Another form of 'Test Record'

A Microphone from about 1953

This image shows the rather cheap and cheerful socket at the rear of this Lustraphone Microphone. I still have the original lead with the plug attached, although the spun Ali. cover has long gone.

This little 'Gem' still works rather well, 'though the sound is rather 'round' but not boxy. I seem to recall that it was rather good for Cello and Double Bass instrument solos!

I am still surprised as to how strong the 'wire' mesh is--A very heavy weave indeed.

The front of this mic is missing it's Logo. For those who don't know this beast, it is a Ribbon Mic.

A Doctor in the Family

I have been meaning to add a 'post' for some time now, but I've been distracted by so much happening during my semi-conscious hours. Sounds and pictures of a Traction Engine being tested for 'valve timing', selecting and printing photographs for the annual 'Thanks to volunteers' at the Long Shop Museum, treating myself to a few new 'tech toys' for Christmas. Then having to learn how to use them! Several other chores come to mind, but will over look for the purpose of this entry.

Being at the Long Shop the other day however, gave me a chance to look at the more social side of the Museum rather than the Engineering side that I usually indulge in. I knew off Elizabeth Garrett Anderson, but had not really followed up on her life., but having dressed-up as Frank Garrett for a Schools 'Apprentice Day' event a while back....The children are given a period costume work experience at the Museum for a day. No cars allowed, nor computers to be seen. Discipline and doffing of caps absolutely essential..... the beaming faces showed that they loved it.

Sorry, one of my 'red-herrings' getting in there. Elizabeth was of a tenacious personality, and having set her mind to becoming a Medical Doctor, in fact the very FIRST woman MD in the UK, my mind thoughts turned to my Niece who is a GP. Thus I was reading the booklet as pictured. It was within this narrative that I found a rather weak, but none the less valid link to the Garrett psyche. The Royal Free Hospital in London eventually established a Medical School admitting women to London University degree courses, the year was 1878. The link? Well The Royal Free was were I worked for the Medical Research Council for several years as an electronics design engineer, developing aids for both theater and ward monitoring, as well as a few research projects. True my base was at the Hampstead branch (before the current building was erected, ie. at the original 'Fever Hospital'. But I did travel quite a lot between there and Grays Inn Road, as well as the National Hospital for Neurology, Queens Square. There were also visits to The Maida Vale Hospital. These tenuous links may not mean very much, but it does feel comfortable to share various associations with the past, and who knows, maybe the future. It was from working at the Royal Free that I moved on to become closely linked -work wise- to the lady who started the BBC Radiophonic Workshop. For after she left the BBC, she set-up her own composing studio in Kent, where she set about investigating new ways to create music by electronic means. But that must be for a future BLOG.

The 'Flip Side' to 'A Journey....'

Is Life a Curved Path?

So, at long last I have made the effort to compile a blog!

This is in fact no mean feat as I have usually shied away from committing my general thoughts to the written word. This is partly due to lack of confidence with both Grammar and spelling. Also memories of being belittled on both accounts at school whilst at the same time always being praised for the ability to speak quite fluently without preparation. Add to that the general get-out terms of 'Dyslexia' and 'writers cramp', I truly have not enjoyed writing.

What on earth has changed at this time of life. Well, many factors have conspired to re-adjust my equilibrium. There is of course the computer and its useful facilities to rearrange and correct words, secretly. But that still leave the confidence thing. Well the computer and the internet have a lot to answer for. About a year ago I decided that as I was enjoying playing about with music sequencers and samplers and pretending to learn to play ' Keyboard', I would subscribe to a Technical magazine on the subject. I choose 'Sound on Sound' as my preferred choice . Within a few months an article was published recalling the early days of the BBC's Radiophonic Workshop. During the reading of the piece my attention was riveted by an account of a bizarre contraption for creating sounds from graphic art-work. How it worked was not really understood.
Contacting the magazine lead to the author visiting me at my home, where he discovered that I did in fact know quite a lot about the machine which was known by the name of ORAMICS. This single event has rather transformed my ailling life, and has encouraged me to restimulate my Grey matter. I have now regain a firm interest in sound and sound recording, which coupled to my other interests now embriols me in trying to make an archive of both my life and the progress of my son. I so wish to eliminate the difficulties I am having in tracing my Father's life. There seems to be so little provinence for what he acheived for the world of music during and after the second world war. Alas, there is also scant evidence of his early life and upbringing.

So life at 70 plus has begun to close in rather like completing a circle, but I do not intend it to completely close just yet!

As I learn more about blogging, I will most surely add the links to the key players that I have mentioned.