Vibraphone No. 2 Ear Insert
This Vibraphone ear insert was made by the European Vibraphone Co. in
London sometime after 1928 when the patent for it was filed.
Charles Fensky, a lawyer in St. Louis, MO received the patent for a
Vibraphone with reeds September 1931. They were
produced until about 1935.
Vibraphones with reeds came in several sizes. This one is size No. 2 (bottom,
left of center), the second smallest size. This one measured ⅞" high by
¾" wide and ⅜" in diameter at the thickest part.
Vibraphones were made of silver. They consisted
of a sound chamber (the vertical part on the right) containing 2 small
metal reeds that vibrated with the sound, and the ear canal extension
(bottom left).
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Side view of the Vibraphone No. 2. On the part that goes into the ear
canal (bottom right) is engraved the words "BRA", "CD" and "GLAND".
This is all that is left of the inscription "Vibraphone, Made in
England". Vibraphones were
essentially "quack" devices. It is doubtful that they helped anyone,
even those with mild hearing losses.
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Front view of the Vibraphone showing the opening where the sound enters
(top left) and the opening into the ear canal where the sound exits
(bottom).
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Back view of the Vibraphone showing the opening where the sound enters
(top right). Note that Vibraphones had left and right models. The one
shown is for the right ear. Typically, they were stamped with either an
"L" or an "R" for left or right ears respectively followed by a
number—the size of that particular Vibraphone.
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Top view of the lid of the small wooden carrying case for the
Vibraphone No. 2. At this time, the European Vibraphone Co. was located
at 120 Wigmore St., London, W. 1. |
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The Vibraphone No. 2 in its small wooden carrying case. |
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Outside view of the small wooden box for the Vibraphone No. 2. The box
was 1¼" in diameter and by ¾" high.
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