BBC Radio Continuity studios - microphone arms

[Sparks]

During the 1970s and 1980s when Radio 1 et al were still using D202 mics, I heard a rumour that the 'anglepoise' arms they were mounted on weren't actually proper microphone arms but actually taken from desk lamps! It sounds ridiculous but can anyone confirm or deny the rumour ? I've seen pictures of gooseneck mounts in the studios too.

Thankyou.

[Stuart R]

I have vague recollections of being shown how new holes were drilled and the spring mounts re-position on Anglepoise lamp arms so they could support a microphone. This was at an ITV contractor in the early 1990s.

Regards,

SR

[Sparks]

Thankyou Stuart - that sounds plausible. Beats me why they couldn't just buy the real thing!

Here's a picture of what I'm talking about, courtesy of an old Jimmy Young book!

[m0cemdave]

Beats me why they couldn't just buy the real thing!

Looks to me like it is the "real thing" - an original Anglepoise stand, fitted with a custom-made end to take a microphone holder.

This being somebody's clever new idea, they didn't become available off the shelf from manufacturers until a market developed for them - presumably when ILR started up.

[Sparks]

It never occurred to me that the 'proper' version didn't exist until after some clever dick had dismantled and converted a lamp. I wonder what became of all the lampshades ?

[Stuart R]

Thank goodness I kept my college 'work experience diary' from Summer 1991.

A 5" adjustment to the springs was required for Neumann microphones in a new sound dubbing suite.

SR

(I didn't ask what happened to the lamp shades.)

[Sparks]

The lampshades got parts as flying saucers in low budget sci-fi flicks.