The First Mic?

At this year’s AES Show in New York, the Audio History Library will celebrate our audio heritage with a display of vintage microphones including a Western Electric carbon button microphone, the Calrec “Soundfield” microphone and the Electro-Voice 664 dynamic cardioid, fondly known as the “Buchanan Hammer”. Louis Manno, director of the Audio History Library, will display the world’s first audio amplifier, a Thorens hand-crank phonograph for picnics, the rare green Emerson Catalin radio, and many other items from the AHL Museum collection.

Joining the AES his first week in NYC, Manno’s experience includes classical music mixing, theater sound reinforcement, film, foley and commercial system design and installation. His largest project to date is the Audio History Library & Museum which comprises product literature & specification sheets for over 2,000 audio companies from 37 countries the world over, ephemera which place it within a historical context that spans 160 years. Manno continues to expand the library’s collection of manufacturers’ literature, vintage gear, and other historic artifacts of all descriptions.

Manno invites all AES Show attendees to visit the Audio History Library at booth #863 and he commented, “We are currently searching for a permanent home for the Audio History Library and Museum and we hope AES attendees will help us with that search. The library’s vision and purpose is to re-introduce our multi-faceted audio industry into the public’s social consciousness and a permanent home will enable everyone from industry veterans to recent graduates to benefit from a better understanding of our unique and fascinating history.”