RCA and Mole-Richardson
microphone boom stands
![RCA Type KS-3B mic boom](https://coutant.org/micbooms/622.jpg)
These wonderful old boom stands appeared on eBay in December, 2004. The RCA version is Type KS-3B, MI-11056. Judging from the labels affixed to them, Mole-Richardson is involved as well as RCA, although from these photographs alone it is difficult to tell which pieces were manufactured by Mole-Richardson.
Below is a self-running slide show of an additional nine images.
![Mic boom stands](https://coutant.org/micbooms/620.jpg)
This type of stand is known generically by names
such as “tripod” or “giraffe” mobile boom.
![Mic boom stands](https://coutant.org/micbooms/621.jpg)
These were designed to support the larger RCA ribbon microphone types,
including the comparatively heavy 44 series.
![The business end](https://coutant.org/micbooms/624.jpg)
The microphone is attached at this end.
![Counterweight](https://coutant.org/micbooms/628.jpg)
The counterweight helps to balance the weight of the
heavy mic and to prevent the stand from tipping.
![Feet](https://coutant.org/micbooms/626.jpg)
Large, rugged wheels with brakes provide portability.
![Feet](https://coutant.org/micbooms/627.jpg)
![RCA label](https://coutant.org/micbooms/633.jpg)
![Mole-Richardson label](https://coutant.org/micbooms/632.jpg)
Mole-Richardson is a fine old Hollywood lighting company that has a marvelous collection of historic motion-picture-related photographs. http://www.mole.com/ will take you there, where you can experience them for yourself. Once there, click History and then click Archival Photos.
A friend commented:
Hello, Stan. Yes, I saw those same boom stands on eBay. Neat find. I owned one a few years back. The seller had called Mole-Richardson and asked for its history. The person there told him they hadn’t used a serial number that low since the early fifties.
Talked with an RCA microphone expert. He said Mole-Richardson made them specifically to sell to RCA for their recording studios. There is also an earlier version with the RCA tag being a thicker disc. —Mathew
![Mole-Richardson logotype](https://coutant.org/micbooms/molelogo.jpg)