Copper and brass ear trumpet
Object No. 85/2552
This copper ear trumpet is an early type of hearing aid. Cupping a hand around the ear improved hearing by five percent. So in the 19th century a whole series of trumpets, horns, under-beard listeners and top hats with discreet ear pieces were devised for the hearing impaired. It was not until 1901 that the first electronic hearing aid was patented in the USA but this was heavy and unwieldy. This type of ear trumpet is known as a bell resonator style, London Dome or Grand Opera Dome type because of its similarity in shape to the dome of St Paul's Cathedral in London. The ivory ear tip sat inside the ear canal. The ear trumpet acted to amplify sounds down the tube. Geoff Barker, Curatorial, October 2009
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Summary
Object Statement
Hearing aid, ear trumpet, copper / brass / plastic, made by Mayer, England, c. 1860
Physical Description
Polished copper dome-shaped hearing aid with flat edge, featuring a cross-section with simple decoration on the grill over the sound opening. A small, curved brass tube with an ivory-coloured ear tip is attached to the hearing aid.
DIMENSIONS
Height
80 mm
Width
110 mm
Depth
48 mm
PRODUCTION
Notes
The hearing aid was made by Mayer, England, c. 1860.
SOURCE
Credit Line
Purchased 1985
Acquisition Date
27 December 1985
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