Ardente "Phantom" Carbon Hearing Aid
The Ardente "Phantom" ? appears to have been the first
hearing aid manufactured by Ardente Acoustic Laboratories, Ltd. of
London, England. Mr. R. H. Dent, the founder, used his name prominently
on many of his hearing aids along with the Ardente trade name. It was
manufactured in 1930.
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Front view of the Ardente "Phantom" carbon dust microphone.
Around the edge of the microphone is inscribed "Mr. R. H. Dent's Ardente
309 Oxford St. London W. 1." Notice the "head" trademark Dent
used (at the 5 o'clock position).
The two pins on the battery case pushed into the two jacks on the
bottom of the microphone case.
The microphone was 2¼" in diameter and ⅝" thick.
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Rear view of the Ardente "Phantom" microphone. The hole
at the top was to thread a lanyard through so you could wear this
hearing aid around your neck. |
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Rear view of the Ardente "Phantom" battery case. Engraved in
the center are the words "309 Oxford St./"Ardente"/London W. 1."
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View of the Ardente "Phantom" battery case in the open
position. This battery case was unusual in two respects. First, the
whole back swung open from the right side. Most carbon hearing aids of
similar style inserted the battery from the bottom. Second, the battery
case was made of black plastic, rather than the usual tin.
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The reason the battery compartment door had to open fully was because
the Ardente "Phantom" used a rather unusual battery
configuration. The "pins" on the battery pushed into the slots (top
center and left side). The battery shown here, the Ardente No. 44
battery, is the right size and shape, but the pins are in the wrong position.
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Pictured here is the correct battery for this hearing aid, the Ardente
No. 22 battery. Notice that the pins are on the left and center and will
fit through the slots near the top of the battery case. Apart from the
pin arrangement, these batteries are the same size and shape.
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Rear view of the above Ardente No. 99 battery showing the 99 crossed out
and over-stamped with the number 22 (bottom center).
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Front view of the Ardente "Phantom" earphone. The earphone
measured 2¼" in diameter x ¾" thick. It was unusually heavy, weighing in
at a hefty 4¼ oz.
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Rear view of the Ardente "Phantom" earphone showing the on/off
switch in the 'ON" position The serial number (30323) is at the
bottom center.
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The Ardente "Phantom" came with an earphone/headband shown
assembled here.
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The headband folded up as shown when stored in the Ardente case.
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Ardente used this rather interesting plug configuration—one pin and one
jack on each plug. This plug joined the earphone cord to the microphone.
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In addition to the earphone and headband, the Ardente "Phantom"
also came with a more discrete receiver and wire ear hook to help hold
it in place.
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Rear view of the Ardente "Phantom" receiver showing the on/off
switch (top center). "On" was up and "off" down.
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Early receivers came with stock ear molds. The ear mold screwed to a
post on the receiver so it could easily be replaced with one of a different
size.
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The Ardente "Phantom" in its storage case.
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Close-up of the name and address on the inside of the lid of the
storage case. It reads, "Mr. R. H. Dents Ardente for Deaf Ears 309
Oxford St London W. 1. and Branches".
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The carrying/storage case for the Ardente "Phantom". The
case measured 10½" x 3¼" x 2" deep.
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