 on: March 26, 2005, 09:22:12 AM »

Joe....The mouser xtal element that I tried had sensitivity and freq response very similar to the Astatic xtal element...can't tell much difference in that respect......The outside diameter of the mouser element is smaller than the original and fit into the head easily...I used some foam from an old pop screen to make a doughnut shaped piece that  fills the voids and centers the element.. Someone with a little more acoustical savvy could come up with a better mounting I'm sure...The ceramic element is not as sensitive and requires more mic gain and it doesn't sound as good as the xtal ...The cartridges were tested on Viking 2 and 32V-1.....Currently using an Astatic Xtal on the 32v and the mouser is sitting on the shelf......
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Vortex Joe - N3IBX
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« Reply #42 on: March 26, 2005, 09:52:35 AM »

Quote from: W8ER
Quote from: Jack-KA3ZLR-
Here's another version i found on the net:

http://bobscb.com/microphones/super_star/silver_salute.htm


Jack ... THAT is the ugliest microphone that I have ever seen!  :lol:  :lol:

--Larry W8ER


I kinda like it. It's real Art Deco/Moderne looking. I wonder if the fit and finish is as good as Astatic?
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Joe Cro N3IBX

Anything that is Breadboarded,Black Crackle, or that squeals when you tune it gives me MAJOR WOOD!
Jack-KA3ZLR-
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« Reply #43 on: March 26, 2005, 10:00:07 AM »

Good Morning Joe,

 I found this thing in passing on the net while looking around the CB web sites Lord there's a Guzillion of them.. Cheesy , But Eham has a small write up on it , and i've read on the different CB Boards it's Not Bad...

I think it's unique... Cheesy
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W8ER
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« Reply #44 on: March 26, 2005, 10:24:17 AM »

Quote from: Vortex Joe - N3IBX
Quote from: W8ER
Quote from: Jack-KA3ZLR-
Here's another version i found on the net:

http://bobscb.com/microphones/super_star/silver_salute.htm


Jack ... THAT is the ugliest microphone that I have ever seen!  :lol:  :lol:

--Larry W8ER


I kinda like it. It's real Art Deco/Moderne looking. I wonder if the fit and finish is as good as Astatic?


Joe  .. it has a presence rise at 27 mhz!!!    :lol:  :lol:  :lol:

--Larry
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k4kyv
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Don
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« Reply #45 on: March 26, 2005, 10:34:10 AM »

Quote from: Jack-KA3ZLR-


Note that it's a dynamic mic, not xtal.  The ad says it "doesn't sound like a D-104."  It has the rising characteristic with the 3 kc/s peak like the D-104, but looks like the lows cut off sharply below about 150~.  It evidently is a "power mic" because it uses a battery.  I strongly suspect that, unlike the D-104, it would be impossible get better lows out of it by adjusting the load resistance on the mic element.
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Don, K4KYV                                       AMI#5
Licensed since 1959 and not happy to be back on AM...    Never got off AM in the first place.

- - -
This message was typed using the DVORAK keyboard layout.
http://www.mwbrooks.com/dvorak
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