Western Electric Model 64 (a.k.a. Model 134-B) Vacuum Tube Hearing Aid
The Western Electric Model 64 (also known as the Model 134-B) hearing aid was made by the Western
Electric Co. of Kearny, New Jersey.
The Model 64 was a 3-vacuum tube hearing aid. It was the last of the 2-piece hearing aids
produced by Western Electric. Its
dimensions were 4¼" x 2¼" x ⅞". It weighed 5¼ oz.
without batteries, wires and receiver.
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The Model 64 came out in June, 1946. It was a slight modification of
the Model 134, and should have been known as Model 134-B. However, at
that time, Western Electric was changing their numbering system over to
numbers in the mid-60s, so this model had the dual model designation.
Subsequent models were designated Model 65 and higher. As you can see,
Western Electric didn't bother to change the model number on the lower
back of the case. It remained Model 134—no doubt confusing people.
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Top view of the Western Electric Model 64 showing the on-off/tone
control (left), the receiver jack (center) and the volume control
(right). The tone control has 3 positions 1, 2 and 3 dots. The 3-dot position
gives full range of tones. The 2-dot position moderately
suppresses low-frequency sounds, and the 1-dot position gives maximum
suppression of low frequency sounds.
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Close-up view of the Western Electric Model 65 microphone grill. On each
side are the chrome pocket clips. |
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Bottom view of the Western Electric Model 64 hearing aid showing the
double plug socket—the 3 prongs in the upper row for the batteries and
the 2 prongs in the lower row for the receiver. |
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Bottom view showing the double plugs in place—the receiver cord to the
left and the batter cord to the right. |
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This double plug was an ingenious arrangement. It came it two halves
that fit together. The receiver plug half to the left and the battery
plug half to the right. Notice that the receiver half has a raised
rectangle that fits into the battery half to hold them in the proper
alignment for plugging them into the socket. |
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The two plug halves fitted together and ready to be plugged in. (You
have to physically hold these halves together as you plug them into the
socket.) |
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Top view of the battery plugs showing the "B" battery plug (left) and
the "A" battery plug (right).
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Side view of the Western Electric Model 64 battery plugs showing the
3-pronged "B" battery plug (left) and
the 2-pronged "A" battery plug (right). The Model 64 used a
Burgess 8R 1½ volt "A" battery and a Burgess XX30E 45 volt "B" battery,
although any batteries that fit the voltage and pin requirements would
work. For example, the
Eveready 1052P "A" battery and the
Eveready 455-P "B" battery were equivalent to the Burgess batteries. |
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The Western Electric Model 65 (Model 134-B) hearing aid in its original
case, but this case had a little surprise in store (see below pictures). |
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The Western Electric Model 65 case as seen from the top. You
wouldn't guess that all the wires, plug and receiver are elegantly stored in a
hidden compartment below.
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When you pulled out the blue velvet bottom of the case and turned it
over, here is what you find. The wires are neatly wrapped around the
large central "spool" and the battery plugs neatly store in special
sockets (top left) and the receiver snaps into its socket (bottom
right). |
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End view of the blue velvet bottom showing the battery plugs (right) and
receiver storage (left). |
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Outside view of the original Western Electric Model 64 hearing aid case. |
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An "Important" instructional notice enclosed with the Western Electric Model 64 hearing aid.
Also, there was a 4-page instruction guide included with the Western Electric Model 64 hearing aid.
Click here to read
this guide.
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