Hugh Hetherington Hearing Aid Museum
Hugh Hetherington Hearing Aid Museum

The Hearing Aid Museum

Hearing Aids of all types—Ear Trumpets, Carbon Hearing Aids, Vacuum Tube Hearing Aids, Transistor Hearing Aids, Body Hearing Aids, Eyeglass Hearing Aids and much more!

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Click on the "General Information" button (top button above) for an overview and general information on this category of hearing aid.

 

Carbon Hearing Aids: 1900-1939

Acousticon Model RB Carbon Hearing Aid

The Acousticon Model RB carbon hearing aid was manufactured in 1908 by the General Acoustic Company of New York, NY.

This hearing aid was similar to the Model "B" of 1905.

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Front view of the Acousticon Model RB carbon microphone. The microphone grill consisted of the 8 slots around the periphery of the microphone. The name "Acousticon" was embossed across the center of the microphone.

The microphone measured 2⅜" in diameter by ⅞" thick (8.5 x 2.2 cm). The microphone was quite light for its size and weighed only 3½ oz. (98 g).

 

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Rear view of the Acousticon Model RB carbon microphone. The 6-step volume control took up the lower half of the back of the microphone. The volume control is shown in its loudest position.

You could clip the microphone to your pocket or shirt with the pocket clip at the top.

 

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Top left view of the back of the Acousticon Model RB carbon microphone showing the model number—Type RB.
 

 

 

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Front view of the Acousticon Model RB earphone.

The earphone was 1 5/16" in diameter by 15/16" thick (5.9 x 2.3 cm). This earphone felt quite heavy for its size at 4.7 oz. (132 g).

 

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Rear view of the Acousticon Model RB earphone showing the on/off switch on the right side. (The switch is in the "on" position.)

 

 

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Side view of the Acousticon Model RB earphone showing the cord plugs and jacks. The two plugs and jacks were of different sizes (the left is smaller) so you couldn't plug them in wrong and reverse the polarity.

 


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Side view of the Acousticon Model RB earphone showing the cords plugged into the jacks on the earphone.

 


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The Acousticon Model RB carbon hearing aid came with a earphone handle. The handle easily snapped on or off the earphone.

 


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To attach the handle to the earphone of the Acousticon Model RB carbon hearing aid, you just pushed the spring wire clip into the groove in the earphone.

 


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Side view of the Acousticon Model RB earphone showing the handle fully attached to the earphone.

 


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The earphone handle of the Acousticon Model RB carbon hearing aid pulled out for ease in holding the earphone to your ear, then collapsed again for storage (shown here in it's collapsed position).

 


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If you didn't want to hold the earphone of the Acousticon Model RB carbon hearing aid, you could alternately snap it onto the supplied headband and wear it "hands free".

 


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Side view of the Acousticon Model RB earphone showing the hole (one on each side) into which the headband snapped.

 


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The gimble bracket of the Acousticon Model RB headband shown snapped into the holes on the earphone to hold it in place. At the same time, it allowed the earphone to swivel to fit flat against the ear.

 


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Top view of the Acousticon No. 5 battery showing the two sizes of plugs and jacks so you couldn't plug them in wrong and thus have the wrong polarity.

 


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Top view of the Acousticon No. 5 battery showing the cords plugged into the jacks.

 


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A 3-volt Acousticon No. 5 battery powered the Acousticon Model RB carbon hearing aid.

 

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The Acousticon Model RB in its carrying case. Notice how the handle fit neatly into the lid of the case.

 

 

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Front view of the Acousticon Model RB carrying case.

The case measured 8¼" x 4¾" x 3" deep (20.6 x 12.0 x 7.6  cm).
 

 


 

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