Hugh Hetherington Hearing Aid Museum
Hugh Hetherington Hearing Aid Museum

The Hearing Aid Museum

Hearing Aids of all types—Ear Trumpets, Carbon Hearing Aids, Vacuum Tube Hearing Aids, Transistor Hearing Aids, Body Hearing Aids, Eyeglass Hearing Aids and much more!

Home Enter the Museum About Us Contact Us

FREESubscriptionto:
Hearing Loss Help
The premier e-zine for people with hearing loss

Your email address
will never be
rented, traded or sold!

Your First Name:
Your E-mail:
Search this site:

 Results per
 page

 all words
 any words


Click on the "General Information" button (top button above) for an overview and general information on this category of hearing aid.

 

Carbon Hearing Aids: 1900-1939

Acousticon Model 44 Carbon Hearing Aid

 The Acousticon model 44 was a single microphone carbon hearing aid manufactured in 1932 by the General Acoustic Company, which later became Dictograph Products, Inc. of  New York, NY.

The Acousticon Model 44 was powered by a 4˝ volt carbon-zinc battery such as this Model EP-129 General battery.
 

Click picture for larger view

 

Back Next

 
Front view of the Acousticon Model 44 showing the single carbon microphone. Note that the microphone grill consists of 6 slots around the circumference.

This carbon microphone measured 3-3/16" in diameter by 15/16" thick.

 

Click picture for larger view

 
The back of the Acousticon Model 44 carbon microphone showing the pocket clip (top center).

 

Click picture for larger view

 

Close-up of the bottom left of the Acousticon Model 44 carbon microphone showing the model number (44) to the left of the battery jacks.

Click picture for larger view

 
Close-up of the bottom right of the Acousticon Model 44 carbon microphone showing the serial number (105486) to the right of the battery jacks.
 
 

Click picture for larger view

 
The Acousticon Model 44 had a separate on-off/volume control. This is the front view showing the pocket clip (upper center) and the intricate design used on this model.

 

Click picture for larger view

 
Rear view of the on-off/volume control unit showing the toggle on-off switch.

 

Click picture for larger view

 
Side view of the on-off/volume control unit, showing the volume control lever on the left side of the unit. The lever is shown in the "L" (loud) position. You can see the "S" (soft) position near the bottom of the unit.

 

Click picture for larger view

 
The Acousticon Model 44 came with a headband and earphone. The headband snapped into a groove on the outer edge of the earphone.

 

Click picture for larger view

 
The Acousticon Model 44 carbon hearing aid also came with a receiver and black hard plastic stock ear mold.

 

Click picture for larger view

 

Front view of the receiver showing the intricate pattern used.

 

Click picture for larger view

 

The stock ear mold snapped to the receiver—here shown taken apart.

 

Click picture for larger view

 

The case of the Acousticon Model 44 opened up so you could take the carbon microphone out to use as a body worn hearing aid. The microphone was held in place by 3 spring-loaded clips.

 

Click picture for larger view

 

The carrying case for the Acousticon Model 44 carbon hearing aid. This hearing aid could be worn on the body, or used as a desktop hearing aid by leaving the microphone in the case and facing it towards the person speaking.

The earphone wire came out though a small slot below the lid crack on either end of the case.

The case measured 5⅞" wide by 6" high by 2⅝" thick.


 

Click picture for larger view

 

(If a larger picture doesn't appear, you may have to turn your pop-up blocker off)