This is a simple and fun project you can build, even without much electronics experience! The circuitry is incredibly simple, and uses no transistors or any kind of complex amplification circuitry. It simply passes a current through a carbon microphone, into a speaker, on/off switch, and then back to the AA battery.
You will need:
Two old handsets (with screw-on mike and speaker covers--this type uses the required carbon microphone)
One AA or AAA battery
Battery holder (optional)
An on/off toggle switch
Long 4-conductor cable (no shielding necessary)
Some shorter connecting wires
Wire stripper
Flat-head screwdriver
Recommended:
Soldering iron
60/40 Rosin core solder
If you have no soldering experience, you can wrap the wire onto the appropriate switch contacts. If no battery holder is available, you can tape the wire ends to the battery terminals, and hold tight with a rubber band.
I have built one of these (now long-since disassembled) in the 6th grade, except using 8-ohm speakers, no switch, and a 9V battery). Also, around that time, I had made a (now disassembled) PA system using a "Powerhorn" horn speaker from RadioShack (8-ohm), a carbon mike, and a 12V battery. It worked well. Point is, is that the carbon mike projects can be extremely simple, fun, and useful.
I apologize for the video glitches. My computer was being slow.
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TkxSDKJ1b7Q