The International Cessna^® 170 Association

Does anyone have a picture of the original hand mic bracket for a 1950 170A. I think there might have been two different types used. A friend of mine offered me the bracket off his old 170 that he no longer owns, but it was for a different (circular) type of mic. My goal is to make a new bracket with some chromoly to replicate the original.

Turns out my friend had both versions after all. Found this one in a box of old 170 "stuff". Figured I would share some photos in case anyone else is crazy enough to want to install the old hand mic.

C170U2 wrote: Figured I would share some photos in case anyone else is crazy enough to want to install the old hand mic.

Originality?

Those little "round" carbon Telex mics ARE the original mics for this airplane.

George,

I looked in the owners manual for the A model and I see the type of mic that fits this bracket ("Electro Voice" Differential Microphone).

It would not surprise me if different types of mic setups came from the factory but I'm pretty sure this is what mine had as original equipment.

Mike

I suppose I should have noted exactly WHICH year model and WHICH radio I meant when I said "original".

The G.E. Simplexer first offered factory-installed in the 48-49 models used the carbon Telex. Afterwards, the selections changed per customer requests, of course.

One of the pitfalls of searching for originality is making assumptions that what is found in a 60 year old airplane that looks period-style or like it's always been there....must be original to that airframe. Another example is the cad-plated rocker covers recently discussed....which in fact were never factory-original to any 170 despite the fact that a particular engine serial number may be the same one always on that airframe. (Rocker covers may have been replaced when cylinder work was done...or may have simply been replaced because of leaking gaskets which required new covers with flat flanges and a previous owner thought the cad plated ones looked good or they were the ones available from the supplier as replacements, or any one of several other explanations.)

That Electro Voice carbon mic was a widely available model for many decades (as well as a darn fine microphone.) It looks good, and it looks period-correct so .... I like it!

I have a Shure model 488...certainly never a model which the factory would likely install due to cost, but which I like for it's noise-cancellation capability:

Hand mike....hand mike...what's a hand mike???

gahorn wrote:One of the pitfalls of searching for originality is making assumptions that what is found in a 60 year old airplane that looks period-style or like it's always been there....must be original to that airframe. ...

If that mic is not original it seems to me that it is as close as one can get to original. Prior to s/n 18574 Cessna offered p/n 205S as part of the optional G.E. radio equipment for the 170. Note the "conf. No: 205" on Arash's microphone. It also looks identical to the microphone in the picture of the "who-knows-what-year" prototype as shown below. S/N 18574 and up used microphone p/n 0411057-5 as an option. This is also what is listed in the 170A IPC. The 170B IPC doesn't list a microphone.

The promotional photo also displays that microphone in an out-of-the-ordinary mounting location so I don't know if we should place much faith in it,...but at least it's clearly period-style. That model mic has been around since WW-II when Electro voice rec'd a Congressional commendation for noise cancelling mics for aviation and tanks. (but I do see the lady used a color-coordinated fingernail polish.)

gahorn wrote:...................... (but I do see the lady used a color-coordinated fingernail polish.)

Yeah and it is green!!!!!!!!!!!

I remember having to bang them on your palm to shake up the carbon to make them work, I was glad to get rid of mine that was probably stock from the factory.

johneeb wrote:

gahorn wrote:...................... (but I do see the lady used a color-coordinated fingernail polish.)

Yeah ...!!!!!!!!!!!

hilltop170 wrote:I remember having to bang them on your palm ... to make them work, I was glad to get rid of mine.....

Hmmmnnnn.....

I detect a hint of skepticism.

hilltop170 wrote:I detect a hint of skepticism.

I was contemplating your remembrance of banging the ladies with the palm of your hand to get them to work....