Acousticon A-90M (Imperial) Vacuum Tube Hearing Aid
The Acousticon A-90M (Imperial) hearing aid was produced by
Dictograph Products, Inc. of New York in 1947 and may have been their
first 1-piece body hearing aid.
It featured a different style case than the A-90 in gold anodized
aluminum with light brown enamel on the front. The hearing aid measured
4” by 2⅜” by ⅞”.
|
 |
Click picture for larger view |
| |
 
|
| |
|
|
The Acousticon A-90M featured the same controls as the A-90 with the volume control
at the
top left corner, and the microphone on the front behind the grill/logo
at the top right.
|
 |
Click picture for larger view |
| |
|
|
Left side view of the Acousticon A-90M showing the 4 position tone
control. Note the clip to hold the hearing aid in place on the clothing
(bottom left). |
 |
Click picture for larger view |
| |
|
|
The Acousticon A-90M was powered by internal batteries—a 1.4 volt RM-4 mercury
"A" cell (bottom left) and a 15 volt 411E "B"
battery (bottom right).
|
 |
Click picture for larger view |
| |
|
|
Another feature of the A-90M was the capability to attach the Acousticon
Radion radio tuner to the side of the hearing aid, thus
turning the hearing aid into a personal AM radio for the user. Note the
two holes on the right side for the pins of the Radion to attach/connect
to. |
 |
Click picture for larger view |
| |
|
|
Not all Acousticon A-90M hearing aids had the above feature of the
contacts for the Radion. The picture to the right shows a different
hearing aid from above picture with no holes for the Radion. |
 |
Click picture for larger view |
| |
|
|
The Acousticon A-90M with the Radion attached to the right side of
the hearing aid.
Click here for more information on the Acousticon Radion. |
 |
Click picture for larger view |
| |
|
|
"Humidrier" for the Acousticon A-90M. This was used to keep moisture out
of the electronics. The porous cloth "basket" was lifted out and a
drying agent was put in the bottom of the "Humidrier" Then the "basket"
was replaced and the hearing aid placed in the "basket" to dry out. |
 |
Click picture for larger view |
| |
|
|
The Acousticon A-90M in the "Humidrier". The "Humidrier"
measured 6½" x 4¾" x 2¼".
|
 |
Click picture for larger view |
| |
|
(If a larger picture doesn't appear, you may have to
turn your pop-up blocker off)
|
|
|
