Twinfone
This acoustical telephone device was manufactured
beginning around 1947 and continuing to the 1970s by the Telephone Devices Company, Inc. of Lynbrook,
New York.
The Twinfone permitted a person using the telephone to listen with
both ears or let a second person listen in
on the conversation.
Since it was just a hollow tube connecting two ear pieces, this device
provides no amplification. In fact, there is some attenuation in the
tube. Thus the second ear only receives about half the volume of the
first ear by the time the sound reaches it.
In order to help people with a significant hearing loss, the Twinfone would
have worked better with an amplified phone. (As a matter of interest, I found I could hear quite well
using the Twinfone on my amplified phone and holding the remote end to my other
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This end of the Twinfone attaches to the phone receiver. the sound
from the phone receiver comes through the 4 holes in the center. You
hold this side against your ear. |
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The side of the remote Twinfone that you put up to your ear. The sound
from the phone travels up the rubber tube and come out of the center of
this earpiece.
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At the right is a copy of the earliest ad found for the Twinfone. This ad was published in
the July 1947 edition of Popular Mechanics, on page 57. |
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Display ad in the December, 1949 issue of Popular Science magazine—on
page 166. |
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This ad was published in the April 1957 edition of Popular Science, on
page 72 At this time they were looking for people to sell the Twinfone
and make money. The latest ad found for the Twinfone was in
the 1970 Science Digest on p. 99. The ad
read, "TWINFONE New scientific two-party listener, acoustical amplifier
shuts out noises, aids hearing, fits any phone. Needed everywhere. Hi
profit. Sample $2. Free details. Engles, Four Oaks, NC" |
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The top of the box explains how to use it so two people can hear the
same conversation, or how one person can hear with both ears.
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The side of the box shows how to hook the Twinfone to any telephone
receiver.
The box states, “The Twinfone is an excellent
hearing aid help for the hard of hearing.”
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