# BBC microphone-DEP 4574

> BBC-Marconi Type A microphone on loan from the World Service of the BBC to the Musée de l'Armée

**Wikidata**: [Q56599393](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q56599393)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/bbc-microphone-dep-4574

## Summary
BBC microphone-DEP 4574 is a specific BBC-Marconi Type A ribbon microphone manufactured in 1940. It is currently preserved as a historical artifact at the Musée de l'Armée in Paris, where it is held on loan from the BBC World Service.

## Key Facts
- **Classification**: Instance of the BBC-Marconi Type A microphone series.
- **Inception Date**: 1940.
- **Inventory Number**: DEP 4574.
- **Current Location**: Musée de l'Armée.
- **Ownership Status**: On loan from the BBC World Service.
- **Creators**: British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) and Marconi Company.
- **Materials**: Constructed using steel and iron.
- **Microphone Technology**: Ribbon microphone design.
- **Production Context**: Produced during the broader manufacturing run of the Type A series (1934–1959).

## FAQs
### Where is BBC microphone-DEP 4574 currently located?
The microphone is held in the collection of the Musée de l'Armée. It is on loan to the museum from the BBC World Service.

### What specific type of technology is this entity?
DEP 4574 is a BBC-Marconi Type A microphone, which utilizes a ribbon microphone design known for detailed sound reproduction. It was collaboratively developed by the BBC and the Marconi Company.

### When was this specific microphone unit created?
While the general model type was produced between 1934 and 1959, this specific unit (inventory number DEP 4574) dates to 1940.

## Why It Matters
BBC microphone-DEP 4574 serves as a tangible representation of the collaboration between the British Broadcasting Corporation and the Marconi Company, two major entities in 20th-century communication technology. As a BBC-Marconi Type A microphone, it embodies the advancements in audio engineering standards that defined mid-20th-century broadcasting, particularly the shift toward high-fidelity ribbon technology prized for its warm and accurate sound. The artifact is historically significant not only for its technical design but also for its survival since 1940, a period that included World War II. Its presence in the Musée de l'Armée highlights the intersection of broadcasting history with broader cultural and military heritage preservation.

## Notable For
- **Museum Preservation**: It is a specific unit archived in a major military museum (Musée de l'Armée), distinct from standard studio equipment.
- **Cross-Border Custody**: Notable for its specific loan arrangement, being property of the BBC World Service while housed in a French museum.
- **Wartime Manufacturing**: The unit was manufactured in 1940, making it an artifact from the early years of World War II.
- **Material Composition**: Distinctly identified by its construction materials, specifically steel and iron.

## Body
### Identity and Classification
BBC microphone-DEP 4574 is a specific physical unit of the BBC-Marconi Type A microphone class. It is classified as a ribbon microphone, a technology that utilizes a thin metal ribbon suspended in a magnetic field to convert sound waves into electrical signals. The unit is identified by the inventory number "DEP 4574" and is distinguished from the general model type by its specific creation date and custody history.

### Development and Technical Specifications
The microphone was created in 1940 as a product of the joint venture between the British Broadcasting Corporation and the Marconi Company. While the general "Type A" model was in production from 1934 to 1959, this specific unit represents the wartime manufacturing era of that series.
- **Design**: It features a ribbon microphone architecture, which was the standard for high-quality broadcasting at the time.
- **Materials**: The physical construction of unit DEP 4574 utilizes steel and iron.
- **Creators**: The intellectual and manufacturing origins lie with the BBC and the Marconi Company.

### Provenance and Location
The current custodian of BBC microphone-DEP 4574 is the Musée de l'Armée. The item is not a permanent part of the museum's collection but is instead on loan from the BBC World Service. This arrangement underscores the item's value as a cultural artifact representing the history of international broadcasting. An image of the microphone is archived under the Commons category "BBC microphone-DEP 4574," documenting its visual appearance for reference.