Blodgett's Micro-Audiphone
Frank M. Blodgett of New York, NY, received a patent for the original
Micro-Audiphones on January 5, 1886. He then revised his design and
received the patent for his new design on July 6, 1886. I doubt if he
produced any Micro-Audiphones using the original design.
The Micro-Audiphones were first mentioned in the Scientific American
of January 30, 1886. They were advertised between 1886 and 1894
However, it appears they were not a success, As a result, the
Micro-Audiphones were not produced very long , and the Micro-Audiphone
Co. was dissolved in 1894.
Record showing Micro-Audiphone Co. dissolved in 1894.
The Micro-Audiphones shown here are based on the revised patent.
The Micro-Audiphones were very light, weighing just 0.1 oz (3 g)
each.
They measured 1 11/16" long x 1 7/16" wide x 1" in depth (4.3 x 3.7 x
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Original design of Blodgett's Micro-Audiphone, 1886. Read
Blodgett's revised patent (Jul 6, 1886) for the Micro-Audiphone.
Ad for Micro-Audiphone 1887.
Ad for Micro-Audiphone 1892 (see bottom left).
Ad or Micro-Audiphone 1894 (see bottom left).
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Top view of the Micro-Audiphone showing the "clam shell" design of this
auricle.
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Bottom (inside) view of the Micro-Audiphone showing the slanted baffle
on the left side that trapped the sound and "forced" it into the ear
tip.
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Top view of the Micro-Audiphone showing the shell (rear) and the ear
mold (front). Note the numeral "3" stamped on the ear mold. Presumably
there were at least 3 sizes of ear molds available.
The Micro-Audiphones were made of an early kind of plastic.
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Front view of the Micro-Audiphone showing the ear mold part glued to the
shell. The ear mold was a stock design rather than custom made for each
person's ear.
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View of a pair of Blodgett's Micro-Audiphones. Note there were left and
right Audiphones as shown.
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Front view of the left Micro-Audiphone showing how it looked from the
front when modeled on a dummy head.
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Rear view of the left Micro-Audiphone showing how it looked from behind
when modeled on a dummy head.
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A pair of Blodgett's Micro-Audiphones in their carrying case.
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Outside view of the carrying case of Blodgett's Micro-Audiphones.
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Rear view of the carrying case of Blodgett's Micro-Audiphones showing
the hinge arrangement.
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Top view of the carrying case of Blodgett's Micro-Audiphones showing
the name.
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