My wife brought home what I can only venture a guess to be a very primitive (possibly homemade) early radio broadcast system.

It looks like the old military "boat anchor" amplifier box (although it has no markings) along with a huge cast-iron framed "microphone" (can't think of anything else that has transducers and two pin-connected wires leading out of it)

There are no controls on the box other than a couple of set screws on one side. I looked over the tubes and transformers and found several 6L6's (including an original RCA that had a paper datestamp still attached July 1939)

Does anyone know where I could go to find out more about this "mystery" rig?

I mean, I'm starting with nothing here. I have no markings to indicate a manufacturer, nada.

pictures, please...

En route. Digital was out of batteries...

Okay, the mic looks to me as if it predates the electronics. That fancy base is way cool, and I'd find another, polish yours up and paint it to match. If nothing else, it is going to be a wonderful conversation starter.

In terms of the electronics, you haven't shown any standard looks, like, front and back. Check underneath and look at the circuit boards... there is usually an identifying mark there. Where power goes into the unit... might be some markings there. Any numbers or letters might help. Same with the mic.

So you agree this is actually some sort of primitive mic?

I'll flip the box over and take a shot of the underneath tomorrow morning. It's no more indicative as the top shot is.

Where power goes in? No clue. No power cable coming off the main box....

Circuit board? Heh. This box was point-to-point hand wired. That's why I didn't bother turning it over.

I'll take a pic of the underside tomorrow morning. If you can glean something from it, great!

My first guess would be WWII era PA (as in public address) amp. I don't see any coils or other such RF components to indicate broadcast.

on one side or thew other is likely an Amphenol screw type connector or two which was used for mic connections.

The two screw points on the top... I got NO idea what those would be. At first glance I thought that they might be an oddly located power in point, but neither is insulated (for the hot wire). Look anywhere that there might be a control or hole in the chassis where something went in or came out. See what the internal logical attachment point would be.

Yes I assumed that it would be point to point, but the lacing board is not labeled?

Can't even see the lacing board for the components. Some huge capacitors and other extraneous components down there.