Eschmann (Medresco) Model OL 38001 Conversation Tube
This conversation tube was made by Eschmann [Bros.] for Medresco (MEDical
RESearch COuncil) and the Department of Health & Social Security in
England in 1976.
Medresco hearing aids were distributed free to qualifying people by
the British Health Service. Medresco hearing aids all began with the
letters "OL" followed by some numbers.
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Close-up of the earpiece showing the maker (Eschmann), the model number
(OL 38001) and the date stamp (07 76). This is not July of 1876 like you
might expect for a conversation tube, but July, 1976! Yes Medresco was
still giving out conversation tubes to hard of hearing people as late as
1976! We know it was not 1876 because the first Medresco hearing aids
were given out in July of 1948. Also, previously, Medresco had
distributed a similar conversation tube (Model OL 380A) beginning in
March, 1958. |
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A view of the Model OL 38001 conversation tube. The overall length of
this conversation tube including earpiece and bell
is 43". Notice that the tube gradually tapers from just over ¾" at the
bell end to just under ½" at the earpiece end. |
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Close-up of the earpiece. The earpiece is 4⅝" long. It was made of
hard rubber. The sulfur gradually coming out of the hard rubber over the
years gives it the brownish color. Notice that the ear piece tip is
angled at 75°. This makes it easier to fit
in the ear than the
right-angled tip used on some earlier conversation
tubes such as the wood/hard rubber
conversation tube.
A unique feature of this conversation tube is that the earpiece
swivels rather than the user having to "roll" the whole tube to make it
fit into his ear. The swivel joint is immediately to the right of the
name and model number. |
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Close-up of the Bakelite (or hard black plastic) bell. The bell is 4¾" long and is
2 3/16" in diameter.
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