General Information

Serial #

N/A

Part Number

1

Total Parts

4

AKA

microphone [.1]

Patents

N/A

General Description

Smooth dark brown bakelite (?) casing has silver metal fittings; dark brown fabric-covered cords link to silver metal and dark brown bakelite volume control, silver metal and light grey synthetic receiver [for ear mould] and dark brown bakelite plug head with silver metal contacts; dark brown leather button-hole style fittings and plug head attachment point cover; microphone has grill-like panel on casing front.

Dimensions

Note: These reflect the general size for storage and are not necessarily representative of the object's true dimensions.

Length

26.0 cm

Width

10.0 cm

Height

3.5 cm

Thickness

N/A

Weight

N/A

Diameter

N/A

Volume

N/A

Lexicon

Group

Medical Technology

Category

Assistive technologies

Sub-Category

N/A

Manufacturer

AKA

Siemens Halske

Country

Germany

State/Province

Unknown

City

Berlin

Context

Country

Canada

State/Province

Unknown

Period

This model of hearing aid used after c. 1930.

Canada

This hearing aid was used in Canada. This hearing aid used a battery sold by T. Eaton Co. [Ref. 1]

Function

This device amplifies tones for individual hearing.

Technical

General: In the history of hearing aids, this [style of hearing aid] followed the acoustic devices and preceded the aids with vacuum tube amplifiers. It consists of a battery, a microphone and an earphone. [Ref. 1] From Ref. 2: "The actual hearing aid was made by Siemens & Halske A. G. of Germany, while the resonant black leatherette-covered case was made by Fortiphone Ltd. of London, England. Fortiphone put the hearing aid in the case and sold it under the Fortiphone trade name. The Siemens/Fortiphone Model 300017 carbon hearing aid in its resonant case. You could use it this way by placing the case on a table facing the person to whom you were speaking. The receiver cord came out through the small slot on the top center of the left side. The hearing aid and resonant case together weighed just 10 oz. without the battery." "This hearing aid used 4.5 volt carbon-zinc batteries and plugged into batteries such as the Siemens X43/R656 or the Fortiphone 3-S." .1 Specific: [The] microphone measured 4 3/8 x 2 1/8 x 1/2 inch thick. This microphone was exceptionally light at just 2 oz. The microphone had a leather button-hole attached to the back (right). This way the microphone could be attached to any button on the wearer's shirt. Alternately, a black ribbon could be threaded through the button hole... and worn as a lanyard around the wearer's neck." This microphone unit is hardwired to the volume control and [earpiece] receiver.

Area Notes

Unknown

Details

Markings

"Siemens & Halske A.-G./ Berlin" cast in raised print on microphone casing. "OFF" stamped into volume control faceplate.

Missing

.1 Appears complete.

Finish

.1 Smooth dark brown bakelite (?) casing has silver metal fittings; dark brown fabric-covered cords link to silver metal and dark brown bakelite volume control, silver metal and light grey synthetic receiver [for ear mould] and dark brown bakelite plug head with silver metal contacts; dark brown leather button-hole style fittings and plug head attachment point cover; microphone has grill-like panel on casing front.

Decoration

N/A