I picked up this microphone (apparently made by Shure), vintage 70s, at a local thrift shop for a few dollars. However, I can't seem to find much information about it. It's designed for voice, but that's about all I could find. Can anyone add anything?
This is basically a Shure 515. Sold as the Perma Power S-2020 they were made by Shure and internally are the same as the 515, just that they have a permanently attached cord with plug, whereas the 515 had an XLR connector at it's base for plugging in a standard mic cable.
The 515 (and hence the S-2020) are geared toward voice use in public address and communications situations. They have a bit more midrange punch than a typical full range mic. Perma Power was a company that made lecterns and pulpits, etc and these mics were frequently included with those. They're also nice for ham radio use, due to the extra clarity. The 515 is also a popular mic used for recording acoustic guitar in the studio.
We used to use 515's for all our live broadcast remotes for probably 20 years, and they worked very well. I have one in my mic closet right now. The 515 is still a current model made by Shure, and the 2020 has basically only cosmetic and mechanical differences (finish, the cord, etc).
A good mic for a few bucks!
TIB