Ear trumpet made from an animal horn
- Made:
- before 1935 in England
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Buy this image as a print
BuyLicense this image for commercial use at Science and Society Picture Library
LicenseHorn shaped ear trumpet
Science Museum Group
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum
Science Museum Group Collection
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum
Ear trumpet made from an animal horn, with carved earpiece, probably British, c1700-1900.
Hearing aids of varying designs have been used since the 1500s to help people who are hard of hearing. This polished piece of hollow horn was an ingenious hearing trumpet. The tip is inserted into the ear canal. The natural shape of the horn acts as a trumpet. It ‘catches’ and amplifies sound to the ear drum. The effectiveness of the horn as a hearing aid is unknown. However, it was a novel and economical response to a common problem.
Details
- Category:
- Audiology
- Collection:
- Sir Henry Wellcome's Museum Collection
- Object Number:
- A138052
- Materials:
- horn
- Measurements:
-
overall: 139 mm x 98 mm x 50 mm, .076 kg
- type:
- ear trumpet
- credit:
- Glendining
