Super Sonotone Carbon Hearing Aid
The Super Sonotone carbon hearing aid was
manufactured in 1933 by Sonotone International, Inc. of New York.
It is
a double carbon microphone unit in an oval imitation tortoiseshell case that
measures 5¼" by 2½". The microphone openings consist of four
narrow slots around the perimeter of the raised portion of the case.
This picture shows a Super Sonotone bone conduction carbon hearing
aid.
|
 |
Click picture for larger view |
| |
|
| |
|
|
This picture shows a Super Sonotone air-conduction carbon
hearing aid.
|
 |
Click picture for larger view |
| |
|
|
This picture shows the Super Sonotone with the amplifier plugged into
the top of the battery, and the air-conduction earpiece. |
 |
Click picture for larger view |
| |
|
|
When using the carbon amplifier, the cord plugged into the amplifier which
plugged into the top of the battery. When not used with the amplifier,
the cord plugged directly into the battery. This way if you had a mild
hearing loss you used the Super Sonotone without the amplifier. If you
had a more severe loss, you plugged in the amplifier.
Interestingly enough, this hearing aid came in both air conduction and
bone conduction models, and with, or without, a mechanical (carbon) amplifier. The picture at the right shows the carbon amplifier (top),
bone-conduction transducer (right) and air-conduction earpiece (bottom).
|
 |
Click picture for larger view |
| |
|
|
The carbon amplifier (top view) showing how the Super Sonotone
hearing aid plugged into it, if you wanted the extra amplification it
provided.
|
 |
Click picture for larger view |
| |
|
|
This picture shows the Super Sonotone plugged directly into the
battery (no carbon amplifier) and set up for using the bone conduction
transducer. |
 |
Click picture for larger view |
| |
|
|
The bone conduction transducer attached to the headband. The user
placed the transducer behind the ear where the springy headband held it
tightly on the mastoid bone. This allowed the vibrations it produced to
reach the inner ear.
|
 |
Click picture for larger view |
| |
|
|
Side view of the Super Sonotone showing the
volume control with its positions marked "off," "soft" and "loud."
The volume control was a slider giving an continuous range of volume as
you slid it from soft to loud.
The spring clip on the bottom right is a pocket clip.
|
 |
Click picture for larger view |
| |
|
|
The picture at the right shows a 4½ volt Sonotone X65 battery. Since increased battery voltage meant higher
current which in turn, gave increased amplification, the user's manual recommended that the wearer use a 3
volt battery when at home in quiet situations, and a 4½ volt battery
when more amplification was needed such as in a public place, church or theatre.
|
 |
Click picture for larger view |
| |
|
(If a larger picture doesn't appear, you may have to
turn your pop-up blocker off)
|
|
|
