Acousticon Model ? Carbon Hearing Aid The Acousticon Model ? carbon hearing aid, was assembled?/distributed in the United Kingdom by General Acoustics, Ltd, of London. General Acoustics, Ltd was the British subsidiary of the Dictograph Products, Inc. of New York, the manufacturer of Acousticon hearing aids. This hearing aid probably dates to around 1935. It was obtained for the Museum from the UK.
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| There is no model number or manufacturer's markings on this hearing aid itself, but on the bottom of the box someone wrote what looks like "A28 1.320" whatever this means. The only identifying feature is that the design on the volume control was Acousticon's Silver Anniversary design. It was first used on Acousticon microphones and volume controls in 1928. They continued to use this design until 1935. |  | Click picture for larger view | | | |
The Acousticon Model ? carbon hearing aid consisted of double carbon microphones (left), battery plug and cord (top), volume control (right) and earphone (bottom).
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| Close-up of the front of the Acousticon Model ? carbon hearing aid showing the rather unusual 10-sided double carbon microphones. The concentric slots and hole in the center let the sound in. These microphones appear to be of British origin. They are not the shape used by Acousticon for their hearing aids sold in the USA. Each microphone measures 2 3/16" x 11/16" (5.5 x 1.8 cm). |  | Click picture for larger view | | | |
| Rear view of the back of the Acousticon Model ? carbon hearing aid double carbon microphones showing the pocket clip on the left. The identical microphones are held together by the square plate and screws (center). |  | Click picture for larger view | | | |
| Side view of the double carbon microphones of the Acousticon Model ? carbon hearing aid. |  | Click picture for larger view | | | |
| Top view of the volume control of the Acousticon Model ? carbon hearing aid. Note that the design on the volume control is the "Silver Anniversary" design that Acousticon first used on their hearing aids in 1928. In fact, this volume control is identical in every respect with the volume control used on the Model 28 that came out in 1928. |  | Click picture for larger view | | | |
| Side view of the volume control of the Acousticon Model ? carbon hearing aid showing the slider in the "S" or soft position. "L" is for loud, and "M" for medium volume. |  | Click picture for larger view | | | |
| Rear view of the volume control of the Acousticon Model ? carbon hearing aid showing the on-off switch. |  | Click picture for larger view | | | |
| Acousticon used pin plugs in many of their carbon hearing aids of this ear (as shown unplugged). |  | Click picture for larger view | | | |
| The Acousticon Model ? carbon hearing aid battery plug that plugged directly into the top of certain carbon 3-volt batteries such as the Sonotone X42 battery. |  | Click picture for larger view | | | |
Front view of the earphone of the Acousticon Model ? carbon hearing aid. Note: the ear tip is missing.
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| Rear view of the earphone of the Acousticon Model ? carbon hearing aid showing the wire ear hook. Actually, this isn't a wire but a finely-coiled flat spring formed into the shape of an ear hook. It is flexible to put on and to fit any sized ear. |  | Click picture for larger view | | | |
| Side view of the earphone of the Acousticon Model ? carbon hearing aid. |  | Click picture for larger view | | | |
| View of the Acousticon Model ? carbon hearing aid in its box.
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| The original box for the Acousticon Model ? carbon hearing aid.
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