Olson Transistor (Body) Hearing Aid
This Olson transistor hearing aid was the only Olson-branded hearing
aid put out by Olson Electronics of Akron, OH between 1960 and 1962.
Since it was the only hearing aid they produced, it had no model
number.
The Olson hearing aid was like the Cortiton Model TH-58.
The Olson measured
2˝" x 1⅝" x ⅝" (6.4 x 4.1 x 1.1 cm)
and weighed 1.8 oz (50 g) without the battery. It had a gold
anodized aluminum case over a black plastic chassis.
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Top left view of the Olson hearing aid showing the on-off switch with
integrated three-position tone control (L - low, M - medium and H - high
tone emphasis).
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The right view of the Olson hearing aid showing the 1-7 volume control
wheel.
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Front view of the Olson hearing aid showing its flattened diamond-shaped mic grill (center) and
the Olson name stamped at the bottom.
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Top view of the Olson hearing aid showing the rather unusual round 3/32"
(2.5 mm) earphone jack (center) and plug at a time when most hearing
aids used a two-pronged plug and jack. The pocket clip, which
surrounded the earphone jack, could be unscrewed and mounted so it was
on the back instead of the front if so desired.
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Note that the Olson hearing aid used a cheap generic receiver/ear mold
like was used for transistor radios at that time rather than
custom-molded ear molds used by most hearing aids of the day. |
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View of the inside front of the Olson hearing aid showing the large
microphone (upper center) and the 4 round transistors to the right and
below it. The tone knob is at the upper right and volume control knob at
the lower right. |
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View of the inside back of the Olson hearing aid showing the
various resistors (red) and capacitors (grey) that made up the
electronics of this hearing aid.
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View of the inside back of another Olson hearing aid showing changes in
the components made in succeeding years.
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The back of the Olson hearing aid showing the hinged swing-down battery
door across the bottom.
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Bottom view of the Olson hearing aid showing the battery compartment
with the spring-loaded battery door held open. The Olson hearing aid
took a 1.4 volt size 401 or "N" mercury battery.
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Engraved in the bottom left corner of the battery door are the words,
"Made in Japan".
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The Olson hearing aid in its original case. |
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Outside view of the case of the Olson hearing aid.
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