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Dirty-South Blues Harp forum: wail on! > Astatic Jt-30 Question
Astatic Jt-30 Question
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tbang
3 posts
Aug 28, 2011
4:35 PM
If this info is already somewhere on the forum, i apologize - i searched and didn't see anything. I've been reading this forum for just a little while now, but I really don't post too often.

I just found and bought a (late 40's?) B-series JT-30 at an antique store. I figured it had the crystal element and wouldn't work anymore, but when I brought it home and plugged it in, it sounds outstanding!

I was wondering how to identify the element. It's definitely th original element, but there are absolutely no markings on the back of the element except for a small sticker that says: "Licensed under the patents of the Brush Development Company. See Patents. Notice inside and on carton." Then a few patent numbers.

Anywho...I was having trouble finding decent information online, so I figured there might be someone here with some idea.

If you've read this much, i already appreciate it!

-bang
Philippe
141 posts
Aug 28, 2011
5:30 PM
http://www.greenbulletmics.com/Picture_Page.html

Very helpful site, it might help narrow things down a bit.

Sounds like you made a nice find!
tbang
4 posts
Aug 28, 2011
5:56 PM
Philippe.
I appreciate the site. I had actually looked through that page already and couldn't find the element, though the '1940 Astatic Crystal" is pretty close. I've seen a few JT-30's around, but not too many painted all brown like this one...tho, still not much info on that element.

Thanks!
Blues13
145 posts
Aug 28, 2011
7:37 PM
tbang, did you try a google search with Brush Development Company crystal microphone element?
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Violence is the last refuge of the incompetent.
Isaac Asimov
Greg Heumann
1244 posts
Aug 28, 2011
9:08 PM
Brush developed patents for how to make a crystal mic. There are some mics from the late 40's / early 50's with Brush crystals in them. Great elements but working ones are few and far between. Both early Shure and Astatic crystals had a sticker saying "manufactured under license from Brush Development Corp.
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/Greg

BlowsMeAway Productions
See my Customer Mics album on Facebook
BlueState - my band
Bluestate on iTunes
tbang
5 posts
Aug 29, 2011
6:49 AM
Blues13,
I sure did. Nothing came up that really helped out - just some pretty cool 'gee-whiz' info on the history. It was fun to read.

Greg,
I appreciate the info. I plugged mine in, expecting nothing to work and it blew me away. Very surprising. We'll see how/if it holds up.
tbang
6 posts
Aug 29, 2011
6:53 AM
Pretty sure it's just a version of the MC-151 that's not marked or identified in any way besides patent #'s.

Thanks again for the info. Maybe I'll post a picture or two (or a video) when I'm off work. Really not too bad for $50 in an antique store.
Blues13
147 posts
Aug 29, 2011
7:03 AM
tbang, after my post I did a search and didn't find anything to help identify your element. The only interesting thing that I found is in Greg's post. Sorry I couldn't help.

Martin

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Violence is the last refuge of the incompetent.
Isaac Asimov
tbang
7 posts
Aug 29, 2011
7:10 AM
Old Dog,
jt30.com is a GREAT site and one of my favorites, but no luck (that i could find). Thanks for the suggestion - it's one of my favorites for info.
Old Dog
115 posts
Aug 29, 2011
7:13 AM
Yep, it helped me do research on a JT30 my dad gave me, he bought it new in the 30's to record choir practice!

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I used to be young and foolish. Now I'm not so young.
Greg Heumann
1247 posts
Aug 29, 2011
7:55 AM
That element is NOT an MC-151 or MC-127. It is most likely an MC-101.
----------
/Greg

BlowsMeAway Productions
See my Customer Mics album on Facebook
BlueState - my band
Bluestate on iTunes
tbang
8 posts
Aug 29, 2011
11:45 AM
Greg.
What makes you think MC-101? (Again, my ultra-sophisticated google research isn't turning up much).

I'll take a picture tonight and post it.
rharley5652
567 posts
Aug 29, 2011
12:52 PM
@ tbang
More than likely it's a 99-131 from the 40's,.astitic didn't date their elements on th MC-151 & MC127,.
Your element may even be a R7 crystal ( a replacement element )that someone changed out yrs ago ><
Photobucket
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R7
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Here is an original 1940 something Astitic
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------------click Link Below -----------

Simply Unique Kustom Mic's By Rharley
tbang
9 posts
Aug 29, 2011
4:55 PM
Here is the mic.
Photobucket

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Thanks!

Last Edited by on Aug 29, 2011 4:57 PM
MP
1814 posts
Aug 29, 2011
5:11 PM
that is an unumbered brush crystal.
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MP
doctor of semiotics and reed replacement.

"making the world a better place, one harmonica at a time"
tbang
10 posts
Aug 31, 2011
5:36 AM
MP. Thank you very much for the info.

So I'm guessing there's really not too much information out there on these?
tmf714
754 posts
Aug 31, 2011
6:06 AM
The mic is a late 1940's -nice find!!
barbequebob
1719 posts
Aug 31, 2011
7:54 AM
The MC-101's are a totally different animal and the differene between that and an MC-151 is that the 151 has midrange presence rise and the 101 does NOT, and the same difference is with the ceramic version, which is MC-126 and MC-127, and the 126 doesn't have that presence rise either.

I forget the orginal crystal number, but the really old ones are NOT with the MC-101 or MC-126.
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Sincerely,
Barbeque Bob Maglinte
Boston, MA
http://www.barbequebob.com
CD available at http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/bbmaglinte
barbequebob
1720 posts
Aug 31, 2011
7:57 AM
The MC-101's are a totally different animal and the differene between that and an MC-151 is that the 151 has midrange presence rise and the 101 does NOT, and the same difference is with the ceramic version, which is MC-126 and MC-127, and the 126 doesn't have that presence rise either.

I forget the orginal crystal number, but the really old ones are NOT with the MC-101 or MC-126.
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Sincerely,
Barbeque Bob Maglinte
Boston, MA
http://www.barbequebob.com
CD available at http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/bbmaglinte
tbang
11 posts
Aug 31, 2011
10:30 AM
@barbequebob.

Interesting. Thanks! I (obviously) don't know much about this history besides what I can google.
MP
1821 posts
Aug 31, 2011
1:09 PM
my pleasure tbang.
if i'm not mistaken, i've found this brush development corp. crystal in other brands of mics of this vintage.
the gaskets are hard as rock and melded onto the element as a matter of course.
the metal tends to tear at the pointed area dead center creating a volcano effect.
i've NEVER found one in working order.
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MP
doctor of semiotics and reed replacement.

"making the world a better place, one harmonica at a time"
tbang
12 posts
Aug 31, 2011
2:39 PM
MP.

The gasket is pretty hard, but with a little care, it came out very cleanly. I bought the mic at an antique store on a whim for about $65 not expecting it to work and thinking I would have to buy a new element (no big deal to do), but it is at least as loud as my Shure 707A that I recently plugged a 99A86 CM element into. Now I just have to make sure i don't drop it or anything stupid.

Very cool. I really appreciate the input. I wish I had some other samples of how this element sounds to compare mine to.

Thanks again.
MP
1826 posts
Aug 31, 2011
3:25 PM
if it is as loud as your 99A, you won the lottery my friend. cool.
my fav crystal is a brush. it's shaped like a pillbox and came out of an EV-920 Spherex. it's in an astatic biscuit.
it's the only mic i use unless i feel like going acoustic through a PA vocal mic.
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MP
doctor of semiotics and reed replacement.

"making the world a better place, one harmonica at a time"
tbang
13 posts
Sep 01, 2011
5:45 AM
That's great, MP. If you (or anyone) do happen to run across one that works, I'd love to hear a sample of how it sounds to compare mine to.

My rig leaves a lot to be desired, but I have access to a 59 bassman every once in a while, so we'll see how it plays.
Thanks!
MP
1828 posts
Sep 01, 2011
12:52 PM
brother tbang,
actually, most anything sounds good through a 59 provided it was actually made in 1959 and restored to specs by a talented amp tech.

i'm amazed your bloody crystal works period, much less having some volume too.
that crystal of yours is on the endangered species list. sadly, they are unable to have congress and reproduce:(
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MP
doctor of semiotics and reed replacement.

"making the world a better place, one harmonica at a time"
tbang
14 posts
Sep 01, 2011
2:41 PM
This was a 59 bassman reissue done up by sonny jr...and you're right - everything through that sounds outstanding. Unfortunately, my current rig is a Blues Jr with a Weber Speaker and a couple smaller adjustments.... life keeps demanding I spend my money on less 'important' things like bills and food.

A nice new rig is on the horizon...just have to decide what'd be best...that'll be a tough decision.
shbamac
158 posts
Sep 01, 2011
6:41 PM
I've got five or six crystals that work just fine...

Playing one of my R7 is the vid, along with a CR and a RCA dynamic which I think has a tuner element in it. Can't embed vids from my phone...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SQr9DqYFPq4&sns=em
tbang
15 posts
Sep 02, 2011
5:05 AM
I've heard a few R7's, etc. I even have a few crystals - I just hadn't had trouble identifying them before. Will watch your video today at work.

Thanks again.
toddlgreene
3270 posts
Sep 02, 2011
5:14 AM

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Todd L. Greene

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