Beltone Mono-pac Model TR Transistor (Body) Hearing Aid
The Beltone Mono-pac Model TR was the first completely transistorized
hearing aid produced by the Beltone Electronics Corp. of Chicago, IL
This model "TR" was obviously nicknamed for "Transistor". Beltone
produced it in 1953.
It measured 3⅛” by 2⅛” by ¾” and weighed 4½ oz including the battery. It
used 3 transistors.
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Front view of the Beltone Mono-pac Model TR showing the microphone grill
(upper center) and below it the pocket clip. To the left of the
microphone grill is the volume control/on-off switch. The case was
similar to the Model M "Melody"—chrome front and back over a black
plastic chassis—visible on all sides.
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Top view of the Beltone Mono-pac Model TR showing the receiver cord
plugged into the
jack (left). Note: this hearing aid used the same case back as the Model M (Melody)—hence
the "cut out" (lower center) where the Melody's 2-position tone control was.
The Model TR did not have any tone control. |
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Rear view of the Model TR showing the make and model stamped into the case
(top half). The swing-up battery compartment door comprises the lower
half of the back.
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Close-up view of the top half of the back of the Beltone Model TR
hearing aid showing the make and model stamped into the case "Beltone
MONO-PAC Model" and the TR is in the punched out hole". This
is because they used the same case back as the Model M—so they punched
out the "M" and on a small plate behind it printed the "TR".
Note the
dot hole on the left side above the
hinge is not used—it has been left blank. |
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Bottom view of the Beltone Mono-pac Model TR hearing aid
showing the push-button (center) to release the spring-loaded battery
compartment door.
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View of the battery compartment of the Beltone Mono-pac Model TR showing
the battery terminal contacts. The
battery compartment door is hinged at the top and swings upward. Note
the serial number (613851) on the right.
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View of the battery compartment of the Beltone Mono-pac Model TR showing the
1¼ volt
Mallory TR-140 mercury battery in place.
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Close-up view of the top left corner of the Beltone Mono-pac Model TR
hearing aid showing the two-holed received cord jack. Note the notch
cut out of the plastic in front of the left hole.
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Close-up view of the receiver cord plug of the Beltone Mono-pac Model TR
hearing aid. Note the plastic flange sticking up (at the back). This
corresponded with the notch in the plastic of the body aid shown above.
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Close-up view of the top left corner of the Beltone Mono-pac Model TR
hearing aid showing how the receiver cord plug plugged into the jack and
the flange on the plug fitted exactly into the notch on the body of the
aid. This arrangement guaranteed that the plug was inserted properly
with reference to the polarity of the pins on the plug.
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View of the back of the receiver of the Beltone Mono-pac Model TR
hearing aid showing the receiver cord plugged in.
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Close-up of the receiver cord jack and receiver cord plug of the Beltone Mono-pac Model TR
hearing aid. Note the left pin is smaller than the right pin so the cord
could only be plugged into the receiver one way to correctly maintain
the polarity of the system. |
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Front view of the receiver of the Beltone Mono-pac Model TR
hearing aid. This receiver was Beltone's model TM3 (right).
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The receiver and ear mold of the Beltone Mono-pac Model TR hearing aid
shown unsnapped. The ear mold snapped onto the nubbin in the center of
the receiver.
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The Beltone Mono-pac Model TR transistor hearing aid in its original case.
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Outside view of the original case of the Beltone Mono-pac Model TR
hearing aid.
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