Hearing

Background
    Hearing Aids
    Audio Test Equipment
Description
    Zenith A2A Hearing Aid
    Photos
Patents
Trans-Oceanic Portable Radio
Related
References
Links

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Background

Hearing aids were one of the products that used subminiature tubes prior to W.W.II.  These tubes where made more rugged for use in the Proximity Fuze.  It makes sense to have a page for hearing related items so that some of them can be removed from the China Lake Patents page. 

Hearing Aids

There have been different designs for hearing aids, in order:

• prior to 1899 Acoustic Horns
• 1899 - 1920 Carbon Microphone without transformer and later with transformer (no tubes)
• 1926 - Vacuum Tubes (1935 Lunch box size with early tubes, 1941 shirt pocket size with Subminiature tubes)
• Transistor 1953 shirt pocket and 1958 behind ear
• 1966 Integrated Circuit In the ear
  

Acousticon Model A-335 Transistor
Acousticon Tube models: A-45, A-55, A-90, A-100, A-120, A-130, A-140, A-145, A-150, A-160, A-165, A-69.50, A-180, A-200,
Hearing Aid Museum - Tube hearing aid makers: Acousticon, Amplivox, Ardente, Beltone, Bonochord, Fortiphone, Hale, Maico, Medresco, Micronic, Microtone, Multitone, National, Otarion, Paravox, Radioear, Rochester, Silbertone, Sonotone, Telex, Vacolite, Western Electric, Zenith...
Zenith A2A - first wearable Zenith hearing aid, prior model was for use on table top.  Uses external battery box. 2 tubes. Z-30 45 V "B" Battery & Z-1 1.5V "A" Battery.

Hearing Aids (Wiki) have a history (Wiki) that goes back to the 17th century ear trumpet.  I know a local man who has 3D printed a modern ear trumpet that clips to his ears making his ears bigger and it helps him hear.

Audio Test Equipment

Audiometers (Wiki) are used to test a person's hearing.  An example is the Beltone 12D it or something very similar was often seen in public schools as part of a hearing screening program.

The Air Force was concerned with how ears work at high altitudes where the air pressure is much lower than on the Earth's surface and so the Teledyne Avionics TA-3D Acoustic Impedance Meter.

Description

Zenith A2A Hearing Aid

This model A2A was sold on 10-13-45 serial number 76958.  It was factory reconditioned on 7-14-47 and tested by O. Tanchek.
Made under patent 2406583 with an application date in 1943.  Uses two tubes.

Tubes

Pre W.W.II subminiature tubes used in hearing aids were the CK526 (5 leads, T2x3 envelope, ), CK512 (5 leads, T2x3 envelope) & CK537 (Dead Tech Rescue, Hearing Aids before 1960)

The 5829Wa: T2x3 envelope, 7 leads (1 to 7): P, C, H, sd, H, P, C

7-Pin Miniature

Marked: "Tung-Sol 28"

Looks like EF506S, 6267 (9-pin so not a match), 7-pins, not dual triode, inside the glass is a silver colored sleeve, not the dual black rectangle plates of a dual triode.

From the appearance of the metal sleeve inside the glass I'm guessing this is one of the 1.4 Volt filament tubes (Wiki).
T5-1/2 envelope. JEDEC 5AP base.

Model (Datasheet)	Dia in.	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	Comment
1A3	<0.750	F	P	C	nc	nc	P	F	FM discriminator
1L6	<0.750	F-	P	G2	G1	G3	G4	F+	Converter/Mixer, Oscillator
1R5	<0.750	F-	P	G2	G1	F-	G3	F+	combined Oscillator - Mixer
1S4	<0.750	F-	P	G1	G2	F-	P	F+	Audio Amp, low voltages (>100mW @ 45V)
1T4	<0.750	F- G3	P	G2	nc	F- G3	G1	F+	RF amp with AVC
1U4	<0.750	F- G3	P	G2	nc	F- G3	G1	F+	Sharp cut-off pentode, 90 V typ.
1U6	<0.750	F-	P	G2	G1	G3	G4	F+	Converter

The most likely tube is the 1S4.

6-Pin Subminiature

The subminiature tube has six leads and the T2x3 envelope, not the T3 round envelope.
Marked: "Raytheon 511X" 6-pins labeled: F, G3, G1, F, G2, P
Raytheon Industrial Tubes Characteristics (pdf)  example data for 45V on plate, base diagram 6C: F-, G3, G1, F+, G2, P
4 lead: 6286, 5676, 7246, 7979,
5 lead: 5703WB, CK6088, 5744,
6 lead:
7 lead: 5702,
8 lead: 6021 (T3)

Model (Datasheet)	Env	1	2	3	4	5	6	Comment
5703	T3	P	nc	H	H	G	C

Circuit

The On/Off switch, upper right of Fig 6, switches the common ground wire and so disconnects both A and B batteries with a SPST action.  It's not making good contact.  Maybe needs a shot of contact cleaner?
The patent 2406583 mentions a mercury switch in either the main body or in the battery box.  The idea is that when either of them is laid on a table it will turn off the power.  The mechanical design prevents standing up either the main unit or the battery box so they will allow the mercury switch to work.

Photos

Fig 1	Fig 2	Fig 3 Red dot on battery cable plug.
Fig 4	Fig 5	Fig 6 Mike marked "2 44" & "C=S-10761"

Patents, General Hearing Aid

		466725 Magneto Telephone for Personal Wear, Alonzo E. Miltimore, 0ne-half to: George G. Schroeder & Frank Palmer,  1892-01-05, 381/330 D24/174 181/137 381/381 381/385 - watch case carbon mike (1) , battery (6) & ear speaker (12).
		622328 Magneto ear-phone, Frank H. Collins, 1899-04-04, 381/328 601/47 381/324 381/385 381/313 - adds transformer Carbon mike (N), Battery (K), transformer (L), speaker with ear tube (A & Fig 3).
		622368 Electrical Audiphone, Reese Hutchison, (Akouphone), 1899-04-04, 381/321 340/388.1 340/388.4 340/392.3 381/322 - "Audiphone", adds volume control. Carbon mike (3), Battery (6), Multi-tap transformer (9), speaker (2), volume control (5). The photo of Eugene McDonald, founder of Zenith, on his Wiki page shows a similar microphone with a wooden handle.
		631505 Audiphone, Reese Hutchison, 1899-08-22, 381/77 381/104 381/321 - individual version and one with one mike and multiple speakers (school room). coined the term "earpiece" for the telephone "receiver".
		789915 Method of determining degree of deafness, Miller Reese Hutchison, Hutchison Acoustic Co, 1905-05-16, - makes use of telephone transmitters and receivers.
		843890 Connection for acousticons, Howell W Haff, Kelley M Turner, (Acousticon Dictograph) 1907-02-12, -
		843891 Telephone-receiver, Howell W Haff, Kelley M Turner, (Acousticon Dictograph) 1907-02-12, -
		848073 Modulating telephone-receiver, Kelley M Turner, (Acousticon Dictograph) 1907-03-26, - adjustable volume for use with an acousticon
		1219411 Hearing aid, Charles E Williams, Williams Articulator Co, 1917-03-13, - Carbon mike, battery & earphone.
		1343717 Telephone apparatus for the deaf, Earl C Hanson, 1920-06-15, - Carbon mike & transformers & earphone. Maybe Acousticon Dictograph device?
		1501670 Winding machine, Koch Henry, Dictograph Products Co, 1924-07-15, - for electromagnets/speakers/microphones
		1558758 Induction coil, De Elbert A Reynolds, Audiphone Co of America, App: 1917-11-22, W.W.I, Pub: 1925-10-27, - multiple receivers or transmitters
		1611130 Artificial aid for improving hearing, Vern O Knudsen, Isaac H Jones, 1926-12-14, - 2 tubes & shaped frequency response
		1630028 Ear phone, De Elbert A Reynolds, 1927-05-24, - on Acousticon A-69.50 -
		1688976 Audiphone, George R Lum, Western Electric, 1928-10-23, - 2 tubes, lunch box size, aka: "deaf set"
		1802780 Piezoelectric device, C.B. Sawyer, 1931-04-28, -
		1802781 Piezoelectric device, C.B. Sawyer, 1931-04-28, -
		1802782 Piezoelectric device, C.B. Sawyer, 1931-04-28, -
		1803275 (RE20680) Piezoelectric device, C.B. Sawyer, Brush Development Co, 1938--3-29,
		1802782 (RE20213) Piezoelectric device, C.B. Sawyer, 1936-12-22,
		1893143 Acoustic device, Koch Henry, Dictograph Products, 1933-01-03, - in ear speaker cited by 42 patents.
		1941987 Acoustic device, Koch Henry, Dictograph Products, 1934-01-02, - microphone with internal vibration dampening
		1973410 Hearing-aid device, Greibach Emil Henry, Sonotone Corp, 1934-09-11, - Carbon Mike, battery & miniature speaker
		2064426 Hearing-aid device, Greibach Emil Henry, Sonotone Corp, 1936-12-15, - miniature speaker
		2017358 Hearing aid apparatus and amplifier, Taylor Samuel Gordon, 1935-10-15, - lunch box size, one tube
		2105011 Piezo-electric apparatus, Alfred L W Williams, Brush Development Co, 1938-01-11, -
		2112569 Method and apparatus for selecting and prescribing audiphones, Samuel F Lybarger, E A Myers & Sons, 1938-03-29, -
		2106143 Piezo-electric apparatus, Alfred L W Williams, Brush Development Co, 1939-01-18, -
		2165710 Bone conduction audiphone, Koch Henry, Dictograph Products, 1939-07-11, -
		D118923 COMBINED CASE AND CONNECTOR FOR A HEARING AID RECEIVER , Alfred L W Williams, Brush Development Co, 1940-02-06, -
		2212848 Microphone amplifier, Sterling G Sears, Dictograph Products, 1940-08-27, - Carbon Mike + battery & inductor. (before subminiature tubes)
		2217394 Method and apparatus for testing hearing, Arthur M Wengel, Ray O Vac, 1940-10-08, -
		2266669 Hearing aid device, Arthur M Wengel, Ray O Vac, 1941-12-16, - 5 tubes, 6 headsets
		2287401 All-frequency generator, Arthur M Wengel, Ray O Vac, 1942-06-23, - fixed oscillator mixed with a sweept VFO - for testing Ray-O-Vac hearing aids
		2308550 Amplifying hearing aid, Harry B Shapiro, Sonotone, 1943-01-19, - vibrator power supply box + 2-subminiature tube Amplifier box
		2327321 Hearing aid amplifier, Harry B Shapiro, Sonotone, App: 1941-11-12, Pub: 1943-08-17, - vibrator power supply box + 2-subminiature 5-pin tube Amplifier box
		2345761 Hearing aid circuit, Samuel F Lybarger, E A Myers & Sons, App:1943-03-15, [W.W.II], Pub: 1944-04-04, - 3-subminiature tubes each with 5 leads. choke (27) allows high impedance for piezo/crystal earpiece (28).
		2351026 Thermionic tube, Edwin C Ewing, Zenith Electronics, 1944-06-13, -
		2355083 Electrode assembly for discharge tubes, Norman B Krim, Raytheon, App: 1941-01-03, W.W.II, Pub: 1944-08-08, -
		2371819 Sound reproducing unit and method for making the same, Gilbert E Gustafson, Zenith Electronics, 1945-03-20, - maybe earpiece for A2A?
		2384716 Frequency responsive indicating apparatus, Arthur M Wengel, Ray O Vac, App: 1941-03-14, W.W. II, Pub: 1945-09-11, - for testing hearing aids
		2390243 Hearing aid device, Frank J Faltico, Maico Co, 1945-12-04, -combined bone conduction and air conduction speaker
		2406583 Portable apparatus, Ralph C Blauvelt, Zenith Electronics, App: 1943-04-12, W.W.II, Pub:  1946-08-27, - Zenith A2A
		2424422 Hearing aid apparatus, Raleigh E Tresise, Paul D Kendall, Paraphone Hearing Aid, App: 1943-06-12, [W.W.II] Pub: 1947-07-22, -  2 subminiature tubes
		2431198 Base structure for miniature electron tubes, Posen Sam, Beltone, App: 1944-03-17, W.W.II, Pub: 1947-11-18, -
		2444302 Hearing aid, Samuel F Lybarger, E A Myers & Sons, App: 1943-03-16 [W.W.II], Pub: 1948-06-29, - 3-subminiature tubes This has a strong family resemblance to the Zenith 2A2, but is a newer design. Maybe there's an older patent by the same inventor or assignee?  No, but did find the Zenith patent for the A2A see 2406583
		2447576 Portable radio receiver, Gilbert E Gustafson, Zenith Electronics, App: 1944-03-11, W.W.II, Pub: 1948-08-24, - My grandmother had a radio that had this feel in her gazebo (Wiki). looks like Trans-Oceanic (Wiki)
		2476940 Subminiature type vacuum tube structure, Wood Ross, Raytheon, 1949-07-19, -
		2482288 Wearable electronic hearing aid having the amplifier and the batteries contained in a common casing, Posen Sam, Beltone Hearing Aid Co, App: 1944-03-17 [W.W.II], Pub: 1949-09-20, -  3-subminiature tubes, shirt pocket - 3 subminiature tubes - 17 patent citations -
		2497336 Casing for unitary hearing aids, Don H Young, Dictograph Products, 1950-02-14, - uses A (17), B (18) and C (19) batteries and 3 subminiature tubes (after W.W.II).
		2530621 Wearable hearing aid with inductive pick-up for telephone reception, Samuel F Lybarger, E A Myers & Sons Inc, 1950-11-21, - shirt pocket, switch between mike and loop,
		2650267 Hearing aid construction, Warren R Walters, Maico Co, 1953-08-25, - 3 tube design. Patent Citations (9) No                  Priority         Pub          Assignee                          Title US1576638A  1922-10-28  1926-03-16  Coto Coil Company            Electrical socket US1719288A  1925-11-23  1929-07-02  Gray & Danielson Mfg Co   Radio tube socket US2269122A  1940-06-01  1942-01-06  Douglas T Mitchell              Contact US2268619A  1938-01-08  1942-01-06  Joseph A Beasley                Radio receiving apparatus US2424422A  1943-06-12  1947-07-22  Paraphone Hearing Aid Inc     Hearing aid apparatus - 3 tubes US2477653A  1943-08-10  1949-08-02  W H Reisner Mfg Company    Primary electrical training test board apparatus US2482228A  1945-12-07  1949-09-20  Ohio Thermometer Company   Thermometer US2495546A  1947-11-24  1950-01-24  Beltone Hearing Aid Co             Hearing aid chassis - 3 tubes US2496683A  1947-03-06  1950-02-07  Paravox Inc                              Hearing aid chassis and assembly - 3 tubes - Maico
		2656421 Wearable hearing aid with inductive pickup for telephone reception, Samuel F Lybarger, E A Myers & Sons Inc, 1953-10-20, - shirt pocket, switch between mike and loop,
		2692305 Hearing and unit, Clayton D Mullin, Microtone Co, 1954-10-19, - "a hearing aid having substantially all the parts thereof easily removable to facilitate replacement thereof. "  I've read that the subminiature tubes may have had a very short mean time between failures.
		2764640 Hearing aid apparatus, Osserman Stanley, Emmanuel C Nicholides, Dictograph Products, 1956-09-25, - Wrist mounted A-165, uses patented mike.
		2845497 Transistorized amplifier circuits, Fred E Barron, Samuel F Lybarger, E A Myers & Sons Inc, 1958-07-29, -
		2853557 Sound distribution system, Frank H Lehman, Philip N Lehr, Dictograph Products, 1958-09-23, - a loop of wire surrounds a room and carries an audio signal that's picked up by a small loop which drives a crystal earpiece.
		2886623 Battery assembly for hearing aids, Philip N Lehr, Dictograph Products, 1959-05-12, - stacking button cells, user gets to determine number of cells to control gain.
		2930856 Hearing aid, Arthur E Toht, Sears Roebuck and Co, 1960-03-29, - behind ear, transistors
		3008091 Direct coupled cascaded complimentary transistor amplifier, Adrianus Johannes Wilhel Marie, Stieltjes Frederik Hendrik, Jochems Pieter Johan Wilhelmus, Ensink Johannes, Verhagen Jan, Tummers Leonard Johan, US Philips Corp, 1961-11-07, - 2 and 4 transistor amplifiers with direct connection between transistors.  Transformer input and transformer output. Mixes NPN and PNP transistors.
3015704		3015704 Acoustical apparatus, Behymer Donald James, Maico Electronics, 1962-01-02, - Includes switch for mike or telephone pickup. Newer than the Transit-ear since has 6 transistors.
		3078348 Lecture broadcasting system, Frank H Mcintosh, 1963-02-19, - multiple transmitters (100 kHz) are picked up using loop antennas in different locations - maybe used in museums?
		3031537 Acoustical device, John F Rose, Maico Electronics, 1962-04-24, - 3 transistor behind ear
		3179894 Transistor amplifier, Howard W Bloom, Maico Electronics, 1965-04-20 - 3 transistors: PNP - PNP - NPN- for use "in ear"
		3201528 Multi-directional hearing aid, Johanson Donald Lee, Clinton V Hulse, Audiovox, 1965-08-17, - behind the ear. Audiovox started with this and eyeglasses types based on transistors.
		7010132 Automatic magnetic detection in hearing aids, Henry Luo, Horst Arndt, André Vonlanthen, Mark Schmidt, Unitron, 2006-03-07, -

Trans-Oceanic Portable Radio

While looking for patents for the Zenith hearing aid came across a patent for the Wave-Magnet used with the Trans-Oceanic portable radio so started this paragraph.
Eugene F. McDonald Jr. joined Zenith electronics (Wiki) in 1923.  So the patents below for the Trans-Oceanic series of radios were only in his name, i.e. he did not assign them to Zenith Electronics.  YouTube: "Zenith Trans-Oceanic".

Photo	Series	Type	Year
	7G605 YouTube: Zenith 7G605"Clipper" or "Bomber" radio. 1942, 9:45 -	Tube	1942
	5G500 AM Broadcast band only Not Trans-Oceanic 3 position antenna switch upside down chassis	miniature Tube
	500 8G005Y YouTube: Zenith Trans-Oceanic Clipper Shortwave Radio, 15:40 - Zenith Transoceanic 8G005, 33:23 8G005YT - no bomber image, just grill marked Zenith.	6 locatal tubes	1949
	G500 YouTube: G-500 - The Transitional Trans-Oceanic, 11:07 & comparisons to H500 front drawer with instructions no Magnet shaped "wave Magnet"	5 miniature Tube	1449 - 1951
	H500 / R-520/URR YouTube: The Zenith H500 Super Trans-Oceanic Portable Radio, 17:55 Selenium rectifiers no Magnet shaped "wave Magnet"	1 series miniature tubes	1951
	600 Slide rule dial Zenith Trans-Oceanic R600 Part 1: Installing a FILT-R-PAK 60+ Power Supply and Complete Recapping, 17:44 - Zenith Trans-Oceanic Model B600 Radio (1959-1962), 7:20 -	tube	1954
	1000/3000 A classic gets the full treatment. Zenith Trans-Oceanic Royal 3000-1 full restoration, 47:01 -	transistor	1957
	7000 YouTube: Zenith Royal 7000 Transoceanic Repair, 25:42 - D7000Y Zenith TransOceanic D7000Y Episode 1 First Look, 7:48 -	transistor	1968

Books about Zenith
The Zenith Trans-Oceanic, the Royalty of Radios Paperback – March 1, 1995, Harold N. Cones (1st Ed)
Zenith Trans-Oceanic: The Royalty of Radios Paperback – Illustrated, June 30, 2008 by John H Bryant Faia (2nd Ed)
Zenith(r) Radio: The Early Years 1919-1935 Paperback – September 30, 1997 by Harold Cones
Zenith Radio, the Glory Years, 1936-1945: History and Products Paperback – Large Print, July 22, 2003 by Harold Cones
Also see Ref 2 about solid state tubes.

		2164251 Portable radio receiver, Jr Eugene F Mcdonald,1939-06-27, -
		2200674 Radio apparatus, Jr Eugene F Mcdonald, 1940-05-14, - "The desired location of the set is not always the best position for the antenna and this is particularly true when attempts are made to use portable radio receiving sets within metal shielding structures such as Pullman cars, airplanes, boats, etc. early Trans-Oceanic radio shown in a railroad train passenger compartment with the Wave-Magnet antenna mounted a couple of feet above the radio.
		2237260 Portable radio receiver, Jr Eugene F Mcdonald, 1941-04-01, - looks like 2164251
		2250387 Radio apparatus, Jr Eugene F Mcdonald,1941-07-22, -
		2329634 Radio apparatus, Jr Eugene F Mcdonald, 1943-09-14, - looks like 2250387
		2361953 Radio receiver, Jr Eugene F Mcdonald, 1944-11-07, - "A further object of the invention is to provide a portable radio receiver with a plurality of antennas capable of being selectively connected to the input circuit of the set through flexible connectors so that an antenna suitable for a desired frequency band may be positioned apart from the set but connected thereto so as to enhance reception of the desired signal frequency."
		2437610 Combined dial scale, switch operator, and position indicator, Jr Eugene F Mcdonald,1948-03-09, - "Shutter Dial"?
		2447576 Portable radio receiver, Gilbert E Gustafson, Zenith Electronics, App: 1944-03-11, W.W.II, Pub: 1948-08-24, - My grandmother had a radio that had this feel in her gazebo (Wiki). looks like Trans-Oceanic (Wiki) Wave-Magnet Antenna.
		2491629 Antenna, George B Vernier, Richard L Rost, Zenith Radio, 1949-12-20, - telescopic antenna

Related

Audio Audio Connectors & Military Cloning - Fill - Retransmission
Aviation Headsets - a main feature is noise reduction headphones and noise cancelling microphones because of the noisy enviornment
Beltone 12D Audiometer
FreqStd Frequency Standard, Audio
GRsound General Radio Sound Measurement Instruments
HP204 HP 204B Audio Oscillator from HP 3350 Carrier Test Set (AN/USM-181 Telephone Test Set
HP241A HP 241A Audio Oscillator w/Radio Buttons
MAA Military Audio Accessories
PatchP Audio Patch Panel
SDAR Signal Design, Inc. 65630 Audio Recorder RD-609/TSQ-164 Communications Recorder
Sound Powered Telephones - use technology similar to very early speakers.
Teledyne Avionics TA-3D Acoustic Impedance Meter -
TS585 TS-585 Audio Level Meter
TS-2839/GY Audio Test Set - for testing military audio equipment with UG-77 connectors (carbon mikes & dynamic speakers)
U229AA U-229 Audio Accessories
U229PO U-229 Pin Out by Function
U229Y "Y" Cable,  U-229/U

References

Ref 1. Hearing aid Museum -
Ref 2. Solid State Tubes 1L6 Zenith Transoceanic Performance Test Several Radios, 2:09:22 -

1L6 Problems
@3:00 Testing old 1L6 at top of AM broadcast band with vacuum tube
@3:40 Old Solid State 1L6: Noise
@4:28 New Solid State 1L6: less noise, but vacuum tube is quieter
@10:00 Explaining problem with first generation solid state 1L6. (Solid State Tubes on eBay)

Links

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