麻豆社

In a week of programmes for the 麻豆社 centenary, historian Robert Seatter selects three objects from the 麻豆社鈥檚 archive store and tells the stories behind their creation - what they tell us about the changing history of the organisation, about expansion of the media and the nation at large. Robert鈥檚 choices are unexpected, revelatory and sometimes, with the cruel benefit of hindsight, funny. In today's episode, Robert focuses on three early microphones developed by 麻豆社 engineers.

i) The Meatsafe Microphone - first used at the 麻豆社鈥檚 Savoy Hill studios in 1923, it had a microphone stand which resembled a domestic meat storage container, hence the nickname.

ii) The Edward VIII abdication microphone - a special microphone, used only once on that momentous occasion.

iii) And the Lip Mic - a clever piece of kit that solved a very real technical problem- how to deliver commentary in a noisy environment.

Robert explores themes of innovation, intimacy of the medium, the 麻豆社 voice and the nation, With special guest sound artist Nick Ryan.

Producer: Mohini Patel