Beltone Model OP "Operetta" Transistor (Tie Clip) Hearing Aid
The Beltone Model OP "Operetta" was produced by the Beltone Electronics Corp. of Chicago, IL
in 1955.
The tiny Operetta measured just 2 3/16” by 1” by 1” (including
the external microphone) and weighed 1˝ oz with the battery. It
used 3 transistors. (Notice the size of the hearing aid itself in
comparison to the receiver.)
The case was chrome front and back over a black plastic
chassis—visible on all sides.
This hearing aid was unusual in that it was designed to be worn as a tie-clip.
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Top view of the Beltone Model OP showing the volume
control/on-off switch in the top right corner of the hearing aid (left
corner in the picture). |
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The attractive external rectangular microphone sat on top of the tie
clip itself. The grill and tie clip were gold colored. The black line
(extreme right) on the tie clip is actually a black wire running to the
microphone. It was set in a groove in the tie clip. With this design,
the hearing aid itself was hidden behind the tie, but the microphone
wasn't covered so likely picked up sounds better than previous models
like the Allegro, for example.
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Left side view of the Model OP showing the receiver cord jack (center).
The square hole just below the jack was for a protrusion on the receiver
cord plug so it couldn't be plugged in wrong. The receiver cord ran up
under the shirt and came out at the neck below the ear. So all that was
visible to indicate the person was wearing a hearing aid was the button
receiver in the person's ear.
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Right side view of the Model OP showing the 2-position tone control
(center). |
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Rear view of the Model OP showing the make and model engraved in the case "Beltone
Model OP". Note the
green dot on the right side above the
hinge.
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View of the battery compartment of the Beltone Model OP. The
battery compartment door is hinged at the top and swings upward. This
hearing aid took either a mercury
No. 625 battery (shown) or a No. 630.
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The Beltone Model OP "Operetta" in its original case. |
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Outside view of the original case of the Beltone Model OP.
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