Great London (2) Carbon Hearing Aid
The Great London (2) carbon hearing aid was manufactured by The Great London
Hearing Aid Company of Toronto, Ontario, Canada probably around 1935.
The complete hearing aid with battery weighed 1 lb 4 oz. (567
g).
Note that the two obvious differences between this model and the
previous one is that both the microphone and battery use plugs. They are
not hard-wired. Also, the finish is smooth. It is not a crackle finish.
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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).
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Front view of the Great London (2) 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. |
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Rear view of the Great London (2) 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. Near the bottom are the words "Made in Canada".
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Side view of the Great London (2) carbon hearing aid carbon microphone
showing the two jacks for plugging in the receiver or earphone plug. The
holes were of different sizes so you couldn't plug it in the wrong way.
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The receiver/earphone cord and plug (left) plugged directly into the top
side of the microphone of the Great London (2) carbon hearing aid.
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The carbon microphone of the earphone of the Great London (2) carbon
hearing aid could plug directly into the battery as shown.
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Alternately, the microphone could be plugged into the battery via an
extension cord so the battery could be in a pocket and the microphone
attached to a button on your coat or shirt. |
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View of the microphone extension cord of the Great London (2) carbon hearing aid. This
extension cord was 14½" (36.8 cm) long.
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Front view of the Great London (2) carbon hearing aid showing the
battery extension cord (right) in use.
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Front view of the Great London (2) carbon hearing aid showing the setup
without using the battery extension cord. The battery plugged directly
into the microphone. Note the earphone is shown here, in contrast to
the receiver in the above picture.
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Top view of the separate on-off switch/volume control of the Great
London (2) 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 earphone of the Great London (2) carbon hearing aid. The earphone measured 2 1/16" in diameter x
9/16" thick (5.2 x 1.4 cm).
You had your choice--wear the earphone on a headband (not shown) or
wear the receiver in your ear. |
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Rear view of the earphone of the Great London (2) carbon hearing aid.
At the top is the word "London" and below it is "XXX".
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Front view of the receiver of the Great London (2) carbon hearing aid.
The black rubber ear tip screwed off for cleaning. It also could hold a
flexible ear hook in place (not shown). The receiver measured 1⅛" in diameter x
9/16" thick (2.9 x 1.4 cm).
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Rear view of the Great London (2) carbon hearing aid's earphone. Note
the "London" stamped into the back (left).
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The Great London (2) 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. |
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Top view of the leather carrying case for the Great London (2)
carbon hearing aid with the microphone showing through the hole in the
case.
The carrying
case measured 7¼" x 3¼" x 3¼". (18.5 x 8.3 x 8.3 cm).
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