Hello and welcome to The House of Chrome.

 You are looking at a beautiful 1940's era Shure Brothers 55 model (1st generation) dynamic cardioid microphone often referred to as the "Fatboy" made famous by several musicians including a young Elvis Presley himself. Classic, clean deco lines give this mic the attention it deserves. This 55 made it's debut in 1939 and had a run of 11 years until the second generation of smaller 55S model mics came along in 1951. This 55 has a cast zinc body with a glossy satin chrome finish. It comes with the cable shown in which to operate as well as the case in which to store.

 Pic # 2 shows this very model in an old 1940's catalog I have along with it's basic specs.

 Pic # 3 shows a young Elvis using the 55 while performing live. It was his go to mic for many years.

 Pic # 4 & 5 is a mold of what the Shure 55 was originally supposed to look like but do to the cardioid characteristics of the Unidyne I element Shure had to change the original design. You can see how radically different the 55 was supposed to be but the final design is quite beautiful and the look is timeless. That wood mold was found several years ago and is now kept at the personal museum at The Shure Brother's Headquarters located in Evanston Illinois. There was only one ever made and it's a priceless piece of Shure history. I was lucky enough to get a VIP tour of the place years ago and got a few good pics of some very unique items there. 

 Pic # 6 is of a shadow box when the 55 first came out and made by somebody at Shure who showed the evolution of the Unidyne 1 cardioid element. You can see the original design on the far left as it transforms into the final production model on the far right. It too...a priceless display.

 It should be noted that almost every 55 out there currently is not capable of being used for any purpose other than display as the original elements are just wore out or non-working. I very rarely ever get a hold of a good working but this 55 mic has defied the odds and is in excellent original working condition. I have come across perhaps 100 of these models over the years and only a few were ever good enough to use. This 55 sounds as good as the day it was sold and was very well stored over the last 80 years.

 The 55 model had the adjustable impedance switch on the bottom rear of the head of the mic while the 55A, 55B and 55C did not have that switch and all had factory settings of high, Med and Low impedance. The impedance switch on this 55 works perfectly but like all 55 model mics the High Z setting is the strongest.

 A healthy 55 will have a very nice tone being both clear and warm with a decent amount of bass and a strong signal. This 55 checks all the boxes. If you need a fine example for broadcasting or singing then this will certainly do you justice. You just won't find another that works as well as this one does. 100% original too.

 This particular 55 has extremely lite wear and certainly way above average compared to most 55 Fatboy's you'll come across on Ebay. The ribs are free of any fractures or dents. No deep scratches or engravings. The front and rear silk screens on this mic are violet in color and evenly colored and there are no holes or rips. The satin chrome finish has an incredible luster and one of the nicest physical specimen I've seen. The black Shure badge shows almost no wear and completely legible. I would rate the mic a true 9 on a scale of 1 - 10.

 This 55 comes with original hardware and unlike too many 55's for sale on Ebay or Reverb, this one still has the original front and rear grills. No mix matching on my mics. The stand thread still screws onto any stand you choose to use and the joint mechanism holds strong. 

 You'll notice that the mic comes with a short cable with the Switchcraft male XLR end connector. Once the cable is secured to the mic you can attach any longer modern XLR cable of choice to your audio equipment if you need extra length. The cable is balanced too. Works perfectly. The cable is still on the pliable side despite it's age and in great condition. 

 Also included is the older vinyl and aluminum case in which to store the mic. The case will keep the mic safe and snug. You'll want something to store the mic in due to it's amazing physical condition.

 The case is appx 14 inches long X 8 inches deep X 4 inches tall. The exterior is extremely nice with almost no wear at all and the inside has new foam liners. The case has a locking mechanism and a practical carrying handle.

  The 55 will screw onto any desk or floor stand you might have. If you need a period stand just ask and I'll show you what I have available. I do combine shipping as well. If you need an all original 55 in perfect working condition...look no further. This is a very rare specimen.

         MICROPHONE STAND SHOWN IS NOT PART OF THIS SALE...USED FOR DISPLAY PURPOSES ONLY. 

         And as always...

  I can promise you will be happy with it for the price paid. If not...I have a no hassle return policy. The shipping will be on you as I believe that's fair but the purchase price would be refunded. Simply return in the same nice condition...period. Check my rating. International buyers are welcome as well. Buyer must pay within 24 hours or an unpaid case will be opened and item relisted. Domestic buyer will get priority shipping.

  If you have any questions feel free to ask and...thanks for looking.