Hawksley Type Nickel-Plated Brass Hearing Aid
Object description
A nickel-plated brass Hawksley-Type сompact ear trumpet hearing aid, with telescopic earpiece-tube and decorative grille. Length 9,7 cm with closed and 13,3 cm with extended earpiece tube. No marks, maker unknown, possibly made by Hawksley and Sons Ltd., London. Overall good condition. England, ca. 1880.
The telescopic design and the swivel joint of the tube made it easy to hold the hearing aid and point the opening of the reflector toward the speaker. When folded, the device was quite compact, and thanks to the flat design of the bell, it fit easily into a pocket, much like a modern cell phone.
The bell acted as a parabolic reflector, focusing sound in the tube and directing waves through it, thereby amplifying them and bringing them to the eardrum. This combination allowed sound energy to be concentrated exactly where it was needed. The device could be small, inexpensive, convenient yet still function effectively as a hearing aid.
Provenance
Acquired in the English Salesroom in 2025. Offered at the auction under the description: "A nickel-plated brass Hawksley-Type Compact Ear Trumpet Hearing Aid, - English, c.1880, with telescopic earpiece and decorative grille, 13.5cm..."
Reference objects
Small compact metal ear trumpet hearing aid, with ivory earpiece, made by Hawksley and Sons Ltd, London. Dating: 1869-1900. Link: https://collection.sciencemuseumgroup.org.uk/objects/co77892/ear-trumpet-hearing-aid
Compact ear trumpet hearing aid, made: 1869-1900 in London. Maker: Hawksley and Sons Limited. Source: science Museum, London, UK
Reference Literature
- Barr, Thomas. Manual of Diseases of the Ear: For the Use of Students and Practitioners of Medicine. 1st ed. Glasgow: James Maclehose, 1884.
- Bennion, Elisabeth. Antique Medical Instruments. 1st ed. London: Sotheby Parke Bernet; Berkeley: University of California Press, 1979.
- Berger, Kenneth W. The Hearing Aid: Its Operation and Development. 1st ed. Detroit: National Hearing Aid Society, 1970.
