Skip to main content
Want more images or videos?
Request additional images or videos from the seller
1 of 12

Art Deco / Modernist 1940s Aluminum "Amperite" RBLG Ribbon MICROPHONE

About the Item

Rare 1940s Aluminum Amperite RBLG ribbon MICROPHONE,, tested and working,, missing on/off toggle switch,Super unusual design, Art Deco, Machine Age,, Modernist,, The Amperite RBLG ribbon microphone has one of the strangest shapes ever used in microphone design. It dates from the end of the Forties, the aluminium appearance was probably deemed 'modernistic' and maybe even stylish, but I can not help wandering what the people at Amperite, in the city of New York, were thinking when they approved this design. In my opinion it is not something that any artist would like to be seen with on stage and even in the (radio)studio it must have stood out amongst the rounded forms of other microphones. Therefore I nicknamed it 'Brutus Maximus' (the Big Brute), although I can imagine that people used other even less flattering names to describe its shape. The RBLG had a 200 Ohm output, its brother, the RBHG was a High-Z version, which was also badged for IBM (in a gray version), perhaps that company thought it suited the design of their large typewriters and early computers. A very similar looking Amperite R80L was the studio version, this had a better transformer and vertical slits at the front, the sides were more open for better airflow. These strange designs were the last Amperite ever made, although the company is still around, microphone production ended in the early Fifties. The RBLG was a decent ribbon microphone for P A and radio use, advertised as 'Automatically Adjusted for Close or Distant Pick-Up' and 'Blastproof'. It could even be used outside, unlike most ribbons, it was not affected by wind. The front of the ribbon had acoustic dampening, the back was more open, so both sides sound different, as can be geard in the soundclip. The on/off switch was concealed at the back. It is unlikely that many of these mics were ever made and they hardly ever surface second-hand, they are very rare.
  • Creator:
    Universal Microphone Co. Ltd (Maker)
  • Dimensions:
    Height: 12 in (30.48 cm)Width: 5 in (12.7 cm)Depth: 8 in (20.32 cm)
  • Style:
    Art Deco (Of the Period)
  • Materials and Techniques:
  • Place of Origin:
  • Period:
  • Date of Manufacture:
    1940s
  • Condition:
    Wear consistent with age and use.
  • Seller Location:
    Buffalo, NY
  • Reference Number:
    1stDibs: LU1062444688632

More From This Seller

View All
Art Deco / Machine Spun Aluminum Modernist Lobby Ash Stand / receptical
By Kurt Versen
Located in Buffalo, NY
Art Deco / Machine Spun Aluminum Modernist Lobby Ash Stand / receptical.. Amazing design,, retains original insert.
Category

Vintage 1940s American Art Deco Tobacco Accessories

Materials

Aluminum

Stunning Art Deco, Machine Age Aluminum Cigarette Lighter Collection
By Ronson
Located in Buffalo, NY
Stunning Art Deco, Machine Age aluminum cigarette lighter collection, new or old stock, never used, all in perfect working order. Beautiful design, polished aluminum sculptures...
Category

Vintage 1930s American Art Deco Tobacco Accessories

Materials

Aluminum

Folk Art, Hand Executed Modernist, Art Deco Airplane /Trinket Box
Located in Buffalo, NY
Folk Art, hand executed modernist, Art deco Airplane sculpture with hand built and painted trinket box.
Category

Vintage 1940s American Folk Art Aviation Objects

Materials

Wood

Post Modernist / Art Deco Style Aluminum and Glass Tables
By Donald Deskey
Located in Buffalo, NY
Super stylized Post Modernist / Art Deco style brushed aluminum and glass tables,, aluminum cylinders. Cross bars. Very reminiscent of classic Art Deco. Machine Age designs from The ...
Category

Vintage 1970s American Machine Age End Tables

Materials

Aluminum

Art Deco Wrist Watch's / HAMILTON, GRUEN, BENRUS, original dials , serviced
By Benrus
Located in Buffalo, NY
Art Deco Wrist Watch's including HAMILTON, GRUEN, BENRUS, Selling separately, PRICED PER WATCH. All three watch's have been cleaned and serviced,, running and keeping perfect time.Wonderful original condition. c. 1945 Collectible and Original 14k Rose Gold filled Mid-Century Gruen Curvex Sovereign Watch...
Category

Vintage 1940s American Art Deco Collectible Jewelry

Materials

Gold Plate

Monumental Art Deco Throne Chairs, Manufactured by the Henderson Ames Co.
By Henderson Ames Company 1
Located in Buffalo, NY
Monumental Art Deco throne chairs, manufactured by The Henderson Ames Co. amazing design! Wonderful scale and proportion. I believe these to be out of ...
Category

Vintage 1930s American Art Deco Armchairs

Materials

Fabric, Walnut

You May Also Like

1940s Art Deco Cigarette Lighter Aluminum Block Lift Arm
By Dunhill
Located in Chula Vista, CA
Art Deco Vintage 1940s Aluminum Block Lift Arm Side Wheel Cigarette Lighter 2.13 x 1 W x .63 Original unrestored vintage preowned condition. Selling as is untested. Refer to images....
Category

Vintage 1940s American Art Deco Tobacco Accessories

Materials

Aluminum

Electro-Voice V-3 Velocity Ribbon Microphone in Box
By Electro Voice
Located in Van Nuys, CA
Rare in original box gorgeous vintage 1940 ELECTRO VOICE V3 STUDIO RIBBON MICROPHONE (low impedance/bi-directional) with XLR connecting cable and desk stand. This third-generation V3...
Category

Vintage 1940s American Musical Instruments

Materials

Steel

Art Deco 1930s-1940s Stylish Pyramid Shaped Box Bag
Located in Devon, England
For your consideration is this superbly stylish and rare 1930s Art Deco pyramid box bag, a beautiful design. I can't sing the praises of this bag enough, it's an absolute delight. Th...
Category

Mid-20th Century English Art Deco Collectible Jewelry

Materials

Brass

Art Deco Brass Italian Ashtray with White Marble Base Branded A. C., 1940s
Located in Roma, IT
Art Deco ashtray in brass with marble base. It is engraved A. C. in the top part of the ashtray, and the use of brass and white marble is a clear indication the item was made in ...
Category

Early 20th Century Italian Art Deco Tobacco Accessories

Materials

Marble, Brass

18 kt Yellow and White Gold Art Deco Italian Brooch, 1940s
Located in Palermo, IT
Brooch in 18 kt yellow and white gold, art deco, Italy, 1940s It belonged to my great-grandmother, it weighs gr. 4.0. 18-karat gold (750 thousandths), workmanship now disappeared, pi...
Category

Vintage 1940s Italian Art Deco Collectible Jewelry

Materials

Gold

Art Deco Spitfire Wooden & Aluminum Airplane Desk Model, Asprey, ca 1940's
By Asprey & Garrard Limited
Located in Buenos Aires, Olivos
Art Deco / Cubist Spitfire wooden & aluminum airplane desk model. Asprey London- ca 1940´s. RAF Supermarine spitfire aluminum airplane desk model, mounted over a display stand. Airpl...
Category

Mid-20th Century British Mid-Century Modern Aviation Objects

Materials

Aluminum

Recently Viewed

View All