For a collector of Panzer uniforms, the headset and throat mike are essentials to complete a setup. However, even those collectors that can explain the differences between first type, second type and third type wrappers, stitch by stitch, almost never extend that level of attention to detail to the headset and throat mike, I suppose, due to the absence of information on the evolution and variety of these accessories.
I was aware that early Panzer headsets had orange-brown ear pads instead of black as these stand out even in black & white photos, but otherwise I naively thought that one set of headset and throat mike would go with all my wrappers. That was until my interest started to expand into Panzer radio systems, and I got hold of the book “Die deutschen Funknachrichtenanlagen bis 1945 Band 3”, dedicated to the subject.
This book also briefly covers the development of the headsets and throat mikes, which despite its brevity, I found to be a huge eye opener. Having owned more than 50 throat mikes over the years, I thought I’d never need to buy another, but I realize now that most of the ones I kept are Kmf. b and I don’t have a single Kmf. a. On the other hand, I also found out that I have some interesting variations that well illustrate the development of these items.
Unfortunately, the enlightenment I got from the book is not so accessible to other collectors. First, it’s in German, and if that’s not an issue, the fact that the book has long been out of print and difficult/ expensive to get certainly makes it scarce knowledge.
So as a service to fellow Panzer collectors, here’s an illustrated development history, particularly of the Panzer throat mike.
Back in 1937, the radio throat mike looked like the photo below. This unit is called the Kehlkopfmikrofon 4 (Kmf.4). The switch box is mounted onto a strip of leather, and this provides the means of fixing the switch box on the uniform by a button hole at the lower end and a clip at the top end. Unlike the later throat mikes, on/off is done through the black and white buttons on the side, while the ribbed push button seen on the side in later models is located at the front on this model.
I was aware that early Panzer headsets had orange-brown ear pads instead of black as these stand out even in black & white photos, but otherwise I naively thought that one set of headset and throat mike would go with all my wrappers. That was until my interest started to expand into Panzer radio systems, and I got hold of the book “Die deutschen Funknachrichtenanlagen bis 1945 Band 3”, dedicated to the subject.
This book also briefly covers the development of the headsets and throat mikes, which despite its brevity, I found to be a huge eye opener. Having owned more than 50 throat mikes over the years, I thought I’d never need to buy another, but I realize now that most of the ones I kept are Kmf. b and I don’t have a single Kmf. a. On the other hand, I also found out that I have some interesting variations that well illustrate the development of these items.
Unfortunately, the enlightenment I got from the book is not so accessible to other collectors. First, it’s in German, and if that’s not an issue, the fact that the book has long been out of print and difficult/ expensive to get certainly makes it scarce knowledge.
So as a service to fellow Panzer collectors, here’s an illustrated development history, particularly of the Panzer throat mike.
Back in 1937, the radio throat mike looked like the photo below. This unit is called the Kehlkopfmikrofon 4 (Kmf.4). The switch box is mounted onto a strip of leather, and this provides the means of fixing the switch box on the uniform by a button hole at the lower end and a clip at the top end. Unlike the later throat mikes, on/off is done through the black and white buttons on the side, while the ribbed push button seen on the side in later models is located at the front on this model.
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