Archer Strap-on Telephone Amplifier The Archer strap-on telephone amplifier was marketed by Radio Shack in the 1960s and 1970s. The Archer strap-on telephone amplifier weighed 3.0 oz. (86 g) without the battery. It measured 2⅝" in diameter by 1 3/16" (3.0 cm) thick. |  | Click picture for larger view | | |   | | | |
| Side view of the Archer strap-on telephone amplifier. These amplifiers were very handy for travelers, and could be used with payphones and hotel phones. |  | Click picture for larger view | | | |
| The Archer strap-on telephone amplifier was simple to use. There was only one control—the red on-off/volume control on the side. |  | Click picture for larger view | | | |
| On the other side was the red battery door. You pulled this door out to replace the battery. |  | Click picture for larger view | | | |
| The Archer strap-on telephone amplifier used an "N" battery for power. The battery slid into the red battery holder. |  | Click picture for larger view | | | |
| The Archer strap-on telephone amplifier used a 1˝ volt "N"-sized battery such as the Energizer E90 battery. |  | Click picture for larger view | | | |
| The minus (-) and plus (+) signs at each end of the battery holder let you know which way to insert the battery for proper polarity. |  | Click picture for larger view | | | |
| The Archer strap-on telephone amplifier showing the battery holder being pushed in. |  | Click picture for larger view | | | |
| The elastic strap held the Archer strap-on telephone amplifier to the phone receiver. |  | Click picture for larger view | | | |
| Side view of the Archer strap-on telephone amplifier showing how it attached to the telephone receiver. |  | Click picture for larger view | | | |
| There was no direct electrical connection between the Archer strap-on telephone amplifier and the phone's receiver. The Archer phone amplifier inductively picked up the magnetic field that surrounded the receiver's voice coil and amplified it. |  | Click picture for larger view | | | |
| The Archer strap-on telephone amplifier worked best with the older black phones that had a round recessed receiver so they fit together well. Newer phones had receivers with different shapes and profiles and they didn't fit together as well.
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