Mother-of-Pearl Auricles
These mother-of-pearl auricles (also sometimes called "cornets") were
not as common (and thus were more expensive) than auricles made of a beautiful reddish-brown celluloid
resembling tortoiseshell.
There are no manufacturer's marks on these auricles, but they likely date to somewhere
around 1915. The Down Bros. catalogue from ~1915 lists 3 sizes of
imitation mother-of-pearl auricles ranging in price from $7.35 to $8.70.
They were made for several years as the Surgical Manufacturing Co.
catalogue of ~1928 still lists these mother-of-pearl auricles. At that
time the cost 60 shillings.
This pair came from the United Kingdom.
Each auricle is 4" long, making the overall length of the sound tube
8½". This pair of auricles weighs only 1.7 oz.
|
