ReedSqueal
263 posts
Mar 15, 2012
4:01 PM
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After some googling I was unable to find info on a "99 117" "5 40" element. I have to assume the 5 40 is manufacturing date. The element is in a Shure 9822A bullet.
Crystal?
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Go ahead and play the blues if it'll make you happy.
-Dan Castellaneta
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Ray
372 posts
Mar 15, 2012
7:38 PM
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Did you check www.greenbulletmics.com ? You might find it there.
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Greg Heumann
1532 posts
Mar 15, 2012
8:14 PM
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That's a crystal element - and if it still has strong output you're a very, very, very lucky person. If it has any output at all it will be a surprise. But even if it doesn't that's one of the nice small Shure shells - they're valuable by themselves and you can fit CM or CR elements to them.
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/Greg
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ReedSqueal
264 posts
Mar 15, 2012
8:35 PM
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@Greg - this thing BLASTS!! This mic even has the original cloth cable and what appears to be a phenolic cover over the 1'4" jack. I really like the shell size too. Yeah, I took a gamble -- an ebay score!
Although I'd like to have a Switchcraft connector on it. Or, should I keep it as is and put it on the mantle? haha.
@Ray - I did check that site, the "dating elements" section but didn't see anything specific to the numbers on my element... that I could find anyways.
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Go ahead and play the blues if it'll make you happy.
-Dan Castellaneta
Last Edited by on Mar 15, 2012 8:37 PM
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Greg Heumann
1533 posts
Mar 16, 2012
8:30 AM
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The expert on dating is Dave Kott - but I would suspect that is May of 1940. In the late forties and early fifties their date coding was wwy - i.e., 243 on a black CR meant 24th week of 1953 - you just had to know enough about the element to know whether that meant 1943, 1953 or 1963. However with your numbers that would make it 54th week of 1940 or 1950 - and unless they had more weeks back then that's impossible.
Now - a strong crystal from that era has what I believe to be the true characteristic crystal tone - there's a nasal honk in there - and they are getting very rare indeed. The vast majority of MC151's, the most popular vintage crystal still REASONABLY obtainable simply don't have this.
But I guarantee it is fragile. Play it? Put it on the shelf? It is going to go bad some day, no matter what - even if it is sitting on the shelf motionless. I know this because I've had them go bad sitting in my "crystal elements" box. So why not just enjoy it while it is alive? Treat it with respect and care - and play the hell out of it.
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/Greg
Last Edited by on Mar 16, 2012 8:31 AM
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Kingley
1866 posts
Mar 16, 2012
8:36 AM
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"Treat it with respect and care - and play the hell out of it."
Greg - Now there's a motto to live by! :-)
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