Lustraphone Lustrette LD/61
Manufacturer:
LustraphoneModel:
Lustrette LD/61Country of Manufacture:
United KingdomMicrophone Type:
DynamicPolar Pattern:
OmnidirectionalProduction Start Year:
1956Production End Year:
1959Rarity:
3
Audio Recording:
Speech (male) recorded with the Lustraphone Lustrette dynamic microphone.
Multiple quality options available
Microphone History:
The Lustrette is a compact microphone which consists of a dynamic element sat atop of a matching transformer, in an elegant egg-shaped ivory-coloured plastic shell. It is designed to sit on a desk or floor and was aimed at the home taping market. It was advertised in British audio magazines between about 1956 and 1959.
The Lustrette was sold at a price of 67'6 (67 shillings and 6 pence). With inflation, this is equivalent to around £75 GBP in 2026. (The Bank of England website has a handy inflation calculator).
From an advertisement in Practical Wireless, in 1956.
"Make the most of your tape-recorder with a lustrette dynamic microphone, acclaimed everywhere for its wonderful reproduction. Plugs straight into any tape-recorder to provide brilliant new high-fidelity recordings for amazingly modest cost. The "Lustrette " is omni-directional. completely faithful to the original sound and unaffected by temperature and weather variations. It is also of robust construction and can be used as both hand and stand instrument. This is the ideal replacement microphone for all types including crystal and condenser.
The "Lustrette" is made by Lustraphone, whose reputation for making quality microphones for every purpose is world-wide. Carries the full Lustraphone Guarantee."
Technical Description:
From an advertisement in Tape Recording magazine in 1959.
Enables better "live" recordings to be taken on tape. The "Lustrette" embodies excellent features, including modern appearance, great compactness, robust construction and remarkable sensitivity over a very wide range. It is the ideal replacement microphone for crystal and condenser types and its price brings better recording within reach of all.
Suitable for tape recorders of all types. For use as a desk or hand-held microphone. Plastic ivory-colour case, 21" high. With 9' cable.
MoMics note:
Our Lustrette came wired with an unbalanced screened cable, and measured 600 ohms at 1 kHz. The plastic housing and unbalanced cable make it prone to picking up hum. It could in theory be wired for balanced output with a replacement cable.
