Acousticon Radio-Wonder Model RT-1 "Radion"
The Acousticon Radio-Wonder, Model RT-1 or "Radion" attachment was a small AM radio tuner that
could be plugged onto the right side of various models of Acousticon hearing
aids including the A-90M and the A-100 Imperial models (both 1947), the
A-150 (1949) and the A-152 (1950). Attaching the "Radion" to these hearing
aids, turned them into 3 tube personal AM radios—a first for hearing aids!
In addition, the "Radion" could also be plugged into Acousticon hearing
aids designed for the Super Radion, including the A-120, A-130 and A-145
(all made in 1948) and the A-160 (1949).
These hearing
aid models were equipped with two input connections on the right side of
the hearing aid. The two pins on the left side of the "Radion" plugged into
these connections. |
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The "Radion" itself was a simple tuner with a sliding tuning dial on
the front. The tuning range was from 550 kHz to 1500 kHz.
It came equipped with two long wire antennas that plugged into
the top (black cord on the right). It is shown here attached to the
Acousticon A-100 hearing aid (left). The other end of one antenna wires
could be plugged into the electrical wall socket to use the electrical
system as a super-antenna.
The other antenna wire had an alligator clip on it so it could be
attached to anything metal to make an even better antenna.
The following year (1948) the "Radion" was superseded by the Super Radion
(click the "Next" button to see this model) which
featured a vacuum tube detector and pre-amplifier in its circuitry
making it a much more powerful tuner.
The "Radion" could be considered one of the first
"Walkman" radios. |
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