[net.aviation] Antique Headsets

jeq@laidbak.UUCP (Jonathan E. Quist) (10/04/85)

A while back I came upon a WWII surplus headset w/boom mike.
I'm kicking around the idea of making it operational.
At $6, plus about $15 for connectors, it would make
a good cheap passenger headset or emergency spare.
(The passenger who gets to use it instead of a David Clark
may not agree, but at least he'll be able to complain about
it without shouting. :) )

I have little doubt I can make the carbon mike work, but
I have no idea what the electrical characteristics of
the headphones are.

The microphone element is labeled:

	M-51/UR
	AUDIOSEARS

the phones bear the letters "MFP",
and the boom attachment:

	Signal Corps		U.S. Army
	Headset Microphone H-63/U
	Order No.	3145-PHILA-52
	The Lionel Corporation, N.Y.

Does anyone have any interesting facts about this thing?
Like was it intended to be worn with other headgear, such as
a strap or helmet?  (There is a single snap on the side opposite
the boom.)
Is it not worth the bother?  Should I buy, borrow, or beg
another David Clark for the occaisional passenger?
Or should I sell my 172 and get something with only 2 seats?

Jonathan E. Quist
ihnp4!laidbak!jeq
``If man was meant to fly,
	he would have invented flying machines.''