Walking Stick Ear Trumpet (Ear Horn)
This rare walking stick ear trumpet served two purposes. It was both
a cane (walking stick) and a hearing aid combined in one unit. It was
made around 1870.
It stood 36¾" tall and was surprisingly light—weighing only 13 oz.
The bell was 2¼" in diameter. It was made of brass and painted black.
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View of the ear trumpet part of the walking stick ear trumpet. The black
metal ear trumpet itself measured 8½". The earpiece could be swung
from one side to the other, depending on which ear you wanted to listen
with. To use it as a hearing aid, you just held the walking stick in the
middle and put the earpiece in your ear with the ear trumpet facing
forward.
Unfortunately, this particular walking stick ear trumpet didn't work
well. There was almost no amplification due to the poor design of how
the ear tube faced in the bottom of the ear trumpet, and also due to the
small size of the trumpet itself. It would have worked better with a
bigger ear trumpet, but that would not have fitted in a person's hand
very well. |
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The back of the walking stick ear trumpet.
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The walking stick ear trumpet with the earpiece swung to the left for
use in the left ear.
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The walking stick ear trumpet with the earpiece swung to the right for
use in the right ear.
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The walking stick ear trumpet fit comfortably in your hand when used
as a cane. The earpiece could be swung to the center when used as a
walking stick, but actually was more comfortable when swung to one side
or the other.
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