Great London (1) Carbon Hearing Aid The Great London (1) carbon hearing aid was manufactured by The Great London Hearing Aid Company of Toronto, Ontario, Canada probably in 1931. The complete hearing aid with battery weighed 16 oz. (454 g). Note that the microphone and battery cable plug are hard-wired to the wiring harness. |  | Click picture for larger view | | |   | | | |
| Great London advertised in newspapers from 1931 to 1941 so you can assume those were the years they were in operation. For example, to the right is an ad that appeared in the Winnipeg Free Press of Winnipeg, Manitoba on October 4, 1938 (page 2). Here is an ad that appeared in the Niagara Falls, NY Gazette on May 13, 1931. | |
| Front view of the Great London (1) carbon hearing aid carbon microphone. The microphone was 2⅜" (6.0 cm) in diameter and 13/16" (2.1 cm) thick. Stamped around the rim are the words "Great London Hearing Aid". Note that carbon microphones did not work when laying down. You had to keep them at an angle or vertical. |  | Click picture for larger view | | | |
| Rear view of the Great London (1) carbon hearing aid carbon microphone. The leather "button hole" could be buttoned to any button on your clothes, or you could run a lanyard through it and wear it around your neck. Note the crackle finish on this hearing aid. Later hearing aids had a smooth finish.
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| Top view of the separate on-off switch/volume control of the Great London (1) carbon hearing aid. Stamped in the brass (under the paint) are the words "off" at one end, "loud" at the other and about half way across is the word "soft". The volume control measured 1⅛" in diameter x 7/16" thick (2.9 x 1.1 cm).
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| Front view of the receiver of the Great London (1) carbon hearing aid. The white plastic ear tip screwed off for cleaning. It also held the flexible ear hook in place. The receiver measured 1⅛" in diameter x 9/16" thick (2.9 x 1.4 cm). |  | Click picture for larger view | | | |
| Rear view of the Great London (1) carbon hearing aid's earphone showing the flexible ear hook to hold the earphone to your ear. |  | Click picture for larger view | | | |
| The Great London (1) carbon hearing aid in its carrying case. The microphone stuck through a large hole in the case so you could use it while it was in its case. This hearing aid used either a 3-volt (2 cell) carbon zinc London 2 battery, or, for more power (volume), a 4.5 volt (3 cell) carbon-zinc London 5? battery. |  | Click picture for larger view | | | |
| Top view of the leather carrying case for the Great London (1) carbon hearing aid showing the leather carrying strap. The carrying case measured 5˝" x 3˝" x 2˝". (14.0 x 8.9 x 6.4 cm).
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