Miniature ear trumpet hearing aid

Miniature ear trumpet hearing aid, which could be worn over the ear, gold with ivory ear piece and inscribed "P.R.F.C. Rein sole inventor and maker, 108 Strand, London", 1801-1900.

This compact miniature ear trumpet was made by the company founded by Frederic C Rein in 1800, one of the very earliest firm known to manufacture hearing aids on a commercial basis. Originally based at 108 Strand, London they made a range of other hearing aids alongside hearing trumpets, such as speaking tubes and acoustic urns, which were devices that would be placed at the centre of a table to collect sounds from around the room to be funneled them down a long tube to the listener. They remained in business until 1963.