Tiemann "Grand Opera Dome" Ear Trumpet (Ear Horn) The Grand Opera Dome was a full-sized London dome ear trumpet produced by George Tiemann & Co. of New York, NY probably around 1901 through 1911 or so. Geo. Tiemann & Co put out catalogues of their wares as early as 1876. They called their catalogue of 1889 "The American Armamentarium Chirurgicum" or translated loosely, "The American Surgical Arsenal" or in modern usage, "A Catalog of American Surgical Instruments". In 1911, large "Grand Opera Domes" sold for around $5.00.
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| Side view of the Tiemann & Co. Grand Opera Dome ear trumpet. This London Dome-style ear trumpet measured 4 3/16" high by 2⅜" in diameter (10.7 x 6.1 cm) and weighed 4.7 oz. (134 g). It was unusually heavy for its size and weighed 2 to 3 times more than other London Domes of equal size. The reason of this is that it was made of thicker brass, "of hammered bell metal, all parts brazed, covered with jet black insulation". Notice how the hard rubber filled all the space between the ear tube and the body of the dome. This was very unusual and added considerably to its weight. |  | Click picture for larger view | | | |
| Three-quarter view of the Tiemann & Co. Grand Opera Dome ear trumpet showing the open bell end. Having an open bell end was rather uncommon. Most were covered with a grill of some sort. This was probably a more efficient design as there was no grill to partially block any sounds from reaching the back of the dome.
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| Top view of the Tiemann & Co. Grand Opera Dome ear trumpet showing the name in the top of the dome. Also not the brown band on the ear tip. This was the only "design pattern" on this otherwise black hearing aid.
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| Close-up view of the top of the Tiemann & Co. Grand Opera Dome ear trumpet showing the manufacturer, "Tiemann & Co". In contrast, most London domes didn't have any manufacturer's markings so it is difficult to identify who made them. |  | Click picture for larger view | | | |
| Bottom view of the Tiemann & Co. Grand Opera Dome ear trumpet showing the "U"-shaped ear tube.
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| Bottom side view of the Tiemann & Co. Grand Opera Dome ear trumpet showing the inside of the dome. The sound waves traveled to the top of the parabolically-shaped dome where they were concentrated and reflected into the large end of the sound tube that ended about ¼" (6 cm) from the dome. The sound travelled down the ever-narrowing sound tube and up to the ear tip. The ever-narrowing sound tube amplified the sounds even more. |  | Click picture for larger view | | | |
| Close-up view of the ear tip of the Tiemann & Co. Grand Opera Dome ear trumpet. The ear tip, like the rest of this aid was made of hard rubber (gutta percha).
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| Right side view of the Tiemann & Co. Grand Opera Dome ear trumpet showing the sound tube covered with hard rubber so it looks like the ear tip came out near the top of the dome.
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